Starting Paramedic.... Need to knows!?!?

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phillips1210

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I just completed my 3 month EMT-B class this spring and I am now moving onto Paramedic this fall. I love this career field! I really enjoyed EMT class and everything I learned. I am a little nervous about my year long paramedic class and all the information I have to retain. I have heard that it is very time cosuming and difficult to learn. I have plenty of time on my hands to devote to this class so that part I am not worried about. I have never been in this class or career field until recently. I would like to ask everyone of there own opinions on what was difficult for them in this class and what helped them overcome that problem? Any helpful hints or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
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blachatch

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Im in the same boat as you going right into medic this fall from Basic. Study your A&P now and get a jump start on Med math and start to learn your drugs just to get a head start on some things. Atleast that is my game plan for the next few weeks. GOOD LUCK!!
 
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phillips1210

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I agree. I already took my ECG class and I'm studying the drugs now but I'm terrified of the math. I have never been good at math at all so I'm not to sure on what to study for the math. I heard I needed to study percentages, decimals, and fraction.
 
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blachatch

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Lakeland community college.. If you took and ECG class already thats a good start.. I am terrible at math as well ha.
 
AnthonyTheEmt

AnthonyTheEmt

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Math isnt really that much of it. Just study hard and work hard. BTW, youre going straight from EMT to Medic? Do you have any experience at all?
 
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blachatch

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AnthonyTheEmt said:
Math isnt really that much of it. Just study hard and work hard. BTW, youre going straight from EMT to Medic? Do you have any experience at all?
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Doesn't sound like original poster does, neither do I. It is a very common thing out this way to go right from EMT to Medic. It is actually recommended.
 
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phillips1210

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No sir, I have no field experience. In my personal opinion I had no problem passing EMT -B. It was also recommended that if I wanted to be a medic to go straight into it. I am able to give medic class 100% of my focus. I just worry a lot so that's why I am asking if I need to know anything specific so I can be ready.
 
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leoemt

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I wish you the best of luck, but honestly I don't think it is the best idea. Here in WA I have never seen a Medic program accept a student with less than 2 years as an EMT-B. Doesn't mean they are not out there though.

I personally think you are doing yourself a great disservice by rushing the Medic program. Doing good in class doesn't necessarily translate into being a good EMT or Medic. I know several nurses who excelled in class but are worthless as a nurse.

If this is what you want as a career, you owe it to yourself and your patients to be the best you can be. This means gaining field experience as a Basic before going to Medic.

Just my own one cent worth
 
Christopher

Christopher

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leoemt said:
I wish you the best of luck, but honestly I don't think it is the best idea. Here in WA I have never seen a Medic program accept a student with less than 2 years as an EMT-B. Doesn't mean they are not out there though.

I personally think you are doing yourself a great disservice by rushing the Medic program. Doing good in class doesn't necessarily translate into being a good EMT or Medic. I know several nurses who excelled in class but are worthless as a nurse.

If this is what you want as a career, you owe it to yourself and your patients to be the best you can be. This means gaining field experience as a Basic before going to Medic.

Just my own one cent worth
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I've not seen that to be the case in our area, perhaps it is a difference in clinical time and education. (disclaimer: I went EMT -> Paramedic)
 
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gw812

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I'll second the suggestion to get experience. I did great in class and am doing okay in hospital clinicals, but on the ambulance I am getting slammed. Remembering all my drugs, my s/sx, and treatments while also learning how to deal with and question patients is a big challenge. At least see if your school will let you be a rider on an ambulance
 
AnthonyTheEmt

AnthonyTheEmt

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leoemt said:
I wish you the best of luck, but honestly I don't think it is the best idea. Here in WA I have never seen a Medic program accept a student with less than 2 years as an EMT-B. Doesn't mean they are not out there though.

I personally think you are doing yourself a great disservice by rushing the Medic program. Doing good in class doesn't necessarily translate into being a good EMT or Medic. I know several nurses who excelled in class but are worthless as a nurse.

If this is what you want as a career, you owe it to yourself and your patients to be the best you can be. This means gaining field experience as a Basic before going to Medic.

Just my own one cent worth
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^^^^^^^^^^^

Could not agree with this anymore
 
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phillips1210

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Haha I get told every once in awhile by Basics to wait and others think I should do it. So on that note I am still going back and forth. I completely understand the difference between the classroom and the in field experience. The main thing for me is my instructor from my basic class is also the instructor for medic. He has told me on numerous occasions that he is confident in me and thinks I will do fine. I really want to not only be a good student but my main goal is to be a good medic and I understand by doing good in class and passing the test does not mean that at all.
 
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phillips1210

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I am very dedicated to this class. Everyone on here will definitely see many posts from me in the next year and I will use every educantional resource available to do my best. The last thing that I want to do is disgrace this career field and the people in it.
 
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phillips1210

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Oh! Also, I live in parkersburg, wv. It is not a very fast paced community so the hours for ride alongs will get me plenty of time to learn. I have 500 hrs of ride along time where I am the third person on the truck where I just observe. I have 250 clinical hours that will give me plenty of time for triage, trauma and medical assessments etc. I am able to perform anything I need to that a medic would in the field unless I become confused or unknowledgable on the situation.
 
MrJones

MrJones

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leoemt said:
I wish you the best of luck, but honestly I don't think it is the best idea. Here in WA I have never seen a Medic program accept a student with less than 2 years as an EMT-B. Doesn't mean they are not out there though.

I personally think you are doing yourself a great disservice by rushing the Medic program. Doing good in class doesn't necessarily translate into being a good EMT or Medic. I know several nurses who excelled in class but are worthless as a nurse.

If this is what you want as a career, you owe it to yourself and your patients to be the best you can be. This means gaining field experience as a Basic before going to Medic.

Just my own one cent worth
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AnthonyTheEmt said:
^^^^^^^^^^^

Could not agree with this anymore
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And maybe Doctors should spend time as Physician Assistants before going to med school. Or Registered Nurses should progress from Nurses' Aid through LPN and then RN.....

:rolleyes:

Seriously - I understand the point y'all are making, and why you're making it, but generally speaking I pretty much disagree with it. Bottom line, if the clinical/internship/testing process isn't effectively weeding out the candidates who shouldn't be medics, perhaps the clinical/internship/testing process should be fixed.

And never forget - even the med student who graduated last in his class is called Doctor. ;)
 
Jambi

Jambi

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firstshirt said:
And maybe Doctors should spend time as Physician Assistants before going to med school. Or Registered Nurses should progress from Nurses' Aid through LPN and then RN.....

:rolleyes:

Seriously - I understand the point y'all are making, and why you're making it, but generally speaking I pretty much disagree with it. Bottom line, if the clinical/internship/testing process isn't effectively weeding out the candidates who shouldn't be medics, perhaps the clinical/internship/testing process should be fixed.

And never forget - even the med student who graduated last in his class is called Doctor. ;)
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I don't believe weeding out should never be the goal of anyone in a educational or training role. All the professions you mentioned above have substantial clinical aspects to them after their formal didactic period. EMS does not, hence the importance of the being a basic and getting some experience. It's not perfect, and in reality, the clinical/field/whatever should be changed but since so much of EMS is subject to what market forces will allow, things get abbreviated. It should also be kept in mind that the EMS level with the exception of basic are all really designed to build on former training and experience.

I can't see someone skipping union apprentice and jumping straight to journeyman.
 
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