or As stated I havent even begun EMT-B certification yet, but I have some questions for down the line.
Im a young person with various other work experience under my belt, never really been satisfied with what I was doing - im hoping that becoming an EMT will be something I like and choose to further myself in.
That said I have some worries about my life down the line. So I get my emt certification, great, I like it and I go to the year of paramedic school, then what? Assuming everything works out, I make it as a medic what happens next? Im not saying the "just" being a paramedic wouldnt be fulfilling, im just curious what other Paramedics do down the line :). Also I dont ever see myself as a firefighter and that seems to be the next natural step. If you can understand what Im asking here id like some replies on options for Paramedics once you have finished all your school etc.. thanks.
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Posted on 03/09/2003
by ChabotFire
Let me be frank here. Being a paramedic is a
great job, especially if you want to work for a fire
department. However, if you don't want to be a
firefighter, there is a limited career path for the
position of paramedic (at least per my experience).
Why? Because where are most paramedics
employed? Fire departments and private
ambulance companies. Fire departments usually
provide better working conditions, wages, and
benefits. Take a look at most private ambulance
company paramedics and you don't see too many
of them over the age of 40. Many of them get
burned out posting on street corners and having to
eat fast food, as well as frustrated with the private
company mentality. There are some exceptions.
The point I'm trying to make is that if you don't want
to be a paramedic working for a fire department,
you are not usually left with much to pick from
besides private ambulance companies. Hospitals
usually do not employ paramedics (strong nurses
unions), so where does that leave you?
Many medics that don't want to be firefighters end
up either completely switching careers (because
they got sick of the private ambulance routine) or
going higher up in the medical field (using the
paramedic position as a stepping stone). Some
stay in the field by instructing EMS full time.
Yes, that might suck, and be unfair, but it is reality.
I'm not taking sides, but think about this. Many of
us really do take things for granted. Firefighters
usually stay firefighters for their whole career
(20-40 years). That is unique. How many other
jobs do you know that people tend to stay in their
entire working career? Not many. I remember
hearing some private ambulance paramedics
frustrated at the fire departments for "taking away
their jobs." Now if they wanted to, and were
physically capable of doing the job and passing
the testing process, they probably could have been
hired by the fire departments. However, most of
those didn't want to be firefighters. Nothing wrong
with that, the job is not for everyone. Getting back
to "taking their jobs away from them." How many of
your relatives have been lucky enough to have the
same job for their whole career, without having to
be laid off or retrained in something else? Not
many I bet.
The point is that we all have to be willing to change
and be flexible in our careers if we want to be
happy and successful. Change will happen,
whether we like it or not. If we don't accept it, it will
just pass us by. For you, think about the above
opinions and thoughts I've provided. Have a
backup plan in place so you are happy and
successful for the rest of your working life.
Hope that provi