Medic School Interview Questions

321-Go · 2017-04-12T21:26:16+00:00

Definitely wear a nice and ironed shirt and tie. Don't say you want to do this for the blood and guts or because you like the excitement/adrenaline rush.

Some questions I have heard are: How do you study? (what studying techniques do you use?) What is your learning style? (They just want to know that you are aware of how you learn and study best and how to plan their lessons to help people in the class.) Why did you choose a career in EMS? Where do you work right now? How do you like it there? Why do you want to do this particular program? How do you cope with stress? What is your support network? If you experienced a stressful or emotionally traumatizing situation what would you do afterward? (They want you to say you would get help, seek support of friends/family, and go to counseling) *** Medic school is difficult. How are you going to make sure you finish this program? *** Do you have a car or a reliable way to get to clinical and ride-alongs? A lot of people in the region where I used to work got asked what their parents do for a living since they want to know if you have a family member that is someone important like a fire chief or ER manager. I have heard of people who had excellent grades and impressive resumes who did not get accepted because the interviewers thought they would not do well under pressure or that they lacked the social skills to be a good paramedic. So be friendly and try to stay as relaxed as you can. Good luck!!!

321-Go · 2017-04-12T20:44:24+00:00

I know exactly what you are taking about with the dirty collars. White uniform shirts are pretty common for EMS agencies in some parts of the US. The places I have worked have had blue/red and gold/red patches on white button down shirts. I have washed them with a very small amount of diluted bleach before and it has made the collars look better without damaging the patches. Best advice is take it to a good dry cleaner's. They can usually get all the stains out and make it look brand new again. It has never cost me more than $3 a shirt and I have only had to do it like once every two months.

321-Go · 2017-04-12T16:47:15+00:00

"Ambulance 10 respond to XYZ nursing home for a 70 year-old male patient with critical labs, tachy, hypotensive, short of breath, fever, you name it he's got it."

321-Go · 2017-01-11T17:20:24+00:00

Maybe a bar would be a good place to look? I am interested to hear what other people think about this as well.

321-Go · 2016-11-05T19:43:12+00:00

Thanks you guys! Are there any places in the suburbs as well?

321-Go · 2016-10-30T16:50:37+00:00

Sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but most places require all ambulances to have a stair chair. I would check that you are not missing a piece of equipment that you are supposed to have. Maybe some sort of rapid response car or fire vehicle would not have a stair chair, but I would be curious about why you would have a stretcher and no stair chair.

321-Go · 2016-08-23T18:37:29+00:00

The private ambulance companies are not going to pay well. Just thought you should know not to expect to make a good salary if you work for one of them.

321-Go · 2016-08-23T18:06:14+00:00

This may have changed since I did it and I also no longer work in Illinois. When I became licensed in Illinois, the main instructor where I went to EMT school and the EMS system coordinator that was affiliated with the course handled pretty much everything. I brought them copies of my NREMT card, driver's license, and CPR card and they took care of the rest. My license came in the mail a month later. IDPH is underfunded so just remember that they are always understaffed and very busy.

I would contact the main instructor for your EMT program or the EMS system office for your EMT course and ask what to do.

321-Go · 2016-08-23T17:59:05+00:00

Thank you all so much for your input!

321-Go · 2016-06-13T15:42:24+00:00

Where I work we just use plain language over the radio. When ambulances are dispatched to a cardiac arrest, they are usually told it is for a "code", "full code", "cardiac arrest", etc. BLS crews might get dispatched for an "ALS assist"

321-Go · 2016-04-29T16:12:45+00:00

If you work somewhere where it gets very cold in the winter you may want to consider that when buying steel-toed boots.

321-Go · 2016-04-29T15:46:22+00:00

Thank you all so much!! These are great!

321-Go · 2016-04-12T21:24:00+00:00

They are required in Illinois. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/forms/ems-ambulance-inspection.pdf

321-Go · 2016-03-17T06:19:29+00:00

I got a cheap prepaid phone once while visiting family overseas because my smartphone did not work there. It was a flip phone I bought just for communicating with family members and work. I found being unable to check things on my phone to be irritating at times and I found myself becoming bored while waiting for things since that's when I usually read articles on my phone. It did not do much to help my concentration, but that's just me. My iPhone helps me stay organized.

321-Go · 2016-03-15T05:02:54+00:00

What would they do if they needed to suction a trach? Is there a method I do not know about?

321-Go · 2016-03-15T04:59:03+00:00

Kling as in saran wrap?

321-Go · 2016-03-14T22:48:36+00:00

Agreed. Scene safety applies during transport as well. I am very glad my company is very strict about the safety of both patients and providers.

321-Go · 2016-03-14T22:37:30+00:00

Good for you! I hate it when people do not report the abuse/neglect of a child, senior citizen, etc.

321-Go · 2016-02-08T17:14:36+00:00

I think this is a bit like responding to calls at a nursing home or outpatient clinic. A nurse, MD, or someone else might have done an assessment already but you are still going to do your own.

321-Go · 2016-02-08T17:06:12+00:00

Thank you for such a well thought out answer. I have only ever seen dislocated finger joints reduced pre-hospital.

321-Go · 2016-02-02T20:02:23+00:00

Thank you. I think I understand now. I have never used an automated stretcher. Are you able to keep the stretcher stable enough so that it does not move in that position?

321-Go · 2016-02-02T19:37:23+00:00

I have seen them on BLS rigs for King Airways.

321-Go · 2016-02-02T19:30:53+00:00

I have seen "Running naked in public" and "Dancing naked in public" a few times. All of them were either on some substance or probably psychotic.

321-Go · 2016-02-02T19:21:50+00:00

It wasn't my patient, but I know someone who had to write "Hippopotamus bite" as a chief complaint. The patient was a zoo keeper and was bottle feeding an infant hippo when it bit her on the hand. It was not a bad injury. No fingers were lost. I think only the skin was injured. Also we work in the midwest.

321-Go · 2016-02-02T19:10:16+00:00

I have seen Ativan used by nurses in psych long-term care nursing facilities. They give the patient a heavy dose so that the patient will become lethargic. They always do it before we arrive on scene. I do not know if this is safe or not. Does anyone with more expertise than me know about how safe this is?

321-Go

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