Better chance at a job as Paramedic in PA?

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 18, 2011

With the 100's of people on here talking about how horrible the job market is for new grads in PA(Philly area), I am wondering if it would be a better choice to go the Paramedic route. Does anyone know the job market in that area?

I do volunteer work as a FF/EMT with my local fireco and the consensus among the medics I talk to is that their job market is pretty lousy as well. My guess is that it's better than for RN's but of course the pay is less and the shift work will make attending school problematic.

I was going to move up to Philly and attend nursing school there bc "there is such a huge shortage" haaa ....but after reading tons on this forum I've learned that there is NO longer a shortage there. Here in Miami there are quite a few schools who offer scholarships contracted with Baptist hospital so you are guaranteed a job for at least 2 -3 years(which is why I'm contemplating staying here and applying for those programs). But I may still have to go to PA for personal reasons. If I do, I'm wondering if I'd be better of going the Paramedic route if I plan on landing a job after graduation!

If you can get a scholarship for nursing school with a guaranteed job upon completion, why on earth would you consider turning that down? The only inexpensive nursing schools in the Phila are the CC's and the market for new grad ADN-RN's is dismal here. The market for BSN's is better but not that much better. So on the one hand, we have a subsidized nursing education and guaranteed job while on the other we have very significant out-of-pocket tuition expenses and poor prospects for employment. Not sure why there's much of a debate about which is the better alternative.

As it is I still have ALL my pre-reqs to take! By the time I'm done with NS, I'm afraid the market will be even MORE saturated!

I think you're already seeing a slowing of nursing grads and my guess is that the job market will ease considerably 4 or so years down the road. Of course, if you were an experienced RN from the Miami area with low or no student loan debt, I'd think moving to the Phila around say, 2015 might be an attractive option.

Good luck with your decision.

IndecisiveInMiami · Aug 18, 2011

Yes I know..the decision is killing me because of that exact thing. The reasons for going to Philly are solely personal(no family in Miami, not that much help with my son, struggling with jobs/income). My family thinks it would be easier for me to attend school there than here bc they would be of more help with babysitting my son than what I have here now. That's the ONLY reason I'd move there. But then again, it's a very difficult decision given the job market/debt I'll be in there vs. here. So I'm having a hard time deciding which is best for me. I don't think I'd ever move to philly if it wasn't for my family being there.

I've heard how hard NS can be so I want to make sure I have a good support system around me. The last thing I want is to have a ton of problems making it hard for me to get the grades!

I've heard Medics in the Philly area make decent money but I was concerned about the shift's they work. I wasn't sure if it was 12's or 24's they work. And how many per week. Obviously with a child it would be difficult unless they work with your schedule and are understanding of family needs. I've heard Hospitals are the last place to go to if you have issue's with scheduling.

Thanks so much for the info =)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2011

It's tough for paramedics too. DH was an EMT before he was a paramedic so was able to continue at the same place he worked as an EMT as a paramedic. He was able to get medical command there, which made it easier to get a job at other companies but he was hearing a lot of the same "one year of experience required" when he first finished school.

Now that he has experience, he gets job offers without applying anywhere, but to start out new it was tough.