Wild-atheart

I passed my national registry test last month, now I am certified in Michigan to work as an EMT. I really want to work in emergency medicine. The problem is that I have a very flexible and fairly good paying job as a lab tech in one of michigan best hospitals. I am enrolled in paramedic courses for this coming semester. How important is it that I work as an EMT before I become a medic? I would like to just work at my current position while attending my classes, but I have been getting overwhelmed by so many people that I know who are currently in the profession, who suggest that I have to have at least a year of Basic experience before becoming a decent medic. Everyone also suggests volunteering; but thats really not an option for me as I work too much and I need to have some time come September for studying. Thank you

I agree with Dust on volunteer services bringing down the value of EMS. Why pay a full time medic and offer him insurance if you have 10 guys willing to do it for free. If your working as a volunteer and you get hurt, would insurance, workman's comp pay? Up north I have found that some services will pay medics 10$/hr while 20 miles away another service will pay 18$/hr. it seems like its hit and miss where ever you go.

I have found that the term "Emergency Room(or Department)" seems to scare a lot of nurses away from that part of the hospital. so If your making good money and happy there I would say Kudos to you. But your girlfriend should decide what area of medicine she would like to work in. Nursing is a whole different world than EMT. so if she wants to be in a hospital she might as well go for the RN because shell make way more money and be able to get a job pretty much anywhere in the country she wants to. Since you like your job now, you should also look into increasing you nursing education. The hospital you work for might even have a tuition reimbursement program for you complete you education. Good luck

well im talking about both..what to do if the dudes hanging dead..and what to do if theyre still alive.(scene secured) the car is on its side and the only entry is through the side door which is now directly on top. sucking chest wound inferior to the right scapula on the back, pt has also suffered enough trauma to warrant spinal immobilization.

What would you do if you came to a scene where someone hung themselves? whats the proper procedure? What would you do if a car rolled on its side? How would you properly immobilize the spine and extricate? If someone had to be immobilized, How would you treat any injuries to their back?

I have heard a little bit about synthetic blood lately. Has anyone used or seen this stuff? Can you imagine the implications of such a product.

Around here, Its very rare for any EMT B or Medic students to be given actual time behind an ambulance driving. It should be a minimum age of 21 to drive any vehicle. lets face it, kids seem to take longer to become good drivers. Also the ratio of smart young adults to stupid young adults has changed from 2:1, now to 1:100. Vehicles kill too many people to trust just anyone. You wouldn't trust a 18 year old with a pistol, or a bottle of whiskey, so why a 1/2 ton metal comet? until they're 21, get yous a$$ on a bike! that way there wont be so many cars on the road, so many fatalities, and less obese people. As for driving an ambulance...I could agree with 25, just as long as I could get experience treating patients on back.

Since posting this I have found another person in the class; me and him are going to start running a few scenarios to help me connect the skills and information I'm learning. Thank you for your support everyone.

ok...The program was owned by the university a few years ago, but they were going to do away with it. So The guy who is the instructor purchased the program and runs it through the university and must answer to the university for certain aspects, but not about how he chooses to teach. Its confusing.

This is a program at a University....I'll leave it unnamed. :?

A few months ago if you asked me where I will be going to become an Emt, and then a paramedic; I would have described a Top Medic school and been all excited. Well today was the last straw for me With only a month left in this two semester Emt class we have been shown most of the basic skills we will be using. The problem is that after the instructor spends the first 20 minutes of class half-ass demonstrating the skills, he gives us all a thumbs up and walks out of the room. So here we are just "playing" with this ems equipment, not really knowing if we are doing the procedure right. As of yet I have been introduced to the skills but cannot put them together in scenarios. Almost the whole rest of the class doesnt care because they get out 2 hours early and they just want to be fire fighters anyways. Sad thing is, the instructor owns the program! I'm already set up to transfer for this comming fall to a different medic program. This cannot be the training that is going to take the EMS profession to high levels. I guess I am going to get working on memorizing the steps of each skill and work on them in my free time.

vcfd35s, I say give it a shot with the judge, What do you have to lose? and as for 3 speeding tickets; I wouldn't be to quick to judge anyone on traffic tickets, although I have never had one, I have seen how merciless cops can be when they're ticket happy. I can't remember who said it, but it was something about at the age of 20 not having enough time to work hard for what you want. Well I disagree. Its wrong to pretend you know someone's situation and compare to your own situation. Good luck man, hope it works out for you.

I need help. I have a problem with studying the material that we are going over in class. I am doing very well on the tests, but I am just missing the confidence I need, to pass and to be an EMT-B and continue with paramedic classes. I've tried making my own notecards, but there is so much information that it is almost impossible to get all that I want on them. So what I would like to know is if anyone knows where I can get some quality and complete EMT-B and Paramedic flash cards to help me study. I also wouldn't mind a scenario practice guide because the class I am in has yet to talk or practice almost any of the skills that we are expected to know for national registry(supposedly one of the top schools for becoming a medic in Michigan). I am greatly disappointed at this program and as soon as I graduate the EMT-B test I am transferring to a better school to continue the Medic course. Whats really sad is that now that I am switching, I've taken all the Gen Ed courses and will still only have a certificate instead of the planned associates. At least the program that I am going to is geared toward actually teaching and practicing emergency medicine and not just appeasing a bunch of fire-fighters like this one. I appreciate all answers.

I see Dust's point. I never looked at it from that perspective. Thank you for the wonderful information. I will look forward to absorbing some more in the future.

I'm in A&P II as well as chemistry next semester; I have had advanced high school chemistry. Unfortunately the associate paramedic program here doesn't require microbiology. I have noticed that I seem to be one of the very few people in the school opting for the degree instead of just getting the certificate. the difference being the degree has general education courses before. I just want to get used to learning some of the drugs and contra/indictations now so it won't be overload next year. I understand that this won't be as comprehensive, but at least I'll be ahead of the game. I don't want a PDR, just a good emergency pharm guide.

This seems like a good chance for me to ask this: Has anyone ever come across an ems study guide that was easy to flip through and find the information you need to know. in my EMT class we use the Brady texts, but the information seems so scattered that its hard to find what I'm looking for sometimes. also I would like to know if there are any really good pharmacology texts so I could begin studying those for next year. thank you.

If you must know, when MDs and nurses treat other professionals like crap, it is because they have been abused by the patients and public in general. Its like venting and I bet many of them don't realize it. I think that the major problem with healthcare is that many of the people we take care of don't really deserve it. for instance, I remember a guy who beat up his girlfriend and the staff as we mended his broken arm only the take care of the girlfriend he beat a few months later with that healed arm. This is the shit MDs and Nurses see all the time so its no wonder why so many of them are callous. And as for the needy young nurses, I find that if you are like me(<---Looks like a chubby 12 year old) they won't be attracted but they like to talk my ear off about all the shit they plan to do to whoever and who the hate and who they like. to make a long story short, just picture yourself as a little fat kid trying to get a doctor or nurse believe you and thank god you aren't me.

From a perspective of a patient: keep anyone under 21 out of an ambulance.(I can't believe anyone even argues that) If the government deems you not responsible enough to drink then you shouldn't be on an ambulance. From a perspective of a emt/paramedic student: before entering even a basic course people should have to take a year of prereqs (A&P, Basic math, English, Communications, Chem, ect...) and then before admittance to the program everyone needs to pass a comprehensive exam making sure you know you sh*t. Then increase the length of the EMT course and give a good month internship(unpaid). you need to have a strong educational foundation when entering the EMT class to possibly understand why you perform all of these skills and what effect they will have on the body. I would support a Bachelors in Paramedic education, and if I ever find one close to me I wouldn't hesitate to take it(someone brought up in another thread that paramedics should be RNs too. I think either would be good BSP=Associate EMT-P+Associate RN). As for the kiddies: (from my own experience)I think the kids who want to learn about medicine, but are not mature enough to handle the Emergency environment, should become a Nurse Aide. sounds corny, but in my three years directly after high school I learned more about health care, patient care, and human compassion then anyone else in my family. My last point: I believe that people shouldn't be judged on their education. If your an EMT, you should be proud your an EMT. Just like if you clean the gutters you should be proud of that too. but medicine is a little different than gutter cleaning, If you want to be respected and keep your skills you should always be working on moving your education ahead. thank you for reading