I have big dreams and need advice.

valdesr11

valdesr11

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Like most of you, I have high hopes of becoming a Paramedic and I believe that I'm walking a very long road to get there. It actually came to me when a family member of mine was having problems giving birth which resulted in her baby being premature. I was in the waiting room that had an elevator and there came down paramdics from LifeFlight which is a company that works for Miami Childrens Hospital. They were there to transfer the baby to the much more advanced hospital. The moment I saw them I said, Thats who I want to be.

Over the past 6 months I have been in situations where people have been in need of emergency medical help and I havent been able to help them. I told my self this is what I want to do, and its basically what I have wanted to do my whole life. To help people, let them know that I am there to save them when they are in a hopeless situation. My girl friend tells me I'm crazy because it doesnt make enough money, and why am I going to limit my self to something like that when I can do so much better in college but I know deep down inside this is what I was born for and this is what I'm going to do.

I am 20 years old, enrolled at Miami Dade College currently getting my degree in Emergency Medical Services which I believe will put me through all the books I need to become a paramedic. I posted this up so you guys can get to know who I am, and because I need your help. I want to work with the best paramedics in the city of Miami, which I believe is the Miami Dade Fire Rescue. Whats my best bet and what do you suggest? Thanks for any help you can provide guys. God Bless.
 
Well for one, you have to really love this job to do it, i dont know anybody who does it for the money. Also, i think if you really want to help people and are worried about how much money you will make you could always go into nursing or being a PA or even being a doctor. I love being an EMT and dont have any regrets, but thats just me.
 
valdesr11 said:
My girl friend tells me I'm crazy because it doesnt make enough money, and why am I going to limit my self to something like that when I can do so much better in college but I know deep down inside this is what I was born for and this is what I'm going to do.
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:rolleyes:
 
You know the road can be considerably shorter if you go to 12 week Paramedic school for the barely homeostasasing, Parathinktheyare's and Medicfighters - you know, those Firefighters who fight being forced into Paramedicine every day.

And good news, its endorsed by the Houston Fire Department as acceptable because its where they send thier Firefighters to.

Quick, ondandsetron! :D
 
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lampnyter said:
Well for one, you have to really love this job to do it, i dont know anybody who does it for the money. Also, i think if you really want to help people and are worried about how much money you will make you could always go into nursing or being a PA or even being a doctor. I love being an EMT and dont have any regrets, but thats just me.
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They quit paying I quit working so I guess I'm in it for the money.
 
If you do not know anyone who does it for the money, then be sure to ask if they are signing every single paycheck over to their charity of choice.

Every job is about the money...to say anything other than such is pure foolishness.
 
akflightmedic said:
If you do not know anyone who does it for the money, then be sure to ask if they are signing every single paycheck over to their charity of choice.

Every job is about the money...to say anything other than such is pure foolishness.
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Agreed. I'm mostly motivated by the fun part, and the noble calling thing is on down the list past money.
 
Well of course we all need the money, but if money was my first goal then I wouldn't be thinking about paramedics and just stay in school.

I'm I better off going to paramedic school or does it look better on your resume when you graduated from college with an EMT degree?

I'm willing to go through any training or school if they guarantee me going straight to Fire Rescue.
 
valdesr11 said:
Well of course we all need the money, but if money was my first goal then I wouldn't be thinking about paramedics and just stay in school.

I'm I better off going to paramedic school or does it look better on your resume when you graduated from college with an EMT degree?

I'm willing to go through any training or school if they guarantee me going straight to Fire Rescue.
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If you want fire rather than being a prehospital medical professional just go do the 10-12 week Paramedic course. It will teach you enough to read a protocol book but not practice medicine. They have a very high NR pass rate but keep in mind pass rate does not equate to quality education just means trains you for the test.

edit to ad: You can find a 2 week emt boot camp, as emt basic is required to get into the 10-12 week Paramedic program.
 
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I don't understand how you can do medic school in 10-12 weeks? The program here is 1200+ hrs over the course of a year...

Just sounds like too much information in a short amount of time to be a truly effective paramedic??? I may just sound stupid though...
 
NVRob said:
I don't understand how you can do medic school in 10-12 weeks? The program here is 1200+ hrs over the course of a year...

Just sounds like too much information in a short amount of time to be a truly effective paramedic??? I may just sound stupid though...
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For the most part, the firefighters that go through the program have no desire to be a competent medic, they just wanna be a firefighter
 
NVRob said:
I don't understand how you can do medic school in 10-12 weeks? The program here is 1200+ hrs over the course of a year...

Just sounds like too much information in a short amount of time to be a truly effective paramedic??? I may just sound stupid though...
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I, too, am wondering what this alleged 12-week paramedic course is, or if that was just a joke.
 
12 weeks plus clinicals. So maybe 6 months to be done.
 
jtpaintball70 said:
For the most part, the firefighters that go through the program have no desire to be a competent medic, they just wanna be a firefighter
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Which is possibly ok so long as they only do treatments they are comfortable with and are happy to hand off to an ALS transport company.
 
jjesusfreak01 said:
Which is possibly ok so long as they only do treatments they are comfortable with and are happy to hand off to an ALS transport company.
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I"d side with it not being ok at all. But that's just me, and my incredible dislike for firebased EMS
 
jjesusfreak01 said:
Which is possibly ok so long as they only do treatments they are comfortable with and are happy to hand off to an ALS transport company.
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The firemedics around here do their own transports. I'd never even heard of fire fighter medics with separate transport companies till I came to this forum.

It's unfortunate that the attitude persists in the fire service, but there are incentives in a few departments I know of that make it better to form up a career in the EMS side of the fire department, and I see people who are excellent medics working in those EMS positions.

Not saying that firemedics are all stellar, just that they aren't all minimally competent as EMS providers.
 
Set your mind to it and do it. An excellent EMT makes a good Paramedic.
 
Wow, I wouldn't want anyone that did that "accelerated" paramedic course treating me, you can't possibly learn to be a competent medic in that short period of time (at least IMO). How can they even pass their exams?

As far as firemedics go, that's all we have around here and the ones that I've ridden with seem to be incredibly passionate about EMS, but that's just what I observed.

Anyways, if it's what you really want to do, then go for it, don't let anyone stop you.
 
fast65 said:
Wow, I wouldn't want anyone that did that "accelerated" paramedic course treating me, you can't possibly learn to be a competent medic in that short period of time (at least IMO). How can they even pass their exams?

As far as firemedics go, that's all we have around here and the ones that I've ridden with seem to be incredibly passionate about EMS, but that's just what I observed.

Anyways, if it's what you really want to do, then go for it, don't let anyone stop you.
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fast65, 3 months can be decieving... for instance, in Maine... there is a 3-4 month course, but it requries you do 1200 (or so) clinical hours, plus a few hundred more ride time hours and there are pre-req's for classes such as BIO1, 2 Chemistry and A&P1, 2....

So, sure... the class may be 12-16 weeks but it is by no means a 3 month program.

And, I have met people who have mastered their trade in weeks and others who have gone to school for 12 years and are idiots so don't let that fool you. :)
 
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