jessicaCNAEMT

Are you referring to EMT-B A&P or a college level A&P?

I would hope one doesn't have a hard time with EMT-B A&P since there is very little in the curriculum.

College A&P

Remember, guys, reading the book doesn't do dick for your bandaging and splinting, immobilisation and extrication, and trauma assessment skills. Those are the things she needs to refresh, not the book knowledge. I don't think a full EMT course is necessary by any means. But a refresher is a great idea before hitting medic school. You'll get some supervised time doing the monkey skills, as well as hitting the high points of theory and lecture. Definitely a good way to go if you haven't had a chance to apply anything since graduation.

I would agree with Vent that college A&P is indeed the very best possible preparation for medic school though, bar none. And Intermediate school is a bigger waste of time and money than retaking the full EMT course. Go big or go home. Good luck!

I actually have never had a hard time with A&P. I have one of those funny brains that remember the things like that. Plus I do deal with crazy old people all day long that lose body parts like you wouldn't believe. (not really, I work on a severe dementia/alzheimer unit, so we lose things like eyes and legs a lot if you ask most people.) I am gonna look into the Refresher course I think as DustDevil suggested.

Ok this is my same problem, well not exactly. I am a B wanting to take the medic class but don't feel I have enough experiences to just jump. There is a specialist class about an hour away. You can get hired as an EMT I but not a B around here. So therefore you would get more experience's before going to the medic class. Does that seem like a stupid idea? Everyone thinks I am crazy.

I have a couple of numbers to call for EMT I course in the morning. Maybe that would be a better way to go. Around here you can't get a job as a basic so your unable to get that extra experience before taking the medic class.

Anyone recommend retaking the basic?? It's been a while and I went to take to Paramedic course, but since it's been awhile I thought it might be a good idea to go back through the basic.

If you work in health-care, I don't care if you are an RN, LPN, Medic, EMT, CNA, MA, or PA. You are not paid for all the work you do. You go above and beyond on a daily basis and get treated like garbage. It comes with the job. You continually pick up slack of the trash that gets to hang around because the union protects them. And frankly if you don't like the pay in one area, move to an area with better pay or switch to another company. Acadian is offering a $20,000 sign bonus for a 24 month commitment.

Something I have learned about Unions, they suck and take extra money from my paycheck to protect the lazy people who squeezed by and made their 90 days. Sure unions at one time were needed, like in 20's in the factories in Flint and Detroit, but frankly, now they are a nuisance. Nothing annoys me more then working with morons who can't be fired because they are in the union.

Although were I work now seems to be more lax. Sometimes things happen. You write your schedule down wrong or you put your car in the river, who knows. Unless it's some strange act of god, if you are a No Call No Show you should be terminated right then and there. It is a complete disregard of your employer and co workers.

I know of several companies that do that, but shame on you for comparing us to truck drivers. It sounds like moving up from bagging groceries to using the cash register.

I was comparing the way they do their training and how most companies pay for it if you will work for them for so long. Not the type of work they do to what a EMT or medic would do. There are not many Private or Public companies around here that do that. I happen to be married to a truck-driver, so I resent your statement a bit. You obviously know nothing about the business.

I wish there was a organization or program that you could apply through or some kind of class or seminar that you could go through to where you could be internationally known or recognized as being a paramedic no matter where you were. I'm not sure how it is in the US right now but we were having a conversation at a bar some time ago. There was a rookie in there and asked to see my credentials. I can't even remember what state it was but at that time they didn't recognize the National Registry or have reciprocity with IL so he was saying that I was nothing and if something happened legally there was nothing I could do even since it said Paramedic on it. And said he could do more than I could. Since it was at a bar and everyone, including me, was pretty "popped", I just let him rant and rave and let him go. Later on I found out he liked to start altercations and arguments.

I know the Wilderness upgrades, although not necessarily recognized by any type of government agency are recognized by other country's ems services. I have a friend who took one in Hong Kong while working there as a FF for a chemical company. They have classes here too and where he works now recognized that type of cert. for Wild land FF or something like that.

That's true. That's what the FD says though too, they have to be a bit crazy. Everyone else runs from a fire, they run too it.

I am very, very lucky to work with a nurse who albeit, older, has been around a lot and dealt with the gang bangers in Detroit and the coke fiends, so she knows what I am talking about. But then you get the ones out of nursing school, whose only expierence is dealing with nursing homes and the first time the call the tod, they ball for four hours.

I was talking with a nurse I work with about differences in EMS and Long Term care. I work as a CNA now because frankly I make more money, and am going to medic school in the fall. But I have worked for a looong time as a EMT-B. Over the course of our conversation another nurse walked up and was just shocked at everything I was talking about. I did my ride alongs and worked in a rough area and saw lots of things that were pretty nasty, it's just a part of the job. She was just shocked that the other nurse and I could just laugh off a lot of it. I get that a lot though, other EMT-B's and medics I know can just laugh off a lot of stuff that turns other people's stomachs in a instant, yet a nurse just can't handle it. Anyone else get that or is it just me and my deranged friends.??

Ahhh..............the joys of American politics. :roll:

I don't see why more Private companies don't do this. If you work for them as a Basic and they think your worth the investment, why not put them through medic school.

Most trucking companies will do this. You sign a contract saying I will work with your for x amount of years and your training is paid for. If you leave early you have to pay them back for your schooling.

I just started but it is 15 months, two or three nights a week plus one semester of internship (275 hours), about $4000 not including books and ACLS/PHTLS sessions.

Were in MI are you taking it?? That's where I am.

How long was your medic classes and how much did they cost?? The averge here is 13-16 months a few days a week and about $5000. Does anyone know of a shorter program that is more days a week?

I am considered by medical means "obese" and I would like to see a doctor do my job all day. I am on my feet all day long, I work as a CNA so I am lifting, turning, moving, running, pushing, pulling, all day. I have had 300 lb doctors tell me I need to lose 70 lbs and I laugh. I don't have high cholestrol or blood pressure. I work out everyday on top of work. I have lifted weights since I was in highschool hence a large part of my lower bodies weight is not fat, but muscle. I don't drink, don't smoke and am as healthy as a horse. You shouldn't be judging by outward appearance. I work a lot of very thin, smokers, who by all means are very unhealthy. So don't judge a book by it's cover.

OH and FYI, There are no scolarships for medic school, the way they do it is they make your major nursing until you get close to going into the actuial medic part of the college then they change it you to paramedic science major

Here the medic classes run 4500 for 15 months. If you are living at home you should be able to save up enough to pay or take out a student loan. It may take a while to save up, but you can do it if you really wanted to. Fact of the matter is if you wait a couple of years, I believe it's 24 when you can use your own income for fin aide your not going to get that much more. Maybe 500 if your lucky.

This is a common event if not more in some rural places. Most assume since it is rural they will get rest, not considering some calls and transfers are in hours, not minutes. Yes, it could be a dangerous event. I just came off a 36 hour tour with about a total of 6 hrs of sleep. It happens way too often and since there is no regulatory sanction and enforce hours there is not much that will be done.

I even know of a flight service that had a flight nurse that worked 9/24 hr shifts with very little down time and since they were not CAMTS certified, not much could be done. When she rebuked about it, they questioned her dedication.... to say the least she informed them what they could do.

Personally, I like 24hr shifts because the available days off, but like many other services the run volume has increased with down time is a luxury.

IAFC has performed several sleep studies showing the effects.http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=559

Ironically, truck drivers that transport cargo only can work so many hours, yet we that transport precious cargo and perform tasks that can be dangerous or life saving have no regulations. Make sense?

R/r 911

That is very true. DOT says OTR drivers drive 10 hours and that's it, doesn't matter where you are you shut down. You have to have so many days off between driving 70 hours too.

Since I am a CNA now and get more then what you are all talking about I think I will pass. I will stick with saving for the medic course in the fall.

ER Tech huh? I never heard of that around here. Is it more in major cities?

My biggest problem is courses aren't located close to me in most cases. The only one in MI is two hours away. I will check out SOLO, I have looked at WMA's classes and another schools.

I'm a WFR through WMA. It was by far the best class I've ever taken. By far. I regret not taking my EMT class through WMA or SOLO rather than wasting several months of monday and wednesday nights hanging out with volunteer firefighters who aspired to get "hired on."

It's not really aimed at rural ambulance stuff, but at guides or SAR people. If you're planning to ride a cyclocross bike from Provideniya to Magadan or that kind of thing, fantastic, but it may be of slightly less value on the East Nowhere Township Ambulance Squad.

Trust me I know what you mean. I wish I would have known about it and I would have done the EMT class through them too, for the same reason. I plan to move to AK in the ext few years so I figure it would be beneficial./

Not really if you are with a rural service or interested in s&r.