What do people think about Paramedic's?
396896
They are Saints who save lives.\n\nThey are an essential part of the emergency rescue support system. Yet they are overworked and underpaid.\n\nLong past time they were recognized for the hero's that they are.
344167
Why is it not an option. Be come a police officer and become a vol. fireman & paramedic. And god bless you for having such high standars..
140270
I think all police do their job well, but if you see a police officer do their job poorly, people suddenly yell that he is a pig or say dirty cop, and relate them with hanging out at donut shops...\n\nPeople make fun of police if they think the job is not being done well, but if it is done well, we all give thanks...\n\nThat pretty much fits almost any job though doesn't it???
210279
Tom, I went back to college having never received a degree the first time around (I went on the Budweiser scholarship program, go figure), but when I finally realized what I had a passion for doing, and found a school that offered classes to match, it was great. I got my degree in paramedicine, and work as a paramedic for several areas and I love it. The only difficulty was juggling work schedule with (mostly) night classes, most of the students are very young (read: immature), and may get upset at you for blowing the bell curve, and the fear of making a big career change. If you can get past the last hurdle, the other two are easy!\nGood luck!\nSteve
1008974
Paramedics have different schedule's set forth by there state, local, and federal governments.  While some paramedics may work 12 hour shifts each day five days a week others may work 48 hours on call and 72 hours off duty time to spend with friends and loved ones.  Paramedics even emts respond to a wide variety of emergencies, but they also do a variety of other things.  Like transport a patient from a nursing home to a doctor, hospital, or for other medical reasons that a patient may need to be transported.  Most of those patients may me elderly from nursing home's or someone that may not be able to get to therapy on there own free will.  So when you see an ambulance driving down a street it may be that they are doing the thing that they wanted to do when they became a paramedic.  To preserve the integrety of life, and to help those in need know matter what is put in front of them.  Paramedics in thier time off from there job with the ambulance service sometimes work in the hospital emergency room or volunteer there time to other things.  The one most thing that paramedics, emt's, or any other person in the medical field such as nurse's, doctor's or any other medical proffesional they never stop learning.  They go to refresher course's and other learning source to keep the high standards of rescue and medical care skill's up to date and in tune.  Some cities have there own ambulance's that are part of the fire department.  They work the same hours as the firefighters and are on call the whole time that they are at the station.  They eat, shower, sleep, and that is thier home away from home.  Paramedics, firefighter's, and other medical professional's sacrifice not only thierselves, but also it take's away from there family and kid's.  That's called dedication to the care of helping people and saving lives without being selfish.  There family also sacrifices thier loved father, daughter, son, or wife that is a paramedic so that they may be able to oneday save you or one of your families lifes or to give comfort in the unfortunate event that there is a tragedy.  So you might say that if you were a paramedic, it does'nt just effect you.  It also effects your family and love one's and the person or person's you are trying to give medical help to.  If you are thinking about being a paramedic dont think your going to do it for the money, because you not going to make a gold pot full of money.  Most paramedics that got into there field did so without self reservation.  They did to help the people they could help and comfort the one's they could in the time of loss.  A paramedic and emt are your advocate.  When you are injured and can't speak for yourself and can't tell them what is wrong it is thier proffesional knowledge and quick thinking in a moments notice that save your life with the continued communication's with the medical doctor's and staff of the emergency room that you may being transported to.  The paramedic is your voice, eye's, and ear's to make sure that you get the proper level of care by the time that you reach the hospital.  Without the paramedic's training, knowledge, and skill,s how do you think that you would make to the hospital in a life threatning situation.  You wouldnt.  A paramedics life is not all a bed of rose's.  Being a paramedic is a hard and very challenging job.  So remember when see that ambulance traveling down your city street.  The paramedic never stop's working or learning.  It is also a very demanding job.  On a lighter note paramedic's are able to go on vacation, and spend quality time with there family when there away from work.  Remember a paramedic doesnt always get that patt on the back or a job well done.  They mainly get only self gratifitcation and to know that they may have helped make a change for the good in someones life to the best of their ability.  I could keep going but
678968
it is basically a trial and error typw thing that most doctors use. I was a paramedic for 10 yrs, the majority of doctors that I came into contact with and the doctor that I saw regularly for my ADD would start you out on one medication and then after about a monthm he will physically exam you, and check to see how you feel you are doing on the medications. So basically neither is "better" but it just depends on how it is doing with your specific problems
1073942
So the hubby is in the way, huh?\n\n I was an EMT on a rig for 2 years on a 911 provider ambulance in So CAL., it was the best experience of my life. I saw many things that people would up and run from. But it served to make me a mature, ambitious, responsible individual capable of leading a team of EMT's or a corporate meeting.\n\nWhat you do;\n-Wait a lot, for calls and patients\n-physical stuff lifting, pulling, pushing, and so on.\n-assist paramedics\n-radio and computer communication\n-customer service\n-vitals, spiking bags, splinting, backbord and c-spine, setting up EKG's, CPR, moving patients, documenting, oxygen therapy\n\nThe pay sucks, you make your money on OT but it opened a lot of doors for me, currently I work per diem in a hospital as a tech, EHS coordinator. You can't pay to get that type of experience. \n\nEMT is definetly not a life career but it is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. \n \nThere is nothing more satisfying at the end of the day knowing that you saved or impacted somebodys life.
226818
I think it is a very interesting and admirable job, but it is a lot of hard physical work.  Other than that, it would be on my list of careers, if I were to make a list of careers that I would want to do.\n\nI am not an EMT, but I work with a lot of them.\n     Pros :  Each day is different, and many times can be very exciting.\n             As first responder, you will have to rely on your skills and knowledge in many crisis situations.\n             \n     Cons:  People will use you as a Taxi to the hospital.\n            The EMTs I work with are on 24 hour shifts, so some days they can be working the full 24 hours.
1168736
A Tech position, children's ER are always looking for help.  But it depends on where you live some places perfer if the person is an EMT or Paramedic.  Good luck.
45881
The market is dependant upon location.\nNo matter where you're at, EMT's are (and always will be) always needed.  The big factor is pay.  Basic EMT's don't get paid all that great.  In order to get paid better and in order to obtain a full time position you normally have to go to another level.  Either a Paramedic for pre-hospital or a nurse for in hospital.  EMT's will always be used and needed no matter where you're at but it's hard to live off of a basic EMT's pay.
550680
If you are asking, "Why do they always send ambulances on accident calls along with the police?", then the reason is that most police officers are not trained medical professionals. They may have rudimentary first aid, or even possibly first responder knowledge, but they want to have someone who is trained and certified to administer all types of medical assistance. Personally, I'd rather have an EMT or doctor working on me than a police officer with little to no background in medicine.
302933
I see your point with retards. After all, they're not going to know if you're laughing at them. \n\nBut paraplegics and quadriplegics are generally just regular people who have had accidents or something else bad happen to them. They deserve as much respect as the next person.\n\nI'm a little fuzzy about midgets; never met one.
496865
sometimes i enjoy my work. i get bored sometimes...other times i get way too stressed...other times it's very rewarding. \n\ni'm a paramedic in a large city.\n\n24 hours on and 48 hours off.\n\ni'd recommend this job to a person who isn't motivated by money, but is rather motivated by the need to help people. also, it's recommended for someone who has a lot of patience for people of various ages, economic status, race, religion, culture, intelligence, etc. it's also recommended to someone who is not sickened by blood, guts, urine, feces, vomit, etc. also, it's recommended for someone who is all of the above, but would hate to hold down a 9-5 desk job. (YUK!)\n\nthe rewards are not money, because paramedics are paid much less than what they deserve. however, the reward in helping others completely makes up for the lack of money. \n.
845266
I'd be an ER doc for sure and I'm a paramedic now.
249544
Im trying to decipher what you're looking for. Is it an accelerated Paramedic course? Or an accredited course?\nWhat you need is a bridge course. (bridges the gap between RN and Paramedic) I know of one in my area, Northwest Ohio. Anywhere else, I am afraid I don't know.
1182701
Please make sure you genuinely care for people if you choose nursing.\nIts wonderful having a caring nurse when you are needing care...They are much admired, much valued and much appreciated by the sick...\nWe take good health so much for granted...and we also take these service professions for granted too...\nIts not an easy job...but its very rewarding..if you care for people and enjoy looking after them...and I speak from a patients point of view...
494605
Prior to becoming a Paramedic, you have to be an EMT-Basic.\nCheck with your local FD to find out when and where these classes can be obtained.  If you're able to join the department (volunteer?) then many times, they will not only will they help you find a class, they'll also pay your way through the class for you.