What more do I have to do to get a job in the ER?

Sassy5d · Dec 2, 2013

It's competitive. Catch 22. Hard to get experience when no one will give you the chance.

If you want to be in the ER, eventually you'll get there but really, there's limited amount of spots and tough to get into, even with experience.

Incidentally, the medics i work with are enrolled in rn programs. What does that say?

DON2084182 · Dec 3, 2013

Yeah, I'm in the process of getting into a RN program right now. I go online and there's 3 pages for RN job posting, and maybe one position for something I could fit into.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2013

The ED I work in now does not have techs, although I would love it if we did (but it's never gonna happen). At my old ED, we had techs, but they were mostly EMT-Is (we had a couple of basics, but they couldn't do much more than transport patients).

In my area, Paramedics are generally overqualified to work in the ED, because you will not be able to work to your level of training. You cannot intubate, you cannot administer meds, you cannot even transport a patient who is on a vasoactive drip. You will be relegated to lines, labs, and a liter, helping LOLs to the bathroom, and taking patients to CT or the floor. Whenever our techs got their Paramedic cert, they started looking for work on a rig.

Is there any reason you're not working EMS?

TraumaSurfer · Dec 3, 2013

In my area, Paramedics are generally overqualified to work in the ED, because you will not be able to work to your level of training. You cannot intubate, you cannot administer meds, you cannot even transport a patient who is on a vasoactive drip. You will be relegated to lines, labs, and a liter, helping LOLs to the bathroom, and taking patients to CT or the floor. Whenever our techs got their Paramedic cert, they started looking for work on a rig.
Is there any reason you're not working EMS?

Paramedics are usually limited to only a few meds by their scope of practice. There training is usually only for those meds. They usually do not even get the same college level A&P classes. Would you really want someone watching or pushing meds they are not familiar with?

TraumaSurfer · Dec 3, 2013

Alright, a little background which might make my situation a little bit different then those who posted previously.
I am certified as a Paramedic. I went through hours of clinical time in different hospitals, emergency rooms, burn units, ob/gyn, pediatrics, and time on the ambulance playing the role of the lead paramedic.
I currently work as a health tech at a school, I'm basically a school nurse without a certification. I also did a few months as a stand by emt for a youth football team assessing concussions and other sports injuries.
Before I landed this job in the school I put in at least a HUNDRED applications, dialysis centers, hospitals, rehab centers, etc. Had a few interviews, but, long story short, I don't have enough experience to even be considered where I really want to: the emergency room, I mean, I did become a paramedic for a reason, right ? (There's a reason I don't work the ambulance co. out here, too, long story) I'd always get the same email back "We regret to inform you...."
What more could I do ? I've put in an application to volunteer, but, even that is pretty full out here.
Let me know, even your experience in getting in. I would even love to be on any floor really, and I have my PALS/ACLS.

I read your other posts in the School Nursing section. You are NOT a nurse. For some reason you seem to believe you are just like a nurse. To be a school nurse you should have a BSN, RN and maybe a specialized certification. You are a certified Paramedic. Paramedics work prehospital since that is the way their scope of practice is set up. In the hospital you are a tech and limited to the ER. Before applying to any job, you need to find out the qualifications. Just having PALS and ACLS does not mean very much. For example, if you want to work Dialysis, you need to get the Dialysis Tech training and cert. You might also consider getting the Nursing Assistant cert to learn basic patient care since that is what 95% of your duties will be in the ER as a tech. You won't be doing many "heroic" things. There are other health care professionals with much higher education and many more hours of clinicals than you at the bedsides to do the skills.

Until you are an RN and one with a BSN, opportunities are not going to be plentiful for a Paramedic who does not want to work on an ambulance. New grad RNs are also not in big demand either.

For someone so new to health care you seem to be burnt out already. You "crazy mom" post was way off and showed you really did not have any clue about pediatrics or asthma. Yet, you wanted to make fun of the mother. You also stated you didn't care for all the kids you had to see in your school who you thought were boring. You are in for a big surprise if you think working in the ER is going to be all lights and sirens. Less than 5% will have a true emergency just like in EMS.

I also find it weird that you list "Lead Paramedic" when you are a brand new Paramedic. Was this with an EMT? Shame on that company for not having another Paramedic with you.

EMT assessing concussions and sports injuries in kids? Really?

I also doubt if you spent any more time in clinicals than what other Paramedic students did in those areas you mentioned. A few hours in each area does not make you qualified to work in any of those areas.

You need to be honest with yourself and your potential employers. And remember, just like others told you in the other discussions, you can not call yourself a School Nurse unless you are a nurse.

Sassy5d · Dec 3, 2013

I guess I should ask what you feel a medic does in the ED and why you are so frustrated that you can't work there. Do you know any medics that work in ED?

I love my medics!

The only way I can possibly relate is being an rn, and getting a job at Walmart as a greeter. (Not knocking greeters, I love them too)

Just imagine.. You're a greeter, a person goes down and you can't do anything for them, even though you're trained.

My medics (yes, I'm calling them mine) are MISERABLE because they are basically treated like techs who start lines.

12 hour shifts of nothing but assisting with walk in triages, starting iv's and doing ekg's. Again, this is why they are in rn programs.

The other problem with healthcare is it's, especially if you live in a small area, a tight knit process. I'm not sure why you are not running with an ambulance company but that seems to be a problem. The hospitals have a close relationship with their ambulance companies and their local fire departments. If you have some sort of drama associated with yourself and an ambulance company, that could be why your resume isn't even being looked at for a hospital.

Also, my medics (there I go again) are independent. They have years of in the field experience. This is why I have never had to question their assessment or triage findings.

Back to it. Your training is ultimately designed for on the field, that is not where you're working. I don't know why. That is a huge issue to probably why you're having a hard time landing a job.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2013

Paramedics are usually limited to only a few meds by their scope of practice. There training is usually only for those meds. They usually do not even get the same college level A&P classes. Would you really want someone watching or pushing meds they are not familiar with?

In my state, EMTs must work under an EMS Supervising Physician. Since this is not the case in the ED, EMTs who work in the ED are not working as EMTs. They are functioning as "techs". This is why their scope is so limited in the ED. It has nothing to do with whether or not they are qualified to administer a handful of medications.

DON2084182 · Dec 3, 2013

Trauma Surfer-

I know what techs do in the ER. I know that they don't push drugs,and I even know that most of them don't do IVs sometimes. I have seen techs work in different parts of the hospital, as well as I have friends who have been techs in the past. I know it's a lot of BS, I know it's not lights and sirens, I know it's not like TV, the movies, or even the wild stories. I have seen the BS.I know that they act as techs, but,it's the exposure that I want, the atmosphere.

Yes, you're right, I am not a RN, I don't have a BSN, and only my certification. But, I am alone in an office at an elementary school, I do EVERYTHING that a LPN, or RN would do in an office. Yes, I can give medication, I can do procedures, and it does have to be signed off by a physician and parent that I have been taught how to do that. It is our district policy. We do have an RN, and she works at her own office, and I have mine.I am a health tech, I know that. That's why I said without the certification, I know that they have much more knowledge then I do.

Yes, like I said "Playing" the role of lead paramedic. I was under the supervision of the paramedics on the fire department, but, I had to make all the calls, telling the EMTs and other medics what to do. If I made a mistake, they would be there to correct me, but, I took the lead on the calls, it was towards the "vehicular" part of my education, all medic students do this.

Yes, I know the dialysis center has specific training, it's on the job training, they look for various certifications beneath RNs.

Yes, this school nursing job doesn't fit me, and there's a lot of factors that play into it, we have a new staff in this district EVERY year. I have 40 kids some day in a 7 hour time period by myself, and there's a lot expected out of me, it does get frustrating. I am allowed to not like a job.Every year at this school we have new staff too,various degrees and years of experience, does that say anything ? I would just rather, if I could choose, to work in a medical based setting, not an education based setting, which is a school system.

There's more to that story, different administrators have had a lot of problems with that particular parent. We were going off of physicians orders, and having her breath in the medication, instead of blow by.

I was asking for advice to get in as a tech, the same position that CNA's get into. Yes, I know they have the bed side manner in their education that we don't necessarily, but, we do go through many more hours of school vs. a CNA.

I understand that I have little experience, I am asking what I could do based off of my situation and the little that I do have in getting my foot in the door to get more, that's all.

DON2084182 · Dec 3, 2013

Sassy5d-

Thank you! I don't have any drama with the ambulance company out here. I actually interviewed with them in the past, but, I was interviewing for a FT position, and they said by company policy they only offer those in school with a PT position, they currently don't have PT positions available, because like me, a lot of others are also in school as well.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2013

I'm sorry, I guess I don't get why you can't work PT on a rig and go to school? Seems like the dream situation to me. I just don't get why EMTs would choose to work in the ED considering how reduced their role is there, unless it has to do with scheduling concerns or something.

Sassy5d · Dec 4, 2013

Sassy5d- Thank you! I don't have any drama with the ambulance company out here. I actually interviewed with them in the past but, I was interviewing for a FT position, and they said by company policy they only offer those in school with a PT position, they currently don't have PT positions available, because like me, a lot of others are also in school as well.[/quote']
You kept repeating it was a long story, so I just jumped to conclusion's.
The job market stinks. Stinks! Qualified folk can't get jobs. Even nurses can't get jobs. Hospitals are going under, being bought out.
If you just want to be a tech, in a hospital, maybe go get ur stna at a nursing home, there's another option.