aryan51

Thanks guys.

Im going to a private paramedic school, so most of those programs can't apply to me.

But my interest is definitely sparked to continue my education after I get my NREMT-P.

A little more substantial income will help out with that definitely.

Ive definately heard about this jinx, but when I was riding as a student, I think that overcomes the jinx. (either that or Im a white cloud) hmmm

What's everyone's thoughts on the "Black Cloud"/"White Cloud" theory?

I know a couple black clouds and seem to be a white cloud so far in my very short career...

Well, the online training is on the clock, right?

It sure is, but doesn't make it any less boring

4-6 hours once a year isn't so bad, but it seems like the end of the world when that time rolls around. Haha.

Currently I'm working for a branch of AMR that has it's act together fairly well. We have all the toys (i.e. Lifepack 12's, hydraulic assist gurneys, GoBook computers with EPCR's and a Computer Aided Dispatch program that works pretty well) and if I heard correctly we're the only county that can wear t-shirts. I realize this doesn't mean THAT much, but is very nice. We've got newer rigs ('06) and a good set of resources as far as maintenance and getting it done when it's needed. Most importantly the pay is the best by far in this and surrounding counties. Most other companies start off an EMT at $8.25, which is minimum wage out here, or if you're lucky you'll get $10 an hour. Whereas I started out at $12.60 on a BLS transport car. I believe our medics start out at $23-$25 an hour, but I'm not exactly sure about that. You'd get half that as a starting medic anywhere else besides fire around here.

But, AMR being the Wal-Mart of ambulance providers nowadays, came into my city and stole the 911 contract from the fire department. Which got them into a pissing match thats still going on after so many years. This seems to be what everybody hates about them and as dust said, they eventually run out of money, or get fingers pointed at them when idiots working for them do something stupid. The door is open pretty wide for people applying in my county. They practically throw you the keys to a rig as you're handing them your application, so the possibility of hiring less than adequate employees is high.

But I like it so far. I've only been here a year and have heard stories of getting lost in the system easily, but haven't experienced anything like this. AMR also has the contracts to many counties around me in central California. Several of which have been around for a while and do pretty well for themselves. Aside from the annoying mandatory online training

I don't have a problem with them.

Again...point taken. Even if the method of displaying that point makes me feel like part of a bad after school special.

No hard feelings.

You know, I realise that sounds asinine to those with limited experience. On the surface, it does sound ridiculous. But seriously, I never forget my vital signs, nor the answers to my assessment questions. After awhile, you just learn to retain it all, and that is a very positive day in your development when that happens.

See, in the early days of your career, you're still asking questions simply to be asking them. You are not yet developed enough to be actively assimilating the answers into a big picture in your mind as you ask them. So, you have to write them down, then go back and look at them after they're all asked, and try and analyse from them what the problem is. Or, worse yet (and more frequently) simply operate reactively from those numbers instead of really coming to a specific diagnosis and plan at all.

The problem is, the longer you get all distracted by the act of writing all your answers down, the longer it takes you to start thinking and acting in-line, as you assess, resulting in a much longer time until you become a competent, autonomously functioning practitioner. And if you are so into the act of writing these things down that you think you need a special form to do it with, then you're shooting yourself in the foot. I submit that if you simply keep using the tape on your knee, the glove on your hand, or the sheet on your cot to write this stuff on, you will get tired of it a lot quicker, and consequently start developing both your memory and assessment skills a lot faster. Otherwise, that piece of paper becomes more of a crutch and stumbling block than it does an aid to your practice.

Your time as a student is the best time to start developing that. Once you are "on your own," people are going to expect you to already have your shit together. That is not the time to finally start trying to function competently. Besides, once you are on your own, your employer is going to be providing PCR sheets to fill out anyhow. Just use whatever they provide you. I can't think of any good reason to go off developing your own form. Perhaps I am missing something though. Can you explain more about exactly what you mean by a "patient contact form"?

Very well said! Before i got into this field i sold beer, and when i first started i needed to write all my numbers down to remember them but after a while they just started sticking in my head.

Just takes a little experience! I don't see the harm in a little crutch when you're learning as long as you don't continue to rely on it. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", so teach your dog the important tricks young!

Sorry for the bad analogies. Haha!

Thanks Dust. I really do kick myself for not following through with at least my gen. ed. nowadays, but when I graduated high school i was so burnt out on classroom learning that i just didnt have the motivation to stay in the classes. Thankfully its very far from too late. Now as im getting back into some of the less orthodox teaching styles of EMS instructors, and seeing where people go after they hit that "Ok im a medic...now what?" stage, im starting to realize the need for further education. Especially if I want to take my skills abroad. So i guess its back to school for me (after medic school).

The gripe many of us have with even some long time posters is very unprofessional text message style posting, grammar that is worse than a first grader, and not using spell check. I am sorry for building on what you took as hostility. Please feel welcome to post, we enjoy new points of view.

Point taken, and I apologize for my lapse of formal structure. As you can see in my other posts I have the capacity for posting in a more "mature" manner, and actually pride myself in my vocabulary and grammar. This is more of an example of feeling too comfortable when posting. I was typing as i would pose a question to someone in person rather than writing it.

But thank you for all the advice I've received on the posted topic. I'll have to look into it further.

until you learn to post like an adult...

Whats with the hostility?

This forum has a lot of great information and a lot of really intelligent, experienced healthcare providers, but also a lot of childish nit-picking that is completely unnecessary.

Let the new guys post in peace without fear of being jumped on by the vets!!

Hey ive heard something before about after you get done with medic school you can take just a couple classes and have an AA....anybody heard anything about this??

It seems like i remember it being like a program you go through to do it...not just going to regular classes...also heard about the same thing to get your RN...after having NREMT-P you basically shortcut some of the steps for completing it.

Not sure if i heard correctly...but that would be pretty cool!!

a long strip of cloth tape on the thigh works great too

Hey im also considering moving abroad in the distant future, and after reading a lot of posts on here have decided the UK is more of a hassle than i wish to undertake.

Whats the story on Australia and having NREMT-P from the US? Do they accept it over there or do you have to re-do everything like in the UK?

Thank you so much!

Thats exactly what i wanted to know and then some!

Yea it does! Thanks!

How bout anybody working in the system with a little hands on advice?

Hey hey, im really excited with this new field im getting into! Ive been an EMT-B for about a year now and im starting medic school in July. The part i love about this career most is the fact i can do it almost anywhere...which brings me to my question..

For some reason a buddy and I are dead set on moving to Boston a little while after we finish medic school...but we have no idea what the system is like or anything at all about Boston to be honest....just seems like a good place to start our adventures...sooo i was wondering if anybody could clue me in on how everything works over there...or even if Boston is a good choice.

Just some general advice based on what i said would be great!

Thanks!

We call 'em Ricky Rescue's out here LOL

How bout being a medic school student and practicing your IV starts on hungover friends the morning after a big party? OR living in a house with a bunch of friends that 3/4 of you are in EMS and have enough random things to almost make up 2-3 jump bags LOL

Thats happened more than once....at their request of course..LOL...they felt loads better after they had a 1000 bag squeezed into them.

Now that i think about it a little more...youre shifts arent overlapping right?

Like the A and B shift system? Ya didnt mention anything about that... :?

Sounds like youre describing a "Shift trade"..."I EMT-B will work EMT-A's shift on these days and in return EMT-A will work my shift on these days."

Not sure if im stating the obvious here , I dont know about other places but in my area these are a way of life....people use them allll the time...even have specific forms for it....doesnt sound illegal as much as them not wanting excess overtime....but i guess it would depend on your state laws.

Its legal in California...

Might be completely off track though...