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Hey guys! I am trying to build the ultimate resume for a Paramedic. I want to be able to put my application in anywhere throughout the nation, and land the position I want, due to my stellar resume and experience. At the moment I am an NREMT B with a general studies associates degree. Most of the Medic courses offered around me require you to be a basic for at least 2 years. Since I will have some time to kill before I can apply for Medic course, I was wondering what the best 4 year degree is to go hand and hand with an NREMT. I have heard a lot about degrees in Management being very helpful due to the fact that EMS and Fire are extremely hectic worlds always looking for some organization. So what do you think is the best 4 year degree a Medic could hold to better his position, pay and life. Thanks for you input ahead of time -Derek

Thanks for all the the responses and comments y'all. I think it was an interesting subject for us to research and write about. This was obviously an "opinion paper" so we all developed our own argument as to why we thought CISD was good or bad. Surprisingly, I was one of the few that thought the CISD process might not be such a good idea. I read most of the other papers and many in my class think CISD is just great. Oh, and I did get an A. Again, thanks for all of your help, and I think this topic this sparked a good discussion as well. For those of you who are interested in the base set of interview questions I used to prepare my paper, here they are. Thanks you for offering to help with research for my CISD position paper. These questions should be answered based upon your own experience with CISD, not what “you think your should answer should be”. There is no right or wrong, it’s about your personal experience with the CISD process. I do need your name and some demographic information for citation purposes, however any personal information will be redacted from any public display of this paper (i.e.: on the EMTcity forums) Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. If you prefer to skip a question, please answer with ‘SKIP’. Your name: Your agency and position: Years in EMS: If you have been involved in more than one CISD, please select one instance to answer the following questions. Briefly describe the event that lead to your attending a CISD: Was the CISD a mandatory event for all responders? Did all responders attend? If no, how many of the responding group did attend? How long following the event did your CISD take place? Was it held at your station or facility or at an “off site” location? Who was the CISD facilitator or leader, and what were his or her credentials? How long did the CISD event last? Without divulging any details that you feel are too personal to share, please describe the CISD process as your remember it. Immediately following the CISD, how did you feel about your involvement in the initial incident? How did you feel about the CISD process immediately following the CISD? Did you speak with your co-workers about the incident or the CISD process after the CISD? If so, what was the overall opinion of the efficacy of the CISD process? In your opinion, was the CISD a useful event? What could your department or CISD facilitator have done to improve on that instance of CISD? Have you attended multiple CISD events? If yes to above, have all CISD events been similar or very different? If different, please elaborate on the differences. Do you feel it’s more effective to take part in a formal CISD or just “talk it out” with your co-workers in an informal setting? Following the CISD did you view your co-workers differently? Were you reluctant to speak or share in a CISD due to how you may have been viewed by your co-workers? Following a critical incident, would you suggest all responders take part in a CISD? Has your involvement with a CISD changed the way you feel about your job? Again, thanks for helping with this project. If I have follow up questions to elaborate on your answers, may I send an additional email?

I think you are being deliberately obtuse to play the Devil's advocate here! Sweet ease is only used for babies up to 6 months in a controlled environment. It is administered under a Doctor's orders and not given as an arbitrary "treat" to "bribe" babies. I think this population is fairly immune to the whole idea of the reward system. All they understand is that they are hurting and if you give them something to help that pain it is not going to turn them into a obese child later in life. Infants burn through glucose much faster than adults and they do not store it like we do so giving them very small amounts of sweet ease for the occasional painful procedure is really not going to have the major impact on them that you are inferring. The concentration and amount that you use is so minimal it usually does not have any effect on their glucose levels that I have observed. If you are really not interested in the looking into new methods for providing pain relief to this chronically under pain managed population that's your prerogative but the OP heard of a new method of pain control and was interested enough to look into it further. Just because you have never heard of it doesn't mean that it is not a valid treatment option. I have changed my views on traditional treatments and techniques when I have researched new ideas and concepts and feel that it benefits my practice and my patients to have an open mind to new ideas. I may not agree with all of them but I try not to make up my mind until I have done a fair amount of research into it. Even then sometimes there are controversial ideas and often two opposing views on just about everything related to medicine, so I read and decide what I feel is the best evidence based practice and adjust my own practice accordingly or not. Cheers

I used EMLA cream several times frequently while working in the ER providing the situation and time allowed. If it didn't then we did other comfort pain measures such as providing a pacifier, IPOD to watch, etc. I know our children's hospital broke out the use of vision goggles that were a distraction allowing them to do even some of the more painful procedures like central and PICC lines or lumbar punctures with nothing more than your standard lido that's given. They have also found that IPOD's reduce pre-operative anxiety and also hospitals that utilize music therapy for both cancer patients and post operative need for narcotic pain meds. The power of reducing anxiety is amazing. I believe the more anxiety there is about a procedure (ie perceived pain) the more you will focus on it and be aware of it. If a distraction of some sort is provided then it is invaluable, especially in pediatric patients. I know any of you that have worked for a solely peds transport team in a dedicated "baby buggy" can attest to the power of barney, blues clues, dora and the wiggles (even if you are ready to kill yourself after seeing it for the 100th time !). EMLA cream and glucose http://www.nichd.nih.gov/cochrane/Taddio/Taddio1.htm http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/110/6/1053 http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/150366883_3.html Diversion http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/jsn023v1 http://www.musictherapy.org/factsheets/MT%20Pain%202006.pdf http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Music_Therapy.asp http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-04052006-092010/unrestricted/lim_crystal_s_200605_ma.pdf http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11790.cfm?Disclaimer_Redirect=%2Fmskcc%2Fhtml%2F69308.cfm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17338592 http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/content/full/98/5/1260 (no I'm not using you tube as a reference, it is a demo of operative use of Ipod) Check these out - some really good things to think about, some of these studies involve the adult as well as pediatric population, though I tried to focus solely on peds for the purpose of this thread.

I advocate using EMLA and sucrose if possible. Sometimes you don't have the time required for the EMLA to work. Sometimes topical anesthetics are not appropriate for some procedures. There are situations where sucrose is appropriate and some where EMLA is appropriate or both. If it works I will use it and I have found that sucrose works. Sometimes EMLA makes the IV start harder and you end up taking longer to establish an IV therefore causing more pain to the infant. One more study to look at comparing sucrose and EMLA and it appears sucrose is actually more effective. I still recommend giving both if feasible. In the prehospital environment you don't have time to wait for the EMLA to work so sucrose is a valid alternative and if it works for the infant why would you not use it? Anything that helps the infants pain is preferable to nothing in my opinion. Good discussion, Thanks and Happy Holidays to all.

I have a love interest in every one of my films - a gun. Arnold Schwarzenegger As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long. Arnold Schwarzenegger Everything I have, my career, my success, my family, I owe to America. Arnold Schwarzenegger Freedom is a right ultimately defended by the sacrifice of America's servicemen and women. Arnold Schwarzenegger I think that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman. Arnold Schwarzenegger Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer. Arnold Schwarzenegger One of my movies was called "True Lies." It's what the Democrats should have called their convention. Arnold Schwarzenegger Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. Arnold Schwarzenegger You know, nothing is more important than education, because nowhere are our stakes higher; our future depends on the quality of education of our children today. Arnold Schwarzenegger

The help is much appreciated. Did not mean to come across as a dickhead. The post is a hypothetical situation based on where I would like to be in a few years. Think the title threw some people off.

Hehe... that famous line actually inspired me in Iraq. That's why I was always careful to make as many friends as possible among the Iraqis!

Looks like a full variety of options has been covered already, all with their benefits and drawbacks. But you are the only one who knows why you are interested in EMS to begin with. And that is what will guide your future career decisions. Do you have the slightest interest in management? If patient care and lights and sirens were no longer part of the job, would you even want to be part of it anymore? Let's face it, a lot of us simply aren't cut out to be empty suit paper pushers, and have no interest in an MBA or Public Administration course of study. If the practice of medicine is your primary interest, then I would agree that a BSN is the way to go. It is the one option that will absolutely make you a much, much better medic, as well as immediately appeal to a potential employer. After all, that is the question you asked. Most employers aren't going to give a rat's arse about your MBA, and a great many will even be turned off by it. It might look good after a decade of experience, but until then, it's not an asset to you at all. And even then, that's only if you have an interest in management. Not to mention that there simply are not a lot of EMS management jobs out there to be had. There is an EM degree programme at a university local to me. I have known several of their students and grads, and few of them are finding suitable employment. The market simply isn't that broad. There are some great positions to be had in EM, mostly in the public sector, but they just are not plentiful. The bottom line is, before you can plan for your future, you first have to visualise it. Finally, a little situational awareness would do you well here. This group is committed to helping each other out, and does a great job of it. To lash out with smartass remarks to those people, when they were trying to help you, indicates that you have a lot more to work on than just your resume. Good luck!

Ok call me crazy to respond to the OP query: Would you not have to be the Ultimate Paramedic to Have the Ultimate Paramedic Resume ? Following that concept a degree in Business may be the objective if one wishes to become a manager ok fine, but in patient care would not a degree in Sciences be the goal, yah know like paramedicine ? Seriously: There are some on this website that would wish to climb the corporate ladder and the other's that are quite content to be just damn good Paramedics FIRST. cheers and good luck with that.

I'm in my mid-thirties and back in school working on another degree, this time in history. I actually like school a lot more this time around. I'm older, it means more, and my drive to graduate with honors is much greater. Although I didn't do poorly when I went to college the first time in my teens, I didn't do as well as I could have because I wasn't mature enough to appreciate my classes. Unfortunately most young people think that a class that does not directly pertain to their course of study is useless, which is usually far from the case. I hear paramedic students talk about how they don't want to get a degree because they don't want to have to take any English, mathematics, or regular college level A&P. These are the same students that can't form a sentence in a narrative or calculate a drug dosage. Nearly everything in education may eventually come back to haunt you at a later date. You can get a degree in any subject your heart desires. I'd suggest that you research different employment requirements before you settle on a degree. You might find there isn't a snowballs chance in hell you'll ever use an Emergency Management degree. Pull up careerbuilder or monster, search jobs that may interest you down the road and read the requirements and preferred abilities for those jobs. They'll give you a much more accurate idea of what degree will actually land you a job. These older guys on here are correct about one thing... a business degree is a highly desirable commodity. It's specialized enough to get a good job, and generic enough to qualify for more obscure but interesting jobs. It's one of those not-so-interesting but highly useful degrees.

I was looking at something today that was called an Emergency Management Degree. It seems somewhat new, as not many of the schools in my area offer it. It sounds like something I would be much more interested in rather then a Business Degree. Anyone ever hear of this degree? http://www.uaf.edu/som/programs/bem/ Emergency Management There is an ever-increasing demand for fire department and emergency services administrators educated in fire science, emergency medical services, rescue practices, hazardous materials, terrorism threats and business management practices. The business administration department offers students the opportunity to combine technical expertise derived from the associate of applied science degree in emergency services with a curriculum in business management to become highly competitive candidates for job openings and promotion to chief officer or administrator positions within fire departments and other related fields of emergency services. Fire chiefs and emergency services administrators of the future will need a combination of knowledge and experience covering fire science, EMS, government and politics, accounting, business practices, personnel management, employment law, organizational theory and behavior, training and management development, organizational communications, technical writing, public policy, and leadership and civic engagement offered in the emergency management degree curriculum. Major — B.E.M. Degree Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete MATH F107X* or MATH F161X* and STAT F200X.*) Complete the B.E.M. degree requirements *. Complete 33 credits of major requirements from the UAF emergency services A.A.S. degree or any regionally accredited institution fire science A.A.S. degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher. Complete the following*: PS F101—Introduction to American Government/ Politics—3 credits ACCT F261—Accounting Concepts/ Uses —3 credits ECON F200—Principles of Economics—4 credits BA F151—Introduction to Business —3 credits BA F307—Personnel Management —3 credits BA F317W—Employment Law —3 credits BA F390—Organizational Theory and Behavior —3 credits BA F452W—Internship in Emergency Management —3 credits BA F457—Training and Management Development —3 credits COMM F335O—Organizational Communications—3 credits ENGL F314 W, O/2—Technical Writing —3 credits PS F321—International Politics —3 credits PS F403W—Public Policy —3 credits Complete 15 credits in the Leadership and Civic Engagement minor as follows: Complete the following: NORS F205—Leadership, Citizenship and Choice—3 credits NORS F486—Senior Seminar/ Leadership and Civic Engagement—3 credits Complete 9 credits from the following. At least one course must be a PS elective and one course must be a HIST elective: PS F202—Democracy and Global Society—3 credits PS F263—Alaska Native Politics—3 credits PS F301—American Presidency—3 credits PS F315—American Political Thought—3 credits PS F462—Alaska Government and Politics—3 credits HIST F131—History of the U.S.—3 credits HIST F132—History of the U.S.—3 credits HIST F361—Early American History—3 credits HIST F364—History of the U.S. 1945- Present—3 credits RD F300W—Rural Development in a Global Perspective—3 credits RD F325—Community Development Strategies—3 credits

Maybe their the fentanyl lollypops? Otherwise I've never heard of this. I'll pop it into pubmed, but I have my doubts. Edit: I'm surprised as heck to say this, but I found a reference to glucose as an analgesic. Will keep searching, but for now look in the results section of this abstract. Edit 2: Very interesting indeed. Take a look at this abstract. Makes me wonder what the underlying cause might be. My current off the cuff thinking is that the glucose plus pacifier technique has more to do with enhanced distraction than an actual relief of pain. Still useful though. The search continues. Edit 3: Clinical guidelines for glucose analgesia. Edit 4: Maybe I should save these up, but I keep intending to go out the door and google keeps distracting me with more tidbits. Apparently glucose does not act on opiate receptors, as naxolone does not affect it.Read here. Hypothesized in another study that the relationship between glucose and opiod receptors is indirect and that glucose may result in the release of endogenous opiods.

Like I said before, I have been told buisness degrees are the way to go. My question is why? I mean aside from running your own ambulance company, how does a business degree enhance your NREMT-p? As much as I like business, I do not think that 2 more years of business school will make me totally happy. Its a shame I have to wait to take my medic course, but I want to make the best of it.

Derek, Excellent question, and I have no doubt you will get a lot of differing opinions. My ITAO is it depends on how long you plan on doing actual patient care? I have been in EMS since I was 19 and healthcare since 17 (CNA), so now at 36, I am DONE taking care of patients. Hence, I went to Graduate school for a double masters: MBA/MHA. Since you are looking to the 4 year route, I would recommend a BS in Business for sure...Nothing against the RN, BSN route, but if you are really not up for being a Nurse, ( As I was NOT), A business degree is where you need to go..... IF you are planning on Med School, PA, etc.....then I would recommend a BS in some science related field. The business degree will give you a boatload of options should you get hurt, or tire of taking care of patients. If you go the business route, I would also say go and get your MBA, as this will pretty much help you write your own ticket as you indicated you wanted to achieve. Good Luck, Respectfully, JW

For the long term.....BSN is good. Business management with an MBA tract is even better, or a management degree with a focus on health administration. A masters or a doctorate in public health is good too, but not for staying in EMS/Fire. But honestly, for the short term....try just getting you core courses for a BS out of the way, with A/P and a language for the short term. Seriously, TAKE a language..and not just a semester...LEARN one. A lot of people like Spanish, but in our area French is almost as valuable (lots of French speaking Africans), and German is good too (Bosians, Serbs, etc usually speak some German) Here's a secret: Your education credentials may get you the interview..but YOU get the job, not your resume. Get some life experience that is valuable to your employer, such as language, travel abroad, internships with social services type of work..the military, anything to make you stand out from the hundreds of young 20-something wanna be firemen/wanna be heroes out there who have only done EMS or hung around wacking off to Rescue Me/Back Draft and nothing else.

ROFL @ your signature! I'm assuming that you are fluent in Spanish, right? If not, there are quite a few schools in Mexico where you can spend a month or three living with a host family, and getting intensive Spanish instruction all day long during the week. Some even have programmes to get you time in a hospital or other medical environment to learn medical Spanish. Many I have spoken to say that it will get you native fluent pretty quickly. It's something I always wanted to do. And you'd certainly get a great opportunity to check out how things work and do some networking while you're down there.

Confidence.

I think you are misunderstanding my original post. Actually by what you posted it looks like you did not even read the original post. I know the interview and your social skills land you a job. I just want to know what I can do to make my resume get me places.

What standart?, there is no standard in ems, and most of the guys I know who let their NB laps are from the private realm.

Stretcher shoulder straps may stop some movement in some accidents, but I having no expierence with them can't imagine treating a critical patient with them.

I am so pleased, So will you be putting a bottle of Glucose in your Kit? One must ask is this a reward system with obesity now a Pandemic ? Food for thought ?

It wasn't the title ... it was the fact that you actually came across as being a dickhead in your subsequent replies.