CCT (Ground) Motion Sickness and Other Questions

[Ump104]

Hi all!

I stumbled across this site, and I have a question. I'm a second-year BSN student and an EMT-B, and I'm looking to do Critical Care Transport (on the ground) as a career. I'm planning to do 3 years in the ICU, go for a CNS, and get all the required classes (ACLS, PALS, etc.) and then apply for a ground CCT job.

My concern is this: I get motion sick. I AM able to get over this with the use of Dramamine (I'm going to try ginger gum at some point too), but I'm concerned that this will hold me back or keep me from getting a ground CCT-RN job.

Is this a reasonable concern? Is it something that will hold me back, or no?

Also, for those of you who work CCT or know a lot about it, what exactly is the hiring process like? I'm guessing there's a background check (I have nothing to hide!), driving record check, etc. Is there also a psych evaluation? And with the background check, is it like a police/fire background check, or just a records check? Not that I have anything to hide, I just like to understand what I'm getting into when it comes to stuff like this!

Also, any tips to make me a better candidate or make me more desirable?

Thanks all!

E.

[Ump104]

Anybody?

[Rio, ASN, RN]

Do you get sick no matter the position in the vehicle? ie, facing forward, sitting on the bench sideways or in the aft facing seat? Getting motion sick should not impede hiring unless it is to the degree you can not perform your job.

Background checks are no different than any other medical provider job. Unless the HR department has some paranoid delusion about transport.

Hope this helps.

[astn]

I'm very late to the party, but I don't come here much.

I would recommend making a new plan. Limited motion sickness is an acceptable thing, but not so much that you need medication.

I start to get queasy during long-rides in the back of the ambulance when there isn't a patient (as the RN where I am typically moves from truck to truck depending on the run) but once there is something to think about (the patient) I've never been motion sick. Now, I just tell whoever is in the front-right to get in the back when we're going to/from the transport (RHIP) and then I never have to deal with it.

As far as making yourself more marketable, working peds is probably one of the more valuable things you can do, as there are more open jobs with pediatric transport services in my opinion, but if you have both peds and adult, you're golden. I wouldn't worry about the background check, as it is no more stringent then another hospital employee (and if you work for a private service, usually much less).