nremtp

WOAH! I don't want an argument about whose willy is the biggest I just want some information on AMR and coming to the USA to practice. Please keep your fights off of my thread

Scope of practice in the US is considerably more than in any other country and there are far more opportunities to progress.

I wouldn't go to Australia because I don't want to go to any country where the wildlife can eat me!!!!!! Too many spiders and snakes in Aus. Canada - don't know much aboot Canada, my auntie worked as a nurse in Ontario and loved it but I really want to go to the USA. I really want to live somewhere like Florida or California. I worked for 6 years as a lifeguard and I love the beach and florida and cali have some great beaches. I have been offered a job in South Africa as well in both Jo'berg and Cape Town but I really want to work in America. USA is ahead of the rest of the world in EMS and there are more opportunities for career progression than in any other country.

I am considering taking the plunge and moving to the USA permanently to continue my career over the pond. I am currently training to be a Paramedic with a well known US training company and am due to take my EMT-I exams soon with my Paramedic exams towards the end of the year. I can obtain a work visa very easily and providing I can get an employer to sponsor me I am almost guaranteed a Visa. I was considering approaching AMR for a job as I understand them to be one of the biggest EMS providers in the country. However, what are they like to work for? What would the salary be like for a Paramedic? I have 5 years experience as an EMT in the UK so surely this would count for something. Also the terms of my visa mean I am tied to that company for the duration of my visa so surely this would make me an attractive candidate. They can sack me but I can't quit!!! They would have to shell out a few hundred dollars for my visa application but surely a company would consider this an investment especially when they are getting a qualified Paramedic whose training is already self funded and who is guaranteed to work for them for 2 years. Basically if I quit then I would be deported which is why I want to make sure I am choosing the right company. Do you think they would go for it?

Over here in the UK my salary as a Technician (EMT) is £29,000 a year plus overtime but this includes a 25% bonus for unsocial hours i.e. I get 25% extra for night shifts. At the current exchange rate my salary would be $55,100 USD but the cost of living here is horrendous and our tax rate is 22% plus national insurance contributions at £12 a week. I usually clear about £1500 ($2850) a month after tax and NI deductions (which are witheld by the employer in the UK, any allowances have to be reclaimed as a refund at the end of the tax year.) My rent for a one bedroom flat (apartment) is £480 ($912) a month plus council tax at £90 ($171) a month then water rates, gas, electricity, car insurance etc I work 3 shifts a week at 12 hours each shift usually 12 on 12 off and I do private EMT work on my days off to make ends meet. Paramedics in my service start on about £40,000 ($76,000) and Paramedic team leaders start on £50,000 ($95,000) although they are heavily penalised and pay 40% tax on most of their earnings.

For a minute then I thought the post said when is it ok to play with a patient I nearly fell off of my chair :shock: Don't people get arrested for that sort of thing? I would never pray with a patient because I am an atheist but I suppose if someone else wanted to that kind of thing I can't see any harm in it.

We are desperately short of Paramedics in the UK and the new University system is doing nothing to help that! I am looking at the idea of setting up an employment agency to help foreign paramedics gain employment in the UK. I would get my fees from the employer so there would be no charge to the Paramedic applicant except those made by the relevant bodies e.g. HPC, Immigration etc We cannot guarantee a job and we cannot guarantee that an application will be accepted by the HPC but as we would not be paid unless an applicant was placed in a job it is in our best interests to get you employed!!! Basic requirements would be as follows although those with a * can be gained once you have your registration and are in the UK - Paramedic registration/qualification in your own country - UK driving licence with C1/D1 categories unless exempted* - Clean criminal record - IHCD Driving course* - Work Visa (we will work with you on this) - Bachelor degree or higher preferred Applicants under 27 are highly likely to be offered a visa and applicants over 32 less likely due to the points system. Applicants with an MBA are guaranteed a visa and applicants with a phd are very likely to be offered a visa. Would anyone be interested in this service? Please PM me your details if you would like to consider it. I reitterate, there would be no charge to the applicant for our services.

Also, you guys look too much like cops anyway with your navy/black uniforms surely a badge would only make you look more cop like? We wear green in the UK and the police wear black but drunk/drugged/angry people still see us as a position of authority and try to cause us harm.

I never understood the concept of a badge I mean how do you link the badge to the person showing it to you? There is nothing to prove that the badge is theirs and that they are who they say they are. Police in the UK have warrant cards with a photograph so the constable can be identified. Anyone can buy an EMT/Paramedic badge online and ebay has hundreds and you can even get them embroidered with your name and number. This alone makes me wonder why any facility would accept a badge as ID when they are so freely available. Surely your State or Company ID card would be more acceptable as it holds a photograph of you. I can only echo what other posters have already said. If a receiving facility refused to sign then I would document this and inform medical control.

Taking things from hospital to restock your truck is accepted where I work but we still get stroppy nurses who challenge us over taking an oxygen mask. Picture the following scenario: we wheel the patient into a curtained bay handing over to the nurse who follows us in. The patient has an O2 mask on, we unplug the mask from our cylinder and plug it into the wall sock, we then take the mask which is hanging on the flow regulator on the wall. The nurse says "what are you doing with our mask?" We say "replacing the one which is on the patient" nurse gets funny about it. Most nurses just accept that we restock at the ED while some get funny. I have seen medics and EMTs take way more than they should and then transfer it to the boot of their car back on station. This is THEFT and will cost them their career. I have also seen EMTs take drugs from the ED for use on "their friends and family". Not only is this theft but use of these drugs is a criminal offence. I have a policy now that I always ask permission before I take ANYTHING from the ED including linen. That way your ass is covered if anybody asks "what are you doing with that?" I do not steal and I never would steal as I know what it is like to be stolen from. If I need an O2 mask I ask "do you mind if I replace our O2 mask?" The nurse always says "no, go ahead" and you might wonder why bother asking but I assure you that the one time you don't is the time you end up wearing the copper bracelet for theft!!! If someone is prepared to steal from a hospital, what else are they prepared to do? Who else are they prepared to steal from? Any theft should be reported because it might be hiding other problems!

No that comment came from someone with 5 years experience in frontline EMS with the UK National Health Service. The poster chose to break the law that means He received tickets. Peer pressure is no excuse for breaking the law! You can't say (like other posters have) other drivers don't like it when you stick to the speed limit. If someone is prepared to disregard one legislation because it inconveniences them what else are they prepared to disregard? The kid is 20 years old and already has 3 convictions! What else has he done which he hasn't been caught for? The ones who complain about speeding tickets etc are the ones who do it regularly and whinge the time they are caught. It was the police officer's fault for hiding behind the bridge, it was the other driver's fault for beeping at me. Criminals in general fail to accept responsiblity and in EMS you have to accept responsibility for your actions. Next you will be blaming the patient for being allergic to a drug which you never asked them about!!! You CHOSE to exceed the speed limit and you got caught. You chose not to excercise appropriate control over your vehicle and stop at the stop sign. People always downplay their convictions but a sworn in police officer has a duty to uphold the law and ensure public safety. I have been to too many road accidents where people have jumped stop signs or crashed their speeding car and KILLED OTHER PEOPLE! The law is there for a reason, if we all disregarded it simply because it was inconvenient to us then there would be bedlam and anarchy would reign. I do not have a criminal record, I do not speed (except where I am legally allowed to at work and I still excercise restraint), I do not drive dangerously. I do not like sitting on an open road driving at 70mph but the law says that is as fast as I can go so I restrict my speed despite having a powerful car which can do twice that speed. Actions have consequences and you are too young to understand that your illegal actions have repurcussions. How many times have I attended a police station to treat an inmate and they whine about how it's the police officer's fault they are in jail? (Not their fault for stealing in the first place!!!) I suggest you go to College, get an education and let all this fade into the distance. Then maybe when you have something to offer an EMS service they will consider disregarding your convictions. Stop trying to "beat the system". Honestly what have you got to offer a prospective employer except determination and a dream? Get an education, get on an EMS degree or health degree then your conviction will be far behind you. If you rolled into my office with no qualifications and 3 convictions I would send you right out of the door! Don't forget that your convictions will still show up on a background check even if the judge does give you a break! Go to College, get some life experience for God's sake you are only 20! I started my career at 19 and I realise now that I was far too young. I am only now learning the skills I need to be an EMT. Skills which you learn as you grow older, wisdom you develop. Nobody can teach you wisdom you develop it. Remember an intelligent man knows it's stupid to speed, a wise man doesn't do it!

codeblue you miss the point entirely. ONE conviction is a mistake THREE seperate convictions for the same offence is not a mistake it shows a total disregard for the law.

I don't mean to sound harsh here but you broke the law, you chose to exceed the posted speed limit and now you are whining because you are suffering the consequences! Over here in the UK if you get points on your licence these are removed after a certain period of time but you still have to declare them and they can still affect your chances of employment just as any other conviction can. Although speeding might not seem like a very serious offence to you, it shows that you are prepared to disregard the law and if you are willing to disregard the law what else are you prepared to disregard? I am just playing devil's advocate here and telling it like a recruiter would see it. Are you going to be this reckless when driving ambulances? Are you going to be reckless when giving drugs? Hey stuff the law, you're going to give whatever drug you see fit! Now I'm not saying you are as I said I am just playing devil's advocate but statistically your speeding convictions (and it's not just one is it? It's 3!!!) show that you are someone who is prepared to disregard protocol when it suits you. One conviction you could argue it was a mistake but 3 convictions? That's habitual!!!