Those are a concern for sure. I am not suggesting these courses need to be completed while we have the folks in school off the line. But maybe a "you will get your AAS in the next three years or pay back school" could be worked in.
Three year contracts are common place in the hospital. I signed a paper that I’d have my BSN within 3 years or be fired..
We did three year contracts for both paramedic school and the fire academy for our single role paramedics. The current chief thought that sent a weird message so they’re gone. We still do three years of continuous employment following a tuition reimbursement check however.
In your opinion, is there a difference in this department overall be suppression or medical with services delivered in comparison to what the norm is, or considered to be, in the fire service?
Tidbit from my world.
For sure. Not a knock on fire vs EMS. Truthfully it seems oddly individualized, the pursuit of higher education outside of nursing that basically mandates this. But then, I hear the nurse crowd going on about the educational machine that are the nursing institutions. Just wondered. I do know the service does not make the medic.
No not really. We’re just your average five station department in the burbs. I will say our paramedics are in general better than most of the area. We don’t have a bunch of veteran dudes that can run everything thrown at them in their sleep, but we do have a lot of guys and girls that make good, safe choices. I feel fortunate that of our 20ish firemedics, only one is a liability and he has the highest seniority on the job and will retire soon I hope. I do think it helps that a lot of the medics have four year degrees and have learned good communication skills.
This is kinda what I was asking. Good to know, and I’d have to agree that they’re more than likely better off for it because of their formal education, as is the service area.
