Will EMS ever be considered a profession or just a job?

[Aniello Burr]

I am not new to this business of EMS. I have been in it for about 10 yrs. I have recently just finished a paramedic program. After many hrs of fighting with myself I decided to take a full time job as a paramedic.
Is it my imagination or not, but I have seen some real screw ups in this profession. I want to get others feelings on this and how do you feel we can bring the word professional to our very demanding job.

[502]

I couldn't agree with more!! I think E.M.S. is the only profession where a few individuals can get away with murder.(I am not referring to everyone, only a select few that attempt to provide care across the country with good intent but they just don't seem to grasp the concept)I have been a paid E.M.T. with a hospital based E.M.S. program for 6 yrs. and I could use some suggestions also. (to all readers PLEASE do not take this the wrong way I am not referring to the majority of the E.M.S. community and I am not trying to start a war!!)

[Medic 25]

Dear Aniello, you should have already been made aware that most of the people in EMS are not in it for the profession, they are in for the patches. These individuals are from the 3rd class socity and are dirt bags! Others are the book smart people that can't get the skills to their hands. As you should know being a paramedic is common sence. The answer is better eduaction. ie bring back the old way of ACLS not this "all pass, baby me because I didnt study and afraid", come on give me a break! Having a regional EMS system that backs the service. Having a medical director thats not afraid to punish those who did wrong.I know of several medics with fatal med errors,or comparable out come of pt care and they are still working go figure ah. This is just a tip of the iceberg. I could wright much more, but I think you get the picture.

[lt74]

I AM NOT A PARAMEDIC OR CARDIAC TECH. , BUT THIS IS MY OWN DECISION. I HAVE THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING. I HAVE HOWEVER BEEN IN THE MEDICAL FIELD FOR ABOUT 17 YRS AS AN EMT AND AM CURRENTLY CERT. AS AN EMT/B IN MD. AND IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING NREMT/B. BUT I DO AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS I HAVE READ I FEEL THAT THE MEDICAL FIELD HAS BECOME SUCH THAT IT MAY BE A SNAP TO GET THROUGH. WHEN I STARTED IN THIS FIELD IT TOOK AT LEAST 3 YEARS TO BECOME A NREMT/P NOW I HAVE SEEN CASES WHERE IN 2 YEARS A PERSON CAN GET INTO THE FIELD TAKE EMT AND THEN WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR BECOME A NREMT/P. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE 1. HAD ENOUGH FIELD TRAINING AND 2. ARE NOT READY TO PUSH DRUGS TO SAVE LIVES IN THE FIELD. I AM NOT SPEAKING OF ALL PROVIDERS THERE ARE SOME OUT THERE THAT WERE BORN TO DO THIS AND ARE VERY GOOD, BUT I THINK MORE TIME SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DO THIS LINE OF WORK AFTERALL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAVING LIVES.

[Weruj1]

bump..........

[JHR1985]

I would hope that an EMT-B knows what the caps lock is

[thebigcheese]

People with caps lock are funny....


Seriously though, fast foward 6 years into the future. What do people think? Is it stil just a job or is it a profession.

My view is that it really depends on where you are. Where I work (Central Texas) is a rather unique location because in the span of 5 miles it goes from urban, career EMS professionals, to first responders who are doing this a hobby (but are still darn good. I love first responders), to people that are using EMS as a springboard into a hospital based career (like CCRN or MD). Unfortunatly it seems like the biggest group of idiots falls into the last catagory as they are only here to pad their resumes, not to actually do quality medicine.

[bozomedic]

EMS is not taken seriously in the healthcare field because the standards are too lax and the criteria for providing care are not nationalized. You should be able to cross state lines at any time without worrying about retesting or recertifying with a local control board. Nurses don�t do it. Doctors don�t do it. Even Dental Hygienists don't do it. Why is EMS different?


Another reason EMS is not taken seriously is because of poor PR. Good PR comes from a National effort to educate the public on our services. This takes National money, which can't happen when you don�t have a national base for membership (i.e. IAFF). Also, people avoid EMS like the plague because they only call when they are in dire need or some life altering event or tragedy has taken place. This has to be changed by EMS. EMS has to get into community involvement and outreach to show that we are not just here for when Granny is dead or little Johnny got shot in the chest. Next time you are in the rig, park in front of someone�s house that didn�t call and watch the response. They look like the grim reaper just stopped by. They are in the house wondering: �who is sick? Maybe it�s me! I don�t feel sick. Am I dying? Oh no!�

All I am saying is that EMS has some of the most experienced and educated providers of any Healthcare profession. We just have to take the bull by the horns and control our own destiny instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

[taidan]

Well Said!

[DrParasite]

being an EMT basic will never be a profession for 99.9999% of the people in it. most who want to make it a career will go for their paramedic, go for firefighter training (to become FF/EMTs), Rescue Technician/EMTs, RNs, Instructors, dispatchers or some other related field. but as a EMT-B, most will not see it as a career profession.

[Ridryder911]

As others has posted, I agree with them too. However; I disagree with bozomedic. I just paid $386.00 re-cert fee for my emergency nursing fee, plus having to take the whole test again. As far as M.D.' recertifing, if they are board certified, yes they do & have to have CME's & usally re-test some form of the test. Yes, there are several states that require nurses to have ceu's for re-license Oh, you noticed that.. maybe that is why we are not considered a profession.

Also we are one of the few if not maybe the only one that deals with direct patient care that does not require a degree entry level. Also,that have programs that start & complete in less than a yr. Even the beutician that cuts your hair probably has more clock hours in training than most Paramedics. Scary ..huh... perform Cich's, RSI, 12 lead, but to cut dead hair cell takes longer training, go figure.

Do we screen individuals who want to enter this profession? Ever try enter another health career, without pre-requisites, interview & testing prior ? Also, use a textbook witten at a 11'th grade reading level. Heck, most EMT's gripe if the text is over 500 pgs. ( my o.b. book was 1800 pgs & yes you were tested over it)

Most medics are not involved in increasing standards in education of EMS. Just look around your service & see how many is activity is involved in local associations to promote benefits of EMT's.

What is the career ladder of most medics, life after Paramedic ? Teach, administrative or change career ?

I agree we need to take the bull by the horn & lead EMS; by EMS personal. A thought,when EMS is considering to fall under another red-tape division.
Be safe,
Ridryder 911

[bozomedic]

ridryder911 wrote:

As others has posted, I agree with them too. However; I disagree with bozomedic. I just paid $386.00 re-cert fee for my emergency nursing fee, plus having to take the whole test again. As far as M.D.' recertifing, if they are board certified, yes they do & have to have CME's & usally re-test some form of the test. Yes, there are several states that require nurses to have ceu's for re-license Oh, you noticed that.. maybe that is why we are not considered a profession.

BOZOMEDIC SAYS:

I was referring to having to take another States exam to practice in their State. There is no reciprocity between States like there is for other healthcare professions such as Nursing, Doctors or Dental Hygienists.


ridryder911 wrote:

Most medics are not involved in increasing standards in education of EMS. Just look around your service & see how many is activity is involved in local associations to promote benefits of EMT's.

BOZOMEDIC SAYS:

I agree that most Medics are not involved or interested in furthering the profession. Just look at the CE’s that we have to re-license. It is supposed to be “continuing education”, as in learning something new. The majority of CE’s are just rehashing old information. That is the fault of the IC’s in EMS and for the individual EMT’s for not demanding more.

[Dave1983]

For what its worth, Ive always cosidered occupations the require schooling and/or an advanced level of training to be a profission. For example, EMT's, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, carpenters, plumbers, electritions, mechanics et all. Flipping burgers at Rons steak house is a job. What "we" do is a profession.;)

Do we screen individuals who want to enter this profession? Ever try enter another health career, without pre-requisites, interview & testing prior ?

We require pre-req's & testing prior here in Fla, which is one of the reasons they dont accept many out of state transfers.