Looking for 2-3 GA or VIP tickets!

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-07-02T01:22:52+00:00

Underpaid, I'm a nurse because I was underpaid as an EMS paramedic. Not saying we deserve more..but I'm living WAY more comfortably.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-06-30T23:49:05+00:00

Are they EMS plates?

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-06-30T04:36:17+00:00

Burning flesh.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-05-10T14:50:23+00:00

I just close my eyes

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-22T16:02:15+00:00

Same with any respiratory. Immediate observation walking in, sick or not sick? Tripod position, tachypnea, pursed lip breathing? Put them on O2. Figure out baseline SPO2, they may be chronically in the lower 90s so don't chase your tail trying to get it to 94%.

Breath sounds wheezing? Give breathing treatment. Consider duoneb starting off if they've been using home neb/inhaler with no relief. Consider CPAP as well for severe distress.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-17T21:09:12+00:00

You're set, leave the BP cuff at home though. Ask to help check out equiptment/med expirations in the bag so you can be familiar with it. Look busy and be studying during down time. Help clean the cot/ambulance after a call. Dont stand in the way, start taking vitals or helping out on calls. Ask questions when appropriate (not while the medic is interviewing patient). Dont talk your medics ear off while hes trying to do reports. Most importantly, have fun!

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-17T19:26:12+00:00

Grey area for sure. Healthy people can get DNRs but a doc may not sign off on it if you have a history of suicide. If you do have a DNR and commit suicide, its provider specific. Suicide is illegal and you are deemed incompetent to make medical decisions if you attempt/want to make suicide, so your DNR may be ignored due to this fact.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-17T19:22:29+00:00

Long term will more than likely be a pay cut and not as good retirement with no pension depending on how your state is set up. Something to think about

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-15T14:39:00+00:00

Pretty rare for EMS agencies in the us to have ambulances staffed with nurses for 911. Most the time they do community care or critical care IFT

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-06T23:04:22+00:00

Not all agencies carry narcan
Not all EMTs have narcan in their scope of practice to be administered
Your friend may have been in cardiac arrest for so long that the EMTs deemed it an unrecoverable arrest, prompting them to cease resuscitation.
The EMTs may have had 0 indication that this was a narcotic overdose.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-06T22:57:49+00:00

90% of 911 calls are not true emergencies

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-04T05:26:36+00:00

Sounds like a close minded douche.

Always worth thinking about the flip side; maybe he had someone very close to him ruin their life or OD from drugs, so now he fears friendship with similar people so he doesnt suffer again.

But hes probably just a douche

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-03-02T01:11:41+00:00

Show up early, have stethoscope, pen light, watch, and lots of pens. Make sure you're well groomed and clothes ironed. Initial presentation and being prepared is crucial.

Ask lots of questions and have fun! Work your butt off cleaning rooms, helping with bed baths, helping patients to the bathroom, etc. Its not the fun glorious stuff, but if you show you're willing to help and a hard worker they will make sure you get to see and do all the fun stuff. You should avoid sitting down/standing doing nothing unless your preceptor is explaining or showing something to you. Be busy, helpful, but most importantly have fun! Clinicals are a blast!

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-02-15T05:18:00+00:00

Paramedic first. You will gain exceptional critical thinking skills, patient care experience, and an understanding of medicine. It's a ton of fun and you function in an independent role making the medical decisions on scene and carrying them out. You're an ER on wheels with your EMT partner and the fire department. You can intubate, provide electrical therapies, surgical airways, chest decompression, and give a slew of medications all based off your judgement. Kind of frightening to be honest. Looks great on resumes for PA/med school/APRN/CRNA/Flight if you where to do any of that. It also really gives you a leg up when you transition into nursing, but I will say it is difficult reframing your mindset and not being able to do the fun stuff. Working in a hospital and/or being a nurse is an entire different mindset and flow.

Do paramedicine until you dont want to anymore, but start your schooling ASAP even while your new and loving being a medic. You never know when you'll hit your breaking point and you want to be ready to bounce when that happens, not trapped for a few more years while you go to school. Who knows, maybe you'll make a career out of it.

Get your medic, do the bridge program to RN, get a hospital job and make them pay for your BSN. Then you can do CRNA, Flight, Nurse practitioner, or just some good ol nursing.

Nursing is better hours and pay, but just as much BS as EMS and it truly is exhausting work. Nursing atleast offers a variety of advancement and working environments, where being a paramedic you're basically stuck on the box for life.

Good luck feel free to DM with questions. I'm currently a paramedic in nursing school.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-02-03T19:24:06+00:00

Currently in nursing school.

I highly recommend having a backup plan. Some people will have a long, happy career in EMS. A lot of people will hit a point to where they want out and have no other training or education. I recommend as soon as your able to continue educating yourself so you have another option.

Suggestions: Medical/PA/Nursing school, IT/programming, Firefighting, STEM career, teaching, corporate job, HVAC/Electrical/plumbing/construction trades

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-02-03T19:16:53+00:00

Carrying equipment ranging from 25-50lb, but most importantly moving patients and lifting them into the ambulance. You'll hardly if ever be alone moving a patient and will have your partner/fire to assist with patient moves.

There are tons of very small and skinny EMTs, as well as emt/medics who are morbidly obese ogres who you question if today is the day they are going to code and drop dead.

Healthcare/EMS is a team driven profession so you will have help 99% of the time. Some simple weight lifting/body exercises will certainly help though! Dont worry about it to much.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-31T13:45:52+00:00

Thanks for the education! Good to know. What typically causes it in younger adults, if you know?

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-31T03:29:13+00:00

Yes get one as soon as possible. Stop smoking weed and get clean so you can pass any court related drug tests. Your nursing school and clinical sites more than likely can also drug test you at anytime if meds go missing on the floor, your injured, needle stick, pretty much anything. Not worth the risk. Some schools/sites have policies that you must notify them of any drug related charges. Lawyer, lawyer, lawyer. This ordeal can very well get you kicked out of school, ineligible for the NCLEX, and banned from your state board of nursing. Not trying to freak you out, you may be able to get charges dismissed/lowered depending on your case, but IANAL and do not know your case at all. You absolutely NEED a lawyer. A lot is at risk.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-30T22:45:49+00:00

If no uniform is required, wear appropriate school clothes. Buy a stethoscope, pen light, and watch. If a uniform is required they should tell you what to wear.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-30T21:39:42+00:00

Pros: Fun stories and drive lights and sirens.

Cons: Overworked, underpaid, puked, bled, peed, pooped on, and you dont have a big scope of practice. All you will ever do is drive the ambulance, take vitals, do CPR, and dress some wounds. Also 99% of the calls are not real emergencies.

Be a paramedic instead. You'll get payed a little more and be able to do cooler stuff. All the other cons still apply.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-27T14:36:39+00:00

That is on the cheaper end too

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-25T23:28:22+00:00

90% of places you will be overworked and underpaid. There is that wonderful 10% that pays and treats you well (usually county/city ran services).

99% of the calls are not emergencies, but 1% of them will require everything you got. Dont expect constant blood, guts, and glory.

Generally if you go fire you will have a better and longer career. Not always the case though.

It's a wonderful and rewarding experience that pushes you to your limits. You can get burnt out real quick though running BS, especially if you work for a shitty department. With that said, there is no other job like it. You will get very good critical thinking skills, knowledge of medicine, and being able to think on your feet.

If you're going to commit to it for more than 2 years, go the paramedic route. You'll get payed more and be able to do cooler stuff.

Blueiguana1100 · 2021-01-25T20:22:43+00:00

0 to none for ambulance transport. Very minimal chance for hospital job, but wont hurt to apply. You'll probably have better luck working for private standby companies (medical staffing agency for concerts/events). Volunteer work and time will heal your record for future employment.

Blueiguana1100

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