jmdjax

Thanks guys. tcripp, Thanks for pointing that out! I was rushed typing my post. I usually have excellent grammar and spelling. I do not, nor have I ever worked in EMS. I just passed my NREMT last month. I currently work in an office and I am dressed as such (right down the street from Century). Ruff, In Jacksonville that will take two tanks of gas in my old beast I noticed you did not mention Shands in your list. Is there a reason? I did apply for a Patient Care Tech position with them as I noticed they hire EMTs for the job as well. By the way, do you have any preference given the choice of IFT or PCT? If so, why? What will give me the greatest experience and opportunity to learn and develop useful skills?

Hello, I have applied to a few hospitals locally and sent e-mail to a couple of IFT companies here in Jacksonville, however I have no received a response back from anyone yet. Most of these sites lack personnel contacts or any way to contact human resources, so I was going to swing by a local IFT company after work since they are right down the street. This company did not have access to an online application, so I sent an e-mail to HR via a link under the employment section. I understand hospitals, too, are exceptionally busy most times. Is it acceptable to stop by and search for the human resources department to speak with them in person? Ten applications and/or e-mails later over the course of the last three weeks and I am geting ancy! The jobs are available, and posted, but like most detached, internet based application systems that lack human interaction, it's hard to get a response back.. Thanks in advance! Joe

Thanks. I guess it's just that I do not know where I am moving yet. It's still a coin toss.

I am NREMT certified. But that doesn't mean I can go to any state and work, right?

I'm trying to find a website that will show what states have reciprocity with others. Specifically for EMT (or paramedic) but also for Minimum Standards (FF1 and FF2). Is there such a thing out there on the internet? Specific possible states are Georgia, California, Illinois, Texas, and Hawaii. I'm in Florida by the way. Thanks!

I have seen most major cities seem to be fire/ems integrated, with the exception to (mostly very) rural areas. This may not be true nationwide, but at least it is as far as I have seen. But to answer your question, I have a lease agreement for the next 6 months and I am open to the idea of moving elsewhere after that. I would stay if I can get into a paramedic program, but I am just unsure of which route to go as of yet. As a side note, I am not opposed to fire academy, however I do not have the same "desire" to complete it as I do with EMS in this stage of my life. I feel I should move around a little bit (maybe even international once I have a good amount of experience?) before I decide to settle in government position like a fire station, if I ever decided to do that. I guess my point is that options are great, and I would rather do paramedic, which can be transferred to other states much easier than minimum standards, and seems to offer a broader range of opportunity. Again, feel free to correct me if my interpretation of anything in this field is wrong. I am very serious about starting a career in this field, but I am a "newbie." As some have said, however, most people end their careers in this field, unwillingly, and as another poster mentioned, I do need a backup plan as always (another reason why the RN bridge program was appealing). "Unwillingly" may not be the correct term, as I for one plan to continue my education for as long as I live in anything I can. Thanks guys!

Where would I get experience as an EMT that was not on a transfer truck or hospital setting without being a fireman? In my area, fire and rescue are the same. I don't want to do fire school (yet, at least) in Florida because I don't want to limit myself here.. There is one "county" EMS that does do 911 calls, but they are way booked up honest question though, I don't see what else you can "do" as an EMT, and less so, a paramedic, unless you are a fireman also. (Again maybe that is just my location)

Hey thanks Alex. That sounds a LOT more reasonable, and a lot more interesting. While I am seriously interested in EMS, the lack of advancement opportunities past paramedic *may* pose an issue long down the road. The option for nursing is definitely not a bad one, although at least (while I'm still kinda young) I can do the field stuff and be happy. Why do you say EMT-B to EMT-P is not a step? I understand there is a vast difference in the two, but in another thread it was recommended to apply for paramedic school as soon as you can.

Hey thanks Mike. I talked to my instructor for EMT-B and he said it is not a bad idea to do paramedic before I do fire school. I do not want to limit myself with fire academy as I am not sure I want to stay in Florida. I should have given a little bit more of a background, so here it goes: I'm 25 years old. I left engineering school to do my EMT-B and further this career path. Some would say I am crazy, but during my EMT class I fell in love with the profession. I know the pay is terrible, and I've debated a little bit on "how much is not enough?" but overall, I decided it doesn't matter. This is what I was meant to do. And I DO plan on doing it right. Now, where do I want to be? Well, ideally, I would like to be FREE. Which is also why I do not want to do minimum standards in Florida. I would like to travel a bit sometime in my life, and there would be opportunity for both paramedic and nursing pretty much anywhere in the world. I had two reasons that nursing had crossed my mind, 1) the higher pay, and 2) the ability to travel, which is also potentially available for medic too. I never anticipate being "rich" in this endeavor, but I do know it will make me happy, and just hope I can make enough to be comfortable. Of course both reasons are secondary to the fact that continuing education is a necessity anyway. I have spent too much money and have too many student loans to have justified my engineering degree at this point in my life, and took this path and lucked out. I am currently seeking employment with a couple of IFT companies and one rural county EMS. There are also a few hospitals here in Jacksonville I am applying to, and I am greatly looking forward to breaking into this profession. I have no images of grandeur, or anything, as I've noticed in a lot of newbie threads, so I figured I'd throw that out there..

Lone Star : I was not "intent" on becoming an RN. I am interested in EMS, hence why I went for my Basic. I was merely inquiring as to the educational requirements. I was not looking towards EMS as a "easy way out" to RN. I had not heard of this bridge until I was nearly finished with my basic class. I was only inquiring about it as a viable option in my future IF I did not feel this was "shaky ground education." Fiznat: I am currently seeking employment as an EMT-Basic at IFT companies or hospitals. In my original post I meant that I was planning on doing paramedic before minimum standards for Fire School. Not before aANY job in EMS. As an aside, my nearest opportunity for medic school is August 2011 unless I can get a shift schedule position. In my area, Fire school and Rescue is integrated, meaning I need fire academy if I want to run "911" calls for the city. My other option is IFT or a hospital until paramedic and/or fire academy. I think most cities are like this. Thank you for the info on the bridge program. I do not know much about being an RN, however as continuing education it seems like a viable option.

Well, I plan on going to paramedic now, and postponing fire school, as I'd really rather be in the medical aspect, plus the reciprocity between states seems a little funny, and don't want to limit myself to Florida standards. Anyway, I went to FMTI and got my basic. The medic class I'm having a hard time finding a night class (most are shift days), but I digress. I have heard of a 3 month program you can do after paramedic that gives you your RN. I am unsure of which school does this. (I'm in Jax, FL by the way). But regardless, how is this possible? Most RNs have a bachelors degree, and while I have an associates, how would a paramedic cert and a three month course match up with some of those high end courses that college RN students take? Am I missing something here? Anyone have any information on this?