Help

[VelvetDarkness]

Paramedic all the way.

FWIW I envy you. I only trained as a nurse because as en epileptic I'll likely never drive - certainly not at high speed in the middle of the night with flashy lights in tow.

*sigh*

I agree with MWY that EMT could be a useful stepping stone, though I have no idea how training works in the USA.

 

[Homburg]

Then again I can fly through EMT school with what i already know and it is only a few months long and costs less. *sigh*

Personally, go for the bigger slice of the pie. I've got a couple of friends that are/were EMT's, and they had the same dilemma. In each case, they opted to either go back to school, or get out, as being an EMT wasn't worth it. Around here, the EMT is glutted, so EMT's are all volunteer for a coupla years, then they can try for a paid EMT position, assuming they have the top-level EMT certs. Paramedics do much better.

 

[madetotakeit]

My two cents..take the two step approach.

Yes you get a pay bump going from EMT to EMT-P (Paramedic) however here are some things to consider. Unless you are in a rural area, Ambulances are manned by an EMT and an EMT-P. There are many variations of responsibilities depending on where you live and the Medical Director for the city or county. It is not an easy job. It is stressful both mentally and physically. You not only have to pass state testing, but local credentialing as well. People learn from their partners. Of course they do not let new EMT-P's loose on the public without in-service training, but there is a lot to be said for learning a job from the bottom and working your way up. Unless you work for a private transport service, you have no guarantee what that first call you run on your own will be.

These are the people I work with everyday. I have yet to speak to an EMT-P who did not give the same advice to everyone who ever asked their opinion. Start with your basics. Know them in your sleep. Learn as you go along. Another advantage is that many departments will actually pay for your school once you are an employee. You not only get an appreciation of what the job is really like, you are payed to learn while you are doing it, and when it comes time to get that rocker below your patch it doesn't come out of your pocket.

 

[Kajira Callista]

My two cents..take the two step approach.

Yes you get a pay bump going from EMT to EMT-P (Paramedic) however here are some things to consider. Unless you are in a rural area, Ambulances are manned by an EMT and an EMT-P. There are many variations of responsibilities depending on where you live and the Medical Director for the city or county. It is not an easy job. It is stressful both mentally and physically. You not only have to pass state testing, but local credentialing as well. People learn from their partners. Of course they do not let new EMT-P's loose on the public without in-service training, but there is a lot to be said for learning a job from the bottom and working your way up. Unless you work for a private transport service, you have no guarantee what that first call you run on your own will be.

These are the people I work with everyday. I have yet to speak to an EMT-P who did not give the same advice to everyone who ever asked their opinion. Start with your basics. Know them in your sleep. Learn as you go along. Another advantage is that many departments will actually pay for your school once you are an employee. You not only get an appreciation of what the job is really like, you are payed to learn while you are doing it, and when it comes time to get that rocker below your patch it doesn't come out of your pocket.

Very rural area. We have unpaid first responders then EMTs and if they think you need a Paramedic you either wait fot them or head toward them and meet them so they can either ride with you or ok the patient for transport without them.
My thought is maybe there is a need for paramedics in this rural area and pay might be good because of it. I need tot alk to a few more people around here before i make a decxision.

 

[im_a_voyeur]

I'm late joining the convo but my vote is for paramedic too. But I think it's a great idea to talk to people in the field in your area and get a feel for what's out there in your specific location.

 

[nh23]

I'd go for paramedic if I were you. I've been a LPN for eight years, and have had my EMT-B for about 7. I think going ahead and finishing the schooling for paramedic would be more rewarding for you. You'll have more opportunities in the field. Medics can do a lot more than EMT's so you'd be more involved. The pay is better too.

Had I not already had my LPN I would have went on for my medic. How things stand though I make much more as a nurse as I would as a medic, and I don't have a lot of free time to pursue even working as a EMT anymore.