Burn out......??

[hagerff/emti]

Hey guys I am a paramedic student that is looking into jobs in the fire service or maybe a private ambulance co. Wondering how long have you been in this line of work, and are you feeling burnt out? IF so do you have other plans for another line of work?

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D. Hager
FF/NREMT-I
West Trail Amb. Svc
Mayville FD

REAL HEROES WEAR SCBA'S NOT CAPES

We will eat smoke and pull out bodies as long as they continue to build them. Just once I would like them to ask one of us how to build it!!

[dousaems]

Hagerff:

Been in EMS 10 years, both volunteer and private. About three years ago, I was offered a job that I really couldn't refuse, but it meant I would fly a desk. I wasn't sure I wanted to leave the service - during my really active years in vol., I never got tired of it. Private was great because I ended up doing nothing but critical care.
Recently, I have ended up in the middle of the politics and leadership of the vol. service, and I realized that it is a major headache. It has not taken away my desire to get on a rig, but it does take some of the magic away. I wouldn't call it burnout, but I could see it coming down the pike, so I went back to focusing on riding the rigs, and not trying to take on the world.
I think as long as you stay on the cutting edge of EMS, and don't get complacent in your position, you can resist burnout as long as possible. But as soon as you find that the service is getting boring, tedious, or whatever, find another line of work. And it may occur as you move up the ladder.
As for what I really do full time, I focus on teaching EMS and fire folks in Mass casualty and terrorism stuff. Paramedics are really versatile in the workforce, and nothing says you HAVE to have a rig strapped to your back all the time.

[jedge168]

I'm going to have to agree with Dousaems on that. Don't let yourself get so wrapped up in EMS and Fire that you don't have any other life. I've been in EMS for 17 years now and the fire service for 14 years (as of last Sat), and I love it just as much now as I did back then. But I make sure not to live and breathe it 24/7 like I used to. It's hard, but it helps.

Good Luck

[emtwannabe]

Haven't been in EMS a long time, but plan to stay in a long time. I am not to the point where I have to deal with burn-out, but I could see it coming if this was what I ate, lived, and breathed. Make sure, like the last post said, that you get a life besides EMS. Nothing better to refresh you for the tough job of saving people than stepping back once in a while to take a breather. Do this as often as possible and you should be okay for quite some time.

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GOD is my Medical Director and JESUS is my EMS crew chief.

[buzzmedic]

Hager, I am a firefighter/paramedic in a mid sized city in Texas. I have to work though for a private ambulance provider for my paramedic skills. Seeing both sides of the coin, I can tell you from reasonable experience that you should look to the fire service for work. Two reasons come to mind that I'm sure will be disputed by die hard medics. One reason is the longevity issue. The average career of a paramedic is 5-7 years. That's not a career. This is because private or hospital bases providers don't offer the career advancement opportunities that the fire service can. Secondly, if you'll look at the trends across the nation, the private(for profit) providers are either bankrupt or switching thier services to BLS transport only. Because all of us who have worked for any length of time in EMS know that pre-arranged transfers don't happen generally unless insurance will pay. 911 emergency is not like that! Just food for thought!