Advice and wisdom for a new EMT?

[neoclassicaljazz]

Hey everybody. I've been reading some of the posts on here for a while and think this is an awesome forum..so I finally got on my computer and made an account I'm 22 years of age and recently received my EMT-B certification. Right now I am volunteering at my local EMS station trying to learn as much as I can and get experience.
I'm hoping I can get some advice from some of you. Being a total rookie, what should some of my goals be? Basically, right now I'm just trying to observe and absorb as much as I can and step in and help when I feel comfortable doing so and when asked to.
I'd also like to get on to a paid service eventually. Any thoughts on when and how I should go about that route? I would like to get more experience first so that any coworkers I have aren't seeing me as getting in the way or getting frustrated with me or anything but I'm not really sure when I should consider myself ready to move up. The people I work with on my volunteer service have been nothing but great to me and help me a lot but I don't know if people at a paid service would have as much patience haha.
Any and all advice is appreciated!

 

[Ecgg]

what should some of my goals be?

Your goals should be your own, establish what you want to achieve then execute.

My 2 cents: Observing from the side lines is ok, but at some point you need to take charge and conduct a proper patient assessment. You need to feel comfortable doing it on your own without anyone holding your hand. Usually if you wait until it's perfect you will never do it, so start doing that now.

Apply to IFT companies in the area, apply to 911 and start working. One leg forward, no one is an ace when they start.

Go to school.

 

[WuLabsWuTecH]

Go in with your eyes open and your moth shut and just try to take in as much as you can. Remember, the EMT card doesn't mean you know it all, it's just a license for you to start learning in the field!

Good luck!

 

[neoclassicaljazz]

Ecgg - Good advice. Couple questions. 1. What is an IFT company? 2. What kind of schooling are you referring to? I would like to get a higher certification in the future. Looking into the local programs.

WuLabsWuTecH - Thank you! What you just said is my mentality exactly. I am not a "big ego" type. If anything I am kind of intimidated because I'm the youngest guy on my crew and have the least experience so I would never try to act like a know it all haha.

 

[Ecgg]

Ecgg - Good advice. Couple questions. 1. What is an IFT company? 2. What kind of schooling are you referring to? I would like to get a higher certification in the future. Looking into the local programs.

WuLabsWuTecH - Thank you! What you just said is my mentality exactly. I am not a "big ego" type. If anything I am kind of intimidated because I'm the youngest guy on my crew and have the least experience so I would never try to act like a know it all haha.

IFT means Interfacility transport (private companies to hospitals) “Interfacility transport” means scheduled or prearranged transportation of emergent or non-emergent patients between health care facilities.

By schooling I am referring to formal college education.

 

[neoclassicaljazz]

Ecgg - Alright thanks! I hear this college thing can be a good idea. Don't know if its right for me at the moment though. Don't know what I would go for and don't have the money to go to school as an "undecided" major.

 

[NomadicMedic]

If you're going to stay in healthcare, you can't go wrong with a basic science track. If you haven't been to college, the general education is a plus. English/Comp, bio and humanities can help make you a more well rounded individual.

 

[Fire51]

Like Ecgg said start practicing your skills like patient assessments and so on, being new to the field it's understandable that you fill you may be in the way of people, but just start to get over that and help with everything you can. If you get asked to do something and don't know how to do it just let them know, from what it sounds like you volunteer department will help you learn it for next time. Just always go in expecting to learn something new and start apply for places when you fill comfortable with you skills, you should be just fine.