Comments on: So You Want My Job: EMT

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:41:30 +0000

I’m a United States Army Medic, and part of the training you go through to become a medic is passing the NREMT test and getting an EMT-B certification. Although, in reality our training is waaay closer to Paramedic than EMT-B, as we can push any meds our unit PA “trains” us on, start IV lines, intubate, surgical cric, etc. Any young guys interested in EMS should look into the military, specifically the Army (as of when I was in training, the Army is the only branch that offers EMT certification as part of training.), as a way into the field. It gives you experience in Medicine, plus NREMT certification all while getting paid to do it. It’s a good gig!

By: ZH, MD

ZH, MD — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:26:03 +0000

The pay is a big issue. Paramedics have 90+% of the skill set of a Registered Nurse, are trained to work independently, and receive less than 50% of the pay of a RN. Why you ask? I don't have to ask. Paraprofessionals earn about half of an RN's pay because about 10% of the time, their "skill set" is inadequate. That is the same reason a PAs or nurse practitioners are supervised and make far less money than I do as a physician. Practicing "90% medicine" is unacceptable. You may also wish to consider that for nurses, didactic and clinical training and the necessary experience require years, not hours. That last 10% is not easily acquired.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:47:32 +0000

Nate, why put an EMT-B/I in the back with a patient and have the medic drive. It is a waste of resources to have someone with the higher level of training driving to the hospital so the B can stay in the back.

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:08:04 +0000

And Ryan, I am not an ambulance driver. I ride roughly half of the calls that we run. If not more. Any call that doesn’t need a paramedic I ride. If they do need a paramedic, then I drive. But that does not make me an ambulance driver.

By: Nate

Nate — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:14:33 +0000

Mr. Durden, to be quite frank, I look like a pedophile when I grow a moustache. And I went to work for a busy system where I could pad my resume a bit with certs, cards, and classes (ACLS, PHTLS, PALS, etc…)

By: Bobby S

Bobby S — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:02:15 +0000

Our service in central TX is always equipped with a basic/medic. Sometimes an EMT-I will be there instead of the Basic. I am a Medic and almost all of the old EMT-I’s can get a line (IV) and tube (intubate) better than I can. Why? Because those are the only two skills they know how to do. You can get pretty good at something when thats all you know how to do. A paramedic in my service can push about 40 meds ( Medical Director took our Narcan last year), pace a heart, cardiovert, surgical cric, OG/NG tubes, defib, and “reduce” fractures. If you want to work in an ambulance, get your paramedic. It’s the only way to go. An EMT is so limited in what they can do. Almost every Medic I know is studying to become an RN, physician’s assistant, or wants to go to Med school. Just don’t make a career out of it. Remember Paramedics save lives, EMTs save paramedics.

By: Mr. Durden

Mr. Durden — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:45:14 +0000

So essentially you couldn’t cut it as a fireman? I noticed you didn’t have a mustache.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:46:43 +0000

Thanks for posting this! I recently signed up to become a volunteer firefighter in my community. I’m stoked about training and getting to serve my neighbors. Does anyone have experience with volunteer firefighting?

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:02:32 +0000

AJ there is an abuse of the 911 system everywhere. Look around the internet and you will find many forums, and websites that will make you laugh and deal with the stress of nonsense jobs. I have been in the 911 system in NYC for 5 years and I could write a book already with what I have seen. My wife loves to hear the stories and let me vent when I come home.

Here are some recent examples:
17 y/o female with itchy bellybutton x5 days
52 y/o male from homeless shelter who wanted to stay in the hosptial overnight and than take a helicopter to Boston for a kidney transplant in the morning.
45 y/o male who was bitten by a rat. There minute amount of blood on the tip of his finger would not be enough to check his blood glucose level.

I have wonderful partners and we just take this with a grain of salt, transport and laugh about it later when we are having a rough night.

By: Carson

Carson — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:57:37 +0000

I’m in an EMT Basic class in SC. What is the busiest EMS system in SC? Richland? I know they work 12s, and I work at palmetto health-Richland, so I see them a lot.