Becoming an EMT?

Question

I have had a lot of problems in the past with my mental health, but I have always been interested in becoming an EMT. I am very sensitive, and I have OCD and Borderline personality Disorder, and anxiety. My lifelong dream has been to be a nurse, but now it is an EMT? Is anyone here an EMT? Is it hard work? Does it come naturally, after you learn the practice of what you have to do?

Answer 1

Working as an EMT, or any level of EMS is hard work, but most people who are committed can do it. In some respects OCD is a good thing. To me, EMT came naturaly (unlike paramedic), but for others EMT can be a hard class. In a job where lives depend on you it can be good (to a degree) to pay strict attention to details that most people overlook. In EMS you can't make mistakes. In this job a mistake can mean someone doesn't go home at the end of the day. I won't lie. That someone could be your patient, your partner, or you.

As for being sensitive, you need to understand that EMS is a thankless job, with often low pay. Patients will hit you, swear at you, spit on you, and don't respect you. Despite all this you need to act courteously and professionally towards (almost) every patient. On the other side of it, you need to get along with your partner, co-workers, police, and firefighters you will work with on a daily basis.

A lot of things will become routine over time, and you will quickly learn how things work, but every day is different, and you need to keep learning.

Working in EMS is very stressful. You need to be able to deal with terrible things. You need to be prepared to watch some one die in front of you despite everything you do, and then get back to work and put a band-aid on a 6 year old kid and appear to be happy.

There are also long hours. You will be expected to work anywhere between 8-24 hours at a time, plus overtime. Depending on where you work your day may begin at 7:00AM or your day may begin at 11:00PM. You are expected to take any call you are given. There are no garunteed breaks. You eat, pee, hydrate (and by that I mean caffieneate), do paperwork, and rest when and where you can. Some days you will report to the station at the begining of your shift, get a call, and be so busy you don't get back untill the end of your shift. Other days you sit in a recliner and watch TV your whole shift.

Something that most people don't realize is that EMS is not a safe job. Every time the lights and sirens go on you are putting your self at risk for a car crash. There is the risk of being shot or hit by a car every time you respond to a shooting or car crash. There are also other hazards. It is easy to injure your back (among other body parts) by lifting equipment and patients (Americans aren't the smallest people). We have rules and methods which we protect ourselves, but you need to realize that this can be a dangerous job.

I don't want to discourage you from becoming an EMT or working in EMS, but I think you deserve to know what you are getting yourself into. A lot of people I know didn't know what it was like to work as an EMT before their first day of work. On a positive note, as long as we have stupid people, cars, guns, and drugs, there will always be a job for us. We need good EMTs and paramedics, and anyone who is willing to do this job gets my respect.

I hope I haven’t scared you away from EMS, but you need to know these things. Good luck with what ever you decide to do. If you have any questions about being an EMT or EMS in general don’t hesitate to email me.

Answer 2

It is high stress, but caring for people can open your life up and change you in ways you never would imagine. Being sensitive is not a harbor for you, it means you care. And you should care! EMS is handling people's lives in the absolute worst situations. But not everyday is like such, you can see some awesome things and you can see bad things but you can take something from every patient you meet. I've been in EMS for five years, and I still cry some days, sure my coworkers label me sensitive, but I don't care. Making a difference in someone's life makes it all worth while.

Answer 3

Any level of EMS is stressfull.Long...Long hours. Some calls may turn your stomach...some may effect you very emotionaly. Most jobs if you make a mistake you may get a chance to correct it...if you make a mistake as a EMT...someone may die. Right from the start of a call the pressure is on. ex= where are we going( where the H-LL is 14435 north maple ave ?). You are running with lights and sirens....no one sees or heres you, so they won't give you the right of way.When you do get there (3-6min in my area) the family is yelling at you because it took you so long to get there. Sometime the call is for Behavial Disorder and the patent see you as a threat and may want to do you harm. No matter what the call is you have to make a call as to the pts problem and work fast ( no mistakes allowed ) Start treatment....call in a radio report to recieving hospital and contiune pt care untill pt is turned over to the hospitial (sometimes you may be 1 block from the hospital treating a pt with a full code,heart attack....thats always fun ) Once pt is turned over to hospial the paper work starts (thats fun too) next you get your supplies and clean up the ambulance for the next call (thats if your dispatcher doesn't call you to respone to 7756 Walnut st (where ever that is?) Sometime we report for work at 6am and respond to a call at that time and never see quarters untill 6-7pm...one call after another. I proberly didn't answer your question but wanted to give you an idea what it is like in the field
Good luck

Answer 4

Being an EMT is a very high stress occupation. It would not be a very good choice for someone who describes themself as sensitive and with a history of serious mental health issues.

You can find more information about the profession and training required here:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm

If you are interested in a medical career, you might consider something with a less stressful environment--something behind the scenes, such as a laboratory technician:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm