rock_shoes

Don't know about other provinces but nursing pays well in BC. Don't let them fool you they are adequately compensated in this province. Demand for RN's is good and you make significantly more than the average person with a 4 year degree.

So, now that we're supposed to be back on topic rather than bashing another provinces system, does anyone know what the Academy of Emergency Training's PCP program is like? It's the only option other than the JI in BC and to be honest I really don't like the way things are done at the JI. JI instructors are usually great but they use so many of them for any given session that your current instructor doesn't know what the last one taught. As a result you end up covering some things twice and other things not at all.

I don't think there is anything wrong with medics taking rescue training. I spend time working with the local SAR team and sometimes the medic needs to be the first one in to best serve the subject. Without proper rescue training it would be impossible to do that safely. None of us go in unknowingly in that event right? I know I don't. When best serving patients requires getting to their side ASAP, medics need to take the training required to get there as safely as possible. I know flat-landers may have a different opinion but they also work under different circumstances.

Like I mentioned things are only moving in that direction now. Please don't think I'm suggesting people with less than a bachelors should be accepted into medical school. I just feel that people with a bachelors in a medical field make better candidates.

I don't know about the states but I know it will be a possible route to MD in Canada very soon. The programs are coming into place now that will allow students to attain a 4 yr bachelors degree in paramedicine. I don't know anyone who has done it to date but none of the programs have been in place for very long either. Personally I would choose students with either a nursing or paramedic degree over students with a bachelor of science. Bsc students have a great academic background but they usually lack patient care experience. I'm not saying Bsc students can't develop that, they're just at a disadvantage in that arena.

That's a pretty large portion of the voting public to discount. I agree with the concept of the death penalty, however we all know that even if the death penalty were brought back in Canada it's execution (pun intended) would end up costing us even more.

Happy Birthday MedicNorth. Thank you for the well thought out and sound advice to date. It's great to have an experienced medic willing to help out those of us who are still "wet behind the ears".

So how did our team fair. Quite well I hope.

Ideally workout partners both have similar goals because different goals require entirely different strategies. If you go to the gym on a regular schedule your pretty much guaranteed to meet someone with similar aspirations you can work out with. Also check out the gym facilities at your local pool. Often you can gain access to a full gym with a pool membership and have only one membership fee to put out. Plus you won't have as much running around to do if you chose to swim for cardio as everything will be in one spot.

Swimming laps, yoga, and high-rep lower weight free weights are great. Keeps you toned and flexible without beating the crap out of your joints. Also it provides enough variety you shouldn't get bored.

The way I see it the medics primary concerns should always be scene safety and patient care. Not extrication. If the FD in your area isn't doing there job properly perhaps it's time to find another group that will. In BC extrications are either done by the FD or SAR. All of whom are trained in extrication unlike medics. If the medics are busy cutting up the car who's caring for the patient right?

My EMR licensing exam was like that already so I'm sure the PCP exam will be even more so. Thanks for the heads up though. I'm not a big fan of those which one is most right questions either.

Dustdevil nailed this one on the head. Been there done that and hated every minute of it. I'm talking weeks on end without so much as passing out a bandaid. Just sit there in the truck waiting for something to happen. If your male the guys resent you because your sitting in the warm truck and there out working. Nothing you can do about that either because you aren't allowed to do anything else save go and pick up lunch. If your female be extremely careful not to be found in a position that could be construed as improper. Also forget about civil conversation for the most part. Many of these guys work out in the middle of nowhere because they have zero social skills and couldn't make a decent wage doing anything else. If it's still what you want to do at least you can go into it with your eyes open to what it is now. The money is good so I would suggest getting in and getting out as soon as you reach your monetary goal. Don't hang around past that point because many medics end up stuck there that way when they arrange there finances around the pay-scale.

In BC it goes like this for full-time. You do one month of home study before writing an A&P exam. Provided you pass the exam you continue forward to 3 months full time education at school, followed by your practicum and licensing exams.

You're right it isn't an excuse for anything. Even as a child. Let's just say I had my fair share of deserved spankings as a kid. I do know how to control it by this point in my life. What I should have said is that it's much more difficult to control when things are taught over an extended period of time. Med's do help however the side affects are worse than the disorder. Not sleeping for up to 3 days just isn't acceptable. In all honesty it's been as much a benefit as a hindrance over the years. As you mentioned there is a tendency towards perfectionism and I'm typically set and ready to go when others are still looking for that second cup of java. Point taken on the A&P. If I do take the full time session I plan on diving into that stuff a few months prior to starting. There's a great deal of information to be learned in a short time frame. Ed

I'm looking to start into the PCP program in BC in the next 6-8 months and I'm wondering about the pros and cons of the two options. What benefits do the two options offer? I realize taking it part-time will allow me to continue working the entire time, but when it comes to education I typically fare better when the process is a little more intense. I have ADHD so when the education process isn't at a brisk pace I lose my focus. I look forward to hearing from people who have taken it both ways so I can weigh my options effectively

Given the circumstances I would have done exactly the same thing. The ALS crew filing the complaint need to have there heads examined.

Unfortunately Brentoli in BC if you want to go full time you have to go through the part-time BS first. Usually people make it to what's referred to as "part-time full-time" within a decent amount of time which basically means you work enough you make or come close to full time pay however you still don't get full-time benefits. BC is one of those places where getting started is difficult but once your there it's one of the best places to be. Full time includes a good benefit package, pension plan, and some of the best pay rates in Canada. Typically full-timers work a 4x4 (4 days 12 hour shifts and 4 days off) so you average 42 hours a week. One way to fast-track going full time is if you are able to get into dispatch. You can enter dispatch at any point provided there is an opening and all dispatch positions are automatically full time. Once you go dispatch your locked in for at least three years. Dispatch shifts are 4x6 (4 days 12 hour shifts and 6 days off) but the rates are a little higher to make up for the lesser hours. You still need to maintain your license in dispatch though so you end up working some extra shifts on car to do that.

I take it you haven't spent much time working the equivalent of a BCAS kilo shift. $2 an hour to be strapped to a pager and have to be at the station within a certain response time. I agree this shouldn't be an issue for full-time staff, but the way BCAS is structured everyone spends time working Kilo and Fox (same as kilo but $10 an hour and you stay right at the station) before going full-time. For most it's a good 5 years before making it into full time.

You must be in BC. I thought I was doing well having a successful interview at 23. Probably wouldn't have green lighted me if I was much younger.

Ok. Ignoring the banter between some of the members I do have a couple of questions. I'm not ALS at this point and responded to this post more as a learning exercise than anything. First of all Hammer (bear in mind I'm not familiar with local protocols). Would it not have been possible to use a dose of epinephrine to open up the airway enough to use a ventolin MDI without intubating? If it's outside of your scope enough said. I'm not looking for a debate on what protocols should be allowed. Second. Is RSI not allowed in ontario at all or is it limited to a select group of medics.

I think you must have missed the part where "hammerpcp" mentioned you have four well fed firemonkeys at your disposal. Hammer what's the grey inhaler. I recognize the blue(Salbutamol, Ventolin) and orange(steroid inhaler) right away but not the grey.

I would say Polo shirts are a big no no. They just aren't enough of a professional look for EMS. A standardized uniform should improve public perception of EMS workers not tarnish it by having them look like they were just on the golf course. Blue or black are both out because of the LEO look they produce. Brown is out because EMS workers shouldn't look like they're out making deliveries for UPS.

Can't speak for the other provinces but I know BC is all about having your EMA paramedic license not a series of little cards you can clutter up your wallet with. The truth of the matter is that you must be proficient with ACLS in order to make it through licensing. Sure you get to collect cards like when you renew your CPR-C every 2 years but everything is about maintaining your license. Also there is a license review process, minimum number of patient contacts and a minimum number of continuing medical education credits every year. If your found lacking in experience in a particular area when your patient contacts and con-ed credits are reviewed after 5 years you get to do another licensing exam or lose your license.

Dust I think you would like the BC Ambulance Service uniform. Navy or black coloured service pants, black boots, a white shirt with clear easy to read BCAS patches and patches indicating a members level of education. Also epaulettes indicating rank (and no stupid hats!). Looks nothing like the RCMP uniform so there is no worry about being mistaken for a LEO or a firemonkey. Also the public recognizes the uniform easily because BCAS is the only service in the province serving the general public. All other services in BC serve heavy industry only.