If you had to do this all over again?

Id'e still have done it, EMS was a great job/career for me through my 20's. I would not have changed a thing. Now that I am in my 30's, well I can see the realities of its extremely low entry requirements, lowest pay in the allied health industry, feeling extremely "disposable" as an employee at many private companies, shabby benefits, ect ect, and the plethora of other issues in the EMS industry. With that said, if I had to change anything, I would still have done it, no regrets, but I would have got my degree sooner in life. We will see if there is still a spot for me in EMS when I finish grad school one day, I hope there is, but if not; well I'll have a lot to fall back on and can do something somewhat related to medicine or health at that point. I am not sure if I can have a 20 year career continuing to do 1-2 year overseas contracts, but I am happy with that for now.

Not to mention some of the incredible things I have experienced during my time in EMS, even if I changed careers later in life I would not trade a lot of those experiences for anything.
Although some of you may disapprove, I still encourage younger friends and colleagues to get into EMS, but I don't sugar coat it... and I also recommended they get their bachelors degree, so later in life they can always go on to PA-C if they feel the need or marry a sugar mama(or sugar daddy)
 
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If I could go back to my early 20's, I'd be much more disciplined and focused and would have gone to medical school, done an EM residency with an EMS or possibly a CC fellowship, and I'd be a very involved medical director of a progressive EMS service somewhere, possibly also a flight physician.

That doesn't mean at all that I'm unsatisfied with things having turned out differently, though. Army --> EMTB --> EMTP --> Flight Medic --> Flight/ICU Nurse --> CRNA has been a great ride and an excellent career progression for me.
 
Remi said:
If I could go back to my early 20's, I'd be much more disciplined and focused and would have gone to medical school, done an EM residency with an EMS or possibly a CC fellowship, and I'd be a very involved medical director of a progressive EMS service somewhere, possibly also a flight physician.

That doesn't mean at all that I'm unsatisfied with things having turned out differently, though. Army --> EMTB --> EMTP --> Flight Medic --> Flight/ICU Nurse --> CRNA has been a great ride and an excellent career progression for me.
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That's an ideal career progression, IMO. Now you're probably making $100/hr or so. Many people in EMS get used to the overtime money, eventually rely on the OT money and get stuck, and never return to school.

Look at me as a perfect example, nineteen years after I dropped out of college, I'm just finishing up an AAS in EMS. I would love to earn a degree as a PA, but with a rotating shift schedule, it's just not possible. People that do EMS full time before going to school can run into the same issue. Definitely school before full time EMS if possible. If something goes down and you're no longer employable in EMS, you'll need to be able to do another career. I'm one broken back or blown out shoulder away from disaster, which is why I'm going to do either EM of Public Admin next.
 
46Young said:
That's an ideal career progression, IMO. Now you're probably making $100/hr or so. Many people in EMS get used to the overtime money, eventually rely on the OT money and get stuck, and never return to school.

Look at me as a perfect example, nineteen years after I dropped out of college, I'm just finishing up an AAS in EMS. I would love to earn a degree as a PA, but with a rotating shift schedule, it's just not possible. People that do EMS full time before going to school can run into the same issue. Definitely school before full time EMS if possible. If something goes down and you're no longer employable in EMS, you'll need to be able to do another career. I'm one broken back or blown out shoulder away from disaster, which is why I'm going to do either EM of Public Admin next.
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I'm scared of getting stuck like that, and I'll be honest, it's why I'm starting Excelsior since I'm at a place where I'm on shift a week at a time with a good, but not overwhelming, call volume.
 
I'm not far into my career...

I was lost in my early college years. Had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Made crappy grades because I had no interest in anything. When I got into this field, my focus changed, and found myself with a genuine interest to pursue something. I've developed a lot as a person, and on that alone, I wouldn't change anything. I have no idea where I'll go after this. As long as I don't get stuck on a transport company, then I'll be good until I figure out what next challenge I want to take.
 
Nope. I enjoy the work in EMS overall, but the pay is pretty terrible and the opportunities for advancement are near non-existent. Combined with high-stress and a heavy call volume, it's just another crappy job that pays the bills right now. In an ideal world, I would have finished my bachelor's degree in four years right out of high school, gone on to graduate school, and been in a profession I love by now. As it stands, I'll be almost 28 when I finish my bachelor's degree and over 30 when I'm out of graduate school. Maybe one day I'll look back at this time fondly, but I'm just here for the paycheck at this point.
 
I'm just getting started in EMS after a career in the Military.

I've been all over the world, met every kind of person you can imagine, been places and done things that most people will never get to do. Some of my stories would make you blush, others would make you sick. I wouldn't change a thing.

I'll never make a ton of money in EMS, I knew that coming into it. I just wanted a second career that had some of the adrenaline, camaraderie, and importance of what I've done in the past. The thought of ending up in a cubicle makes me have nightmares.
 
I'd probably lean towards staying in school if I had the chance to do it over again.
 
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