i have decided i want to become a paramedic. How hard is it to become a E.M.T.?

Question

I wanted to get advice from people already working in the health industry. I would like to get a sense for what it would really be like to have this occupation.

Answer 1

My daughter trained to be an EMT but never worked at it. It paid very poorly, especially for the amount of responsibility. There is a big difference between a paramedic and an EMT. The training for an EMT only took a few months with classes only a couple of nights a week. She went on a few ambulance calls with experienced EMTs. On her very first call the man lived in a rooming house and he was dead on his bed. He had been dead for a few days in the summer. They said people make calls for years and never see that.

Answer 2

Hi!. I am an NREMT-Paramedic working in Alabama, and here's my perspective on what it's like working as a paramedic.

First off, there's a difference between an EMT and a Paramedic. There are three levels of EMT. The first one is the one that's thought of when people are referring to EMT's. This one is called EMT-Basic. To get this certification, you have to take a semester long course. It's considered the entry level certification for this field. The second level is EMT-Intermediate, and you usually have to have some patient care experience before you can enroll in this class. It's considered a kind of in-between certification between Basic and Paramedic. The final level is EMT-Paramedic, and this is what most people are talking about when they refer to "paramedics". This course takes a year to two years to complete, and is very intensive. At the end of it, you will be qualified to do a lot of different procedures, including intubations, medication administration, starting IV's, surgical airways, etc.

The pay for a EMT-Basic runs around $8 an hour, but this really varies depending on which state you work in and what kind of service you are employed by. A Paramedic makes quite a bit more. In Alaska, Paramedics are paid as much as $60-70K a year! The average is $10-20 an hour, depending on which state you work in. Paramedics employed by a fire department tend to make more than paramedics employed by a private service.

I've been working as a paramedic for several months now, and I really do enjoy it. It's got some downsides; long hours (24 hour shifts), dealing with nursing home transfers, "frequent flyer" patients (patients who constantly call 911 for minor complaints), , and the job is very physically and emotionally demanding. However, the pluses really outweigh the minues, at least for me. For one thing, a paramedic functions fairly independently in the field. There really isn't anyone looking over your shoulder; it's just you and the patient, and it's up to you to provide the best care possible. You really can save a life out there, or at least make a difference. There's nothing like going home at the end of the day knowing that you helped your fellow man. Although the hours are long, you usually get several days off between 24 hour shifts. You learn not to mind the transfers and the "frequent flyers". I really do enjoy my job, but it's not for everyone. The burn out rate is high; most paramedics only work in the field for 5 years before they move on to something else. It's a good idea to keep a back up career in mind in case you injure your back and can't work in the field. Paramedics can use their experience to their advantage when seeking a new career; with some additional training they can work as nurses, medical assistants, ER techs, phlebotomists, etc, and with several years of additional school, many paramedics have gone on to become physical assistants, or nurse practitioners.

I hope I've answered some of your questions; if you have any more, feel free to email me.

Answer 3

try EMT college and in case you want it bypass to medic college. Paramedics earn more desirable funds than EMT's and would do many more desirable such issues as supply meds, put in respiratory tubes etc. the education isn't frequently more desirable than a million.5yrs or so. Many paramedics ultimately bypass to nursing college or are also firefighters which being a FF/EMTP is the position the great funds is in countless circumstances. solid success, desire this helps.

Answer 4

My son is an EMT. While the training was not easy he was able to handle it. Put your mind to it and you will succeed. He loves it. Every night is different. Some nights it is slow and boring and other nights the pace is non stop. Great sense of pride in helping people, especially after he delivered a baby. (no joke). Good luck!