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what is the most challenging part of becoming a paramedic and how difficult is it mentally and physically How would you prepare yourself mentally for this type of job??

After speaking to some people who have been in this line of work, they say its best to go into the job ready for the unexpected, could this be a true and valid answer?

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Natasha’s Answer

Yes that is excellent advice. Paramedics save lives but they also see some people on the worst day of their lives. People are truly not themselves in these situations, and when you're a medic you're typically the only one in the back of the truck with the patient (at least that's how it is here in Missouri). You've got to be ready for the patient's condition to change, be ready for violence and downright disrespectful behavior. It won't always happen of course, but being ready for these things will help ensure you have a safe and successful career. Don't get too worried about being prepared though; you'll have clinical rotations before you even get licensed to help prepare you as best as possible but even after you start working as a medic you'll spend your career being surprised by things, it's part of what keeps the job interesting! But it's also why you've got to remain ever diligent.

Good luck!
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Alison’s Answer

You can't completely prepare for surprises—many scary things happen in medicine, and you'll face situations you never expected. But if you keep an open mind and accept that mistakes happen, it will help. Also, talking with your coworkers about their experiences can be very useful.
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James’s Answer

I was the medical director for an air ambulance company, so got to work with many paramedics and flight nurses. I think these are exciting jobs that can give one a sense of pride for doing much good for others. Being a paramedic, or even an EMT-1, is also an excellent way to introduce yourself to the healthcare field. I know many who began as EMTs, and moved up to paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, or physicians.
The job can be rigorous, but I would guess you could do it without much trouble if it interests you. One does need to study and learn basic life support - and then more advanced life support procedures (start IVs, place breathing tubes and chest tubes...). This learning is usually done in a learning lab with models, and not with humans until you demonstrate proficiency. Paramedics are almost always paired with others, so teamwork is part of the joy.
Paramedics can find their way from ambulances into the hospital, if they choose. There are some jobs like patient care assistant that may require that, or similar, training.
I don't think there are many jobs that are truly rewarding that are not mentally demanding. You give to get... The physical challenges are not to bad. They teach you how to move patients safely. Sometimes a paramedic job may have long shifts (up to 24 hours), but that means you get time off when most others are working. You probably would need to do night and weekend and holiday shifts, but that is true for most healthcare-related jobs.
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