Questions for the EMTs

[chickapea]

Hello, I was excited to see a bunch of EMT posts on here. I'm going to school to be a nurse, however while stuck in my holding pattern of applications, I'm enrolled in an EMT class. I just started this week and I'm very excited about it. I was wondering for those of you who were an EMT before getting into nursing, how has this helped you? How hard did you find the EMT training to be? Where do you work? I really want to work in a hospital. Is it hard to get a job in a hospital as an EMT? For those of you on an ambulance, how is that? Sorry, I know this is a lot of questions. I've also just been trained as a CNA and will be taking my exam soon so that could be another option. Just looking for some insight as to what I'm in for. Thanks!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Go for it! I became an EMT-B and EMT-I before becoming a nurse and completed paramedic training after I was a nurse. As far as hospital/ER tech jobs, it depends on where you live. The ambulance can be a ton of fun. Just make sure that you don't get so bitten by the EMS bug that it slows down your progress toward your ultimate goals.

[MaineEMT2RN]

I'm an EMT-B and I love it. I'm still a student; nursing school begins for me in September, and I'm working now full time as an EMT while getting all the academics done and hope to be able to keep working a couple of shifts a week after clinicals start.

I think the experience gained as an EMT is great. I'm on an ambulance (EMT's generally don't work in ER's in our area) and have tons of patient contact, and spend lots of time in and out of all the area ER's and LTC facilities.

I think one of the advantages this background will bring to my nursing career is experience will all sorts of issues - psych, medical, trauma, respiratory, OB, etc., as well as critical thinking and decisions making.

Another advantage for me personally is that I'm generally someone who does things on their own, and as an EMT I've really had to learn to work in partnership with someone. I think this will have great value in the future.

The course was alot of work and the national test was a beast, but it was all worth it. The money's not great, but the work is always fascinating. And remember what the previous poster said - EMS can be very addicting, so keep focused on your goals.

Good Luck!