The best advice I could possibly give, is weigh out every option and find what makes YOU happy!! Not what makes others happy. I started out volunteering right after EMT school and got a job as a transporter in a local trauma center. I didn't make much money, but I got to meet a lot of people in the hospital and learned one of the most important things in health care, no matter what profession you decide. Bedside manner. From there I went on the work as a tech on a step down floor and eventually the er. I learned a lot of different things from the hospital that have helped me along my path to where I am today. Yes, this job is rough at times. No the pay isnt great. The days are long, and it can make a personal life challenging at times. But it comes with the job. However, there are a lot of benefits to this career as well. Don't be discouraged about it because of the bad sides. I know a lot of people who started out as a first responder volunteering and have went on to become RT's, Nurses, PA's, etc. by using it as a stepping stone. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor to find the perfect career path. Just keep you in mind and make you happy. That's all that matters!
Hey, I need a place to start.
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abckidsmom
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You don't save lives. I can only point to a handful of people who would have died if not for my actions in 17 years, and if I hadn't have been there someone else would have done the same thing.
The thing you do is make hard days easier for people who call you. Or not. Sometimes they are pissed off that you're even talking to them, sometimes through circumstances beyond your control you have to do things that you would rather not.
The cool part is making a connection with a person and lightening their load for a little while, using your skills and knowledge to make them more comfortable, less sick, more educated about their condition, closer to definitive care.
I have been back working full time on a 911 ambulance since June and have done CPR once. Some people see more arrests, but the vast majority of people barely need anything, much less heroics.
The thing you do is make hard days easier for people who call you. Or not. Sometimes they are pissed off that you're even talking to them, sometimes through circumstances beyond your control you have to do things that you would rather not.
The cool part is making a connection with a person and lightening their load for a little while, using your skills and knowledge to make them more comfortable, less sick, more educated about their condition, closer to definitive care.
I have been back working full time on a 911 ambulance since June and have done CPR once. Some people see more arrests, but the vast majority of people barely need anything, much less heroics.
Shishkabob
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You're still 2 years from when you can be registered as an EMT. Enjoy highschool. Take health science classes, biology classes. math, reading and writing.
But don't neglect on enjoying the time you have left in highschool.
Average day on the job? Run 9 calls that don't need an ambulance (let alone a Paramedic) such as flu, stubbed toe, cut finger, etc, all the while they complain that you took too long to get there "because I called 911", and demand a ride to the hospital, even they have several working cars in the driveway and family who follow you all the way to the hospital while all you do for them is a staring contest, which you'll win. Run 1 call that you can help someone on even if it isn't life threatening (fractured arm, give pain relief) and every once in a while, run a call that you might be able to make a real difference, even if it isn't life saving.
But don't neglect on enjoying the time you have left in highschool.
Average day on the job? Run 9 calls that don't need an ambulance (let alone a Paramedic) such as flu, stubbed toe, cut finger, etc, all the while they complain that you took too long to get there "because I called 911", and demand a ride to the hospital, even they have several working cars in the driveway and family who follow you all the way to the hospital while all you do for them is a staring contest, which you'll win. Run 1 call that you can help someone on even if it isn't life threatening (fractured arm, give pain relief) and every once in a while, run a call that you might be able to make a real difference, even if it isn't life saving.
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Well said!!!
Melclin
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As long as you accept best medical evidence on who those pts are.
Anyway, my opinion (remembering of course that opinions are like arseholes: everyone has one and they're mostly full of s**t) is that a general, compassionate desire to help people isn't, by itself, a good motivator to be a good paramedic. Go and help the starving children in which ever country happens to be suffering the worst at that particular time.
My experience (n=1, so you know, take a lot of notice) with people I went to uni with was that those who banged on a lot about helping people liked the feel good bit of holding grandmas hand but got sick of the job started to hate the job when their supply of the milk of human kindness dried up a after being spat on, screamed at, assaulted and driven to edge of insanity by one too many scum bags. On top of that, they tended to be pretty poor clinicians. They didn't really care a great deal about all those boring medical book learnings, they just wanted to help people (consider the contradiction inherent in that idea) and hey, driving lights and sirens is fun too.
I'm not saying don't do it. I'm presenting my limited experience such as it is. Caring isn't enough. There are lots of jobs in which you can express compassion. If you aren't interested in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, medical science and the application of that science in the clinical setting, you need not apply in my opinion.
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abckidsmom
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This is really important stuff. Well said.