Ask A Medic

I chose it from hearing war stories and the pay was a hell of a lot better than what I was making then. I like helping people. What makes the job stressfull is the bs that people will call an ambulance for now days. They think we are just a taxi cab that you can pay later or not at all.

I don't bring my crap from elsewhere to work and I don't bring my crap from work home.

 

You're an EMT-I and seriously asking that?

 

Good choice but I hate charting.....

 

Sorry had to go save a life. They had an infected cuticle

 

Yeah nurses are the same everywhere. I'd like to see them out in the street sweating and out of their air conditioning....they would be totally lost and burned out after one call.

 

It's amazing the difference between male and female nurses

 

I was an EMT-B for a couple years. Now I'm about to graduate with my PharmD . I will say that a good amount of info that I learned for my EMT training has helped me during pharmacy school. Being an EMT is more fun though - even on a BLS rig.

 

Here we will sit in the hall for hours waiting on a bed and running out of trucks in our county cause they decide they want to re-arrange the pt's in the ER before they give us a bed. They will sit around and wait for 5 stretchers to be piled up in the hallway before they decide well maybe we ought to put some of these people somewhere. They are putting nurses in charge that have only been a nurse for 3 months...WTF????

 

I wanted to ask before someone else did.

You will be surprise how many civilian do not know the difference.

 

Well if you have NREMT maybe look outside the state? I don't live in the state I work in.

 

Never had anything to do with EMS out that way so I can't answer that. Personally...I love my job and don't want to do anything else. It took me 2 yrs. If that is what you want to do and have your heart in it, go for it. It's a lot nicer going to work when you love what you do.

 

You are one of the few I respect now. It's a lot easier to get along and do what's right for the patient than to be an ass. I could really care less that they make more than I do. I enjoy what I do and that's all that matters.

 

I did and we do have a job to do too. Would you rather me answer your questions or leave when you call 911?

 

California IS the place to be, but unfortunately it takes aspiring FFs 5-8 years before being picked up. In addition, the economy has closed many stations down, cut down on pay, and has ceased it's hiring processes here.

As always, it is probably best to make yourself standout from the rest. So I would opt for your P license, a two year degree, basic fire academy, forestry, and intern opportunities.

 

Nice reply dude! I like working out in the rural area I'm in cause you do actually get to see your patient improve. Of course that can also go the other direction too. IDK I worked in a busy city service for 6 years where you were 10 minutes from the hospital. Besides we usually get them better quicker than if we just took them to the hospital and dropped them off like they use to do.

 

It's not beyond a medic to use a combi-tube also. Hey there are times when we just can't get the ET in. It happens....

 

They don't let us RSI. The helicopter's can do it. I think it has something to do with what drugs we can push as medics and the choppers have a medic and a nurse onboard.

 

I was in EMT school and had gotten my provider CPR card the week before I performed it the first time. It just so happened it was my Dad.

 

That is true....I thought you were joking around...lol

 

In National registry which is what most states are using for testing these days there are a few levels.

EMT-B - Can basically drive the truck and do bandaging.

EMT-I - Can start IV's and basic life support. CPR etc and can give limited drugs. Such as give Oxygen, D-50 (a drug for low blood sugar) and Epinephrine but only if it is packaged in a pre-filled syringe. (no one carries it that I know of)

EMT-I advanced - New level that just started June 1st. They can use the CPAP machine. I don't know much about this level as no one is currently licensed at this level here

EMT-P - This is a paramedic that can give numerous drugs and knows how to calculate drug dosages and mix meds into IV bags and calculate the dosage by drip rate. They can intubate people, read a cardiac monitor ( and do something about it). Use CPAP machine for difficulty breathing, give breathing treatments. Read and know how to use 12 lead EKG's. I know I'm leaving some stuff out.

For Georgia you can see what all we can do at this website outlining our scope of practice.

http://ems.ga.gov/programs/ems/policy.asp#practice