Tips for Becoming a Paramedic
If you watch shows like ER or Mercy, you might wonder how difficult it is becoming a paramedic. Unlike many jobs portrayed on TV, being a paramedic really is just as exciting as it seems. It is definitely not a job for someone who likes to know exactly what to expect when he goes out to work everyday. In fact, as a rule, becoming a paramedic requires you to react calmly and rationally to emergency situations where you are likely to be the only cool head in the room.
If you still think this is for you, then read on.
EMT Basic Training
The first step in becoming a paramedic is getting your EMT certification. An EMT is an Emergency Medical Technician. Actually, all paramedics are EMT’s, but to become a paramedic you will need advance EMT training. This is another way of saying that there are two levels of EMT training, the basic, and the advanced level. The advanced level is what we call paramedics.
It takes about 200 hours to become an EMT at the basic level. Once you have finished your training, you can then start on the road to becoming a paramedic. EMT training will teach you the basics about assessing a patient and the sort of non-invasive procedures that your average person should know, but usually doesn’t.
Education and Experience
To go from being a basic EMT to being a paramedic, you need about 2000 hours worth of experience. It normally takes an individual about 2 years to complete the program, which you can usually find at your local community college.
The program of study for becoming a paramedic will teach you not only how to assess a medical situation but how to perform various life-saving procedures. These include the sort invasive procedures that you did not learn when you got your basic EMT license. Becoming a paramedic requires you to have much of the knowledge of an Emergency Room nurse and to be able to perform triage in a strange environment.
A large part of your training for becoming a paramedic involves riding along on an ambulance with a trained paramedic and performing the very duties you will eventually be certified to perform once you have graduated from the program. This hands-on learning will give you the confidence and experience to deal with the various difficulties involved in being a paramedic.
Qualities Necessary for Being a Successful Paramedic
In order to be a paramedic, you will have to be physically fit and able to lift individuals and carry heavy equipment. You will also need to have the stamina to stay on your feet and remain alert even after hours on the job.
Even more important are the mental characteristics a paramedic must have in order to successful treat patients in less than ideal circumstances. You must first have the intelligence to diagnose a situation and figure out whether a patient is stable enough for you to transport him or her to the emergency room or whether you must perform a life saving procedure in order to stabilize the patient. You have to have the organizational skills to manage complex situations and do several tasks quickly. You need to have the communication skills to communicate with patients in physical stress, worried family members, by standers and your fellow paramedics in a clear and effective manner.
You have to have the personal assertiveness to take charge of a situation from the moment you enter it. You must also have the mental fortitude to remain clearheaded in very stressful situations where often noise and activity make clear thought difficult.
Finally, you have to be able to withstand the personal demands any medical job that deals with life and death situations requires of you. Your spouse and loved ones will also have to be supportive of the demands this career will make on your time and mental state.
If, after all these considerations you still want to embark on the exciting world of being a paramedic, then you should begin looking for a training program today. Because of the aging of the Baby Boom generation, we expect medical professions to be a growth industry for years to come.