EMT-B?

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So I need two filler classes for next fall to max out my financial aide. The EMT certification for my community college is only two courses - is it worth getting the cert? The other two classes I'm taking are government and architecture.

I think I want to work in the ED (though I'm waiting until clinicals to make up my mind). Just looking for opinions :)

Thanks in advance!!

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I think it's definitely worth checking out. Additionally, some hospitals prefer to hire nurse's aides's in the ED that have their EMT cert. Just remember that the two thinking processes are very different.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

If you want to get a job in the ED, being an EMT would be a good way to get your foot in the door prior to being a nurse. The ED I work at has a few techs who are also EMT-Bs. If all you need are filler courses I'd go for either that or Spanish.

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Thanks to both of you for answering! I'm already fairly fluent in Spanish, so I think I may just get this cert!

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I was debating going back for my EMT-B. With work and school would have little time to volunteer or work a second job. It was an amazing experience. Nurses in my State can do am intense 4 or 5 day EMT-B program thinking may do that when I become a nurse.

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If already fluent in Spanish could take another language class like sign language or a language that is usually spoken in your area. Spanish, Polish, and Sign are big languages in our State. Look at it as giving you a step up when looking for job's.

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If already fluent in Spanish could take another language class like sign language or a language that is usually spoken in your area. Spanish, Polish, and Sign are big languages in our State. Look at it as giving you a step up when looking for job's.

It's definitely Spanish here - I'm in south Texas. Sign language is an interesting idea :)

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Specializes in ER.

Most EMT-Basic courses are only 1 semester long. Vocational EMT classes tend to be around 8-14 weeks. Each state has different requirements but in general it's around 150 hours of total education if I remember correctly. I think Texas is more broad in the scope of practice for EMS though so it may be more than that.

It's kind of like the CNA or patient care tech equivalent for EMS. You wet your feet. However, paramedic is far more challenging and I think it was useful when I was going through nursing school.

I was hired as an ER tech with my EMT but I had volunteer ff/ems to back it up. I then worked as an ER paramedic in a sister hospital and I made quite a bit of money during nursing school. I made about 17-27 bucks an hour as a paramedic depending on crisis pay.

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Most EMT-Basic courses are only 1 semester long. Vocational EMT classes tend to be around 8-14 weeks. Each state has different requirements but in general it's around 150 hours of total education if I remember correctly. I think Texas is more broad in the scope of practice for EMS though so it may be more than that.

It's kind of like the CNA or patient care tech equivalent for EMS. You wet your feet. However, paramedic is far more challenging and I think it was useful when I was going through nursing school.

I was hired as an ER tech with my EMT but I had volunteer ff/ems to back it up. I then worked as an ER paramedic in a sister hospital and I made quite a bit of money during nursing school. I made about 17-27 bucks an hour as a paramedic depending on crisis pay.

It's 10 semester hours at my community college (after a med term class, which I'll take during the summer). I figured it would slide in nicely with the rest of my classes.

I've worked as a CNA before, so I have some experience with the basics. I don't really have any desire to be a paramedic, I just figured the certification might make me a more desirable hire. Maybe I'm wrong.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.
Thanks to both of you for answering! I'm already fairly fluent in Spanish, so I think I may just get this cert!

Are you planning on going for a baccalaureate degree? Most if not all require a couple of semesters of a foreign language to graduate.

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Are you planning on going for a baccalaureate degree? Most if not all require a couple of semesters of a foreign language to graduate.

Yes, I am going for my BSN. No foreign language requirements for my program, or any in my area.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Are you planning on going for a baccalaureate degree? Most if not all require a couple of semesters of a foreign language to graduate.

I didn't know that. My BSN definitely didn't. My high school did, though.

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