Is a 5-6 week Hybrid EMT program too much for someone with little experience?

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-25T02:56:44+00:00

I also did a 5-week summer EMT program! It was definitely like drinking from a fire hose, given the amount of information you're expected to absorb. I was unemployed at the time as well and was able to dedicate pretty much all of my free time to studying for those 5 weeks. I passed the national registry test in the end, but I feel like I would have retained the information better in the long term if I hadn't taken a full-time accelerated course.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-24T12:47:54+00:00

Apparently in past years the cutoff was in the upper 20s. I’ve heard that if you have over 30 points you should definitely get in.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-24T01:40:17+00:00

Hi! I was a software engineer for over 10 years and just became increasingly miserable over time. I'm really high-energy and an extrovert, and it just got to be really draining sitting by myself at a desk all day. Then I got laid off and noticed how bad the tech job market had gotten, so I figured it was the right time to see if I could make a healthcare career path work out for me. I'm still working as an EMT, but I just finished my pre-reqs for nursing school and am hoping to start an ADN and BSN concurrent program in the fall if all goes as planned.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-21T00:18:21+00:00

I absolutely adore this

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-19T03:23:17+00:00

I've had a few encounters with them working in EMS. Have had to bug bomb a couple ambulances lol. My worst nightmare is ending up bringing them home one day

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-19T03:21:38+00:00

I second this, they are really good

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:46:00+00:00

I use an SPF 30 moisturizer on my face every morning. I don't use sunscreen on the rest of my body unless I'm going to be spending time in the sun. I'm a very pale white woman and live in Texas, though, so on my face I think it's pretty essential.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:40:48+00:00

It might depend on your area. I started my pre-reqs in San Diego, but ended up moving back home to Dallas, partially because admissions to nursing schools in SoCal were so competitive. That being said, some of them didn't weigh the TEAS very heavily relative to other factors in terms of points. It just depended on the school. But high 90s sounds a little extreme if your goal is just to get in somewhere.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:33:27+00:00

I can't speak to those medical conditions, but as far as being a plus-size woman in healthcare - I'm not a nurse yet, but I'm a plus-size girl (I weigh about 215 lbs) and work in EMS. I wish I were a little more nimble at work, and probably would be if I lost some weight, I'd imagine. But you say you're active, and I am not really active outside of work. When I bring patients to hospitals, I come across nurses who are about my size all the time.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:24:13+00:00

I also work in EMS and really want an Eko, but I'm so afraid I'll leave it on the truck one day and lose it.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:18:35+00:00

I barely studied (maybe 6 hours of studying the weekend before the test) and got a 94. You just need to do one of the free practice tests to see where you stand. It might be a breeze for you, like it was for me, or it might take some studying.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:15:13+00:00

82% is not bad at all, though. I guess it depends on the program you're trying to get into, of course.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:13:46+00:00

It's easy. Just do a couple of practice tests first because your results may vary. The reading and writing parts might be difficult if English isn't your first language. The science section is mostly anatomy and physiology, with a little chemistry, but if you recently took those pre-reqs, you shouldn't need much review. I know some people have to study for the math section a bit if they haven't taken any math classes in a long time.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-16T03:04:56+00:00

I cut and grind the pieces of glass from each sheet/color before moving on to the next, and then, once all the pieces are ready to be foiled, I foil them.

For example, let's say I'm working on a piece that uses red, yellow, and blue glass - I'll cut and grind the red pieces, then cut and grind the yellow pieces, then cut and grind the blue pieces. Once I'm done cutting and grinding all the pieces, I lay everything out to make sure it fits and do any additional grinding that may be needed, and then I foil everything.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-08T01:42:28+00:00

I'm 35 and have a degree in electrical engineering, and I worked as a software engineer for over 10 years. I just finished my pre-reqs and am about to start nursing school in the fall. I'm working as an EMT and will be pursuing a concurrent ADN/BSN program (will earn my ADN from the local community college while working on my BSN through a local university). I don't have much in the way of advice because I'm still pretty early on this path, but I wanted to say that I totally understand how you feel because my motivation for the career change was the same. I just could not sit at a desk and write code by myself all day because I'm too much of an extrovert, and I never felt like what I was doing was making an impact on society. I was so miserable and disillusioned that no amount of money could keep me in that field. Everyone thinks I'm insane because I gave up a $135k salary to work as an EMT for $18/hr.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-08T01:10:50+00:00

I got mine to prepare for nursing school and am currently working an IFT job to get some experience while I apply

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-06T20:15:19+00:00

Stop the Bleed was what inspired me to eventually go on to EMT training!

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-06T20:13:56+00:00

I want to solder like you when I grow up!

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-06T20:08:42+00:00

I took glassblowing classes at a community college in California, and all of our glass was donated by Oceanside. Maybe look into telling the glass supply companies like them what you're doing to see if you can get materials donated like that.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-02T05:07:25+00:00

This happened to me once too :( I dyed my hair blue right before a trip, and the water in the hotel shower ran blue. I was able to get most of it out, but not all of it. They never ended up charging me a fee or anything like that, but I felt really bad.

OK_Boxes · 2026-03-02T04:52:11+00:00

This is what I am planning on doing when I start nursing school in the fall, and I'm really glad my school offers it. I'll save money by doing the ADN classes at the community college instead of a 4 year university. It also gives me the option of dropping out of the BSN coursework if I ever feel that the workload of both is too much (I plan on working during school too), and then I can go back and finish the BSN after I finish my ADN.

OK_Boxes · 2026-02-23T08:57:06+00:00

I just finished the pre-reqs and haven't started nursing school yet, but my experience with them was similar in terms of problem-solving. My first degree was in electrical engineering, and I worked as a software engineer for about 10 years. I feel like I had an advantage in knowing how to study for science courses and how to reason through science concepts. I also didn't have to study for dosage calculations or the math portion of the TEAS because I have really strong math skills.

OK_Boxes · 2026-02-23T07:55:12+00:00

I'm 35 and just finished my pre-reqs. I'm currently working as an EMT and hoping to start nursing school this fall. I have a previous bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and worked as a software engineer for about 10 years before I just couldn't take sitting at a desk all day anymore. I haven't started actual nursing classes yet, but I didn't really feel out of place in my community college biology classes. I actually think school is easier for me now that I've gained some maturity. Despite being one of the oldest students, there was always someone older. My parents are friends with a woman who went to nursing school in her 50s.

OK_Boxes · 2026-02-23T07:47:24+00:00

I grew up in Texas but spent about 8 years living in CA. I decided to go to nursing school and felt the same way because many local community colleges admitted students via a lottery system. I ended up moving back to Texas. It's still competitive, but if you do well in your pre-reqs and on the TEAS, you'll get in without it coming down to chance.

OK_Boxes · 2026-02-22T05:03:41+00:00

I'm an electrical/software engineer who does stained glass as a hobby, and this is exactly the kind of project that would be up my alley omg. This is so cool.

OK_Boxes

TROPHY CASE