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Vance
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Student interview request — Paramedic / emergency services ?
Hi, I’m a student researching careers in paramedicine or a similar emergency services field for a school project. I would really appreciate it if a professional in this field could answer a few questions for me.
Note: Please specify at least your name (first or last is fine) and where you work (city, state, or country) if you’re comfortable. I also have a few follow-up questions I’d like to ask after this. Thank you so much for your time!
Questions:
- What skills are most important in this career?
- What surprised you most about this occupation?
- Where/How did you receive your education/training?
- What advice do you have for someone new to this career?
- How many hours do you typically work in a day?
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6 answers
Tatanyia Conklin
Paramedic
2
Answers
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Updated
Tatanyia’s Answer
My name is Tatanyia and I am a paramedic and have been one for the last 21 years
What skills are most important in this career?
I think some of the most important skills I have needed was being able to communicate with everyone and not get offended by anything. Take things as they come and always be prepared
- What surprised you most about this occupation?
How people have no idea what I do/ what I'm capable of. Also that people have no idea about how the medical system works.
- Where/How did you receive your education/training?
I went to a community collage but did get an associates degree in emergency medicine
- What advice do you have for someone new to this career?
Have patience with yourself and seek help when you start hating it, this is a tough job and it's way tougher if you hold it all in. Secondly understand that ppl die, none of us are making it out alive
- How many hours do you typically work in a day? I do three 12s but I have at times done 96 hour shifts, 18 hour shifts and 13 hour shifts, 12 hour shifts 10 hour shifts and 8 hour shifts. I currently work in an ER in albuquerque NM USA
What skills are most important in this career?
I think some of the most important skills I have needed was being able to communicate with everyone and not get offended by anything. Take things as they come and always be prepared
- What surprised you most about this occupation?
How people have no idea what I do/ what I'm capable of. Also that people have no idea about how the medical system works.
- Where/How did you receive your education/training?
I went to a community collage but did get an associates degree in emergency medicine
- What advice do you have for someone new to this career?
Have patience with yourself and seek help when you start hating it, this is a tough job and it's way tougher if you hold it all in. Secondly understand that ppl die, none of us are making it out alive
- How many hours do you typically work in a day? I do three 12s but I have at times done 96 hour shifts, 18 hour shifts and 13 hour shifts, 12 hour shifts 10 hour shifts and 8 hour shifts. I currently work in an ER in albuquerque NM USA
John Lyden
Firefighter/Paramedic
2
Answers
Charleston, South Carolina
Updated
John’s Answer
I work as a Lt/Paramedic for a fire department, just outside of Charleston, SC.
I have been a paramedic for 18 years. I received my initial EMT education in Pennsylvania, followed by Paramedic in Florida.
Having compassion and empathy are some of the most important skills that you can possess in the EMS profession. You cant get into this field for the money...you have to be passionate about the field. There will be good days and bad days, but you have to maintain that passion. Be prepared to always keep learning. Healthcare is an ever evolving field and you have to evolve with it. Any additional classes that you can attend will help you. For example, I am certified as a Critical Care Paramedic and a Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care Paramedic. I do very little critical care transport, but those classes gave me knowledge that, drastically, inproved my patient assessments...being able to recognize things that might not be evident to other medics.
My fire department shifts are 48 hours in duration, with 96 hours off. The EMS agencies in the area run 24 and 12 hour shifts.
The most surprising thing to me was the amount of paperwork/documentation that is required. As an EMT, it was minimal...as a Paramedic, there is much more that is required.
I love the job, and I love helping people in their times of need. Just remember...you may think that people are calling 911 for a dumb reason, but to them it may be the worst day of their life.
I have been a paramedic for 18 years. I received my initial EMT education in Pennsylvania, followed by Paramedic in Florida.
Having compassion and empathy are some of the most important skills that you can possess in the EMS profession. You cant get into this field for the money...you have to be passionate about the field. There will be good days and bad days, but you have to maintain that passion. Be prepared to always keep learning. Healthcare is an ever evolving field and you have to evolve with it. Any additional classes that you can attend will help you. For example, I am certified as a Critical Care Paramedic and a Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care Paramedic. I do very little critical care transport, but those classes gave me knowledge that, drastically, inproved my patient assessments...being able to recognize things that might not be evident to other medics.
My fire department shifts are 48 hours in duration, with 96 hours off. The EMS agencies in the area run 24 and 12 hour shifts.
The most surprising thing to me was the amount of paperwork/documentation that is required. As an EMT, it was minimal...as a Paramedic, there is much more that is required.
I love the job, and I love helping people in their times of need. Just remember...you may think that people are calling 911 for a dumb reason, but to them it may be the worst day of their life.
Katie Ross, NREMT
EMS
4
Answers
East Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Katie’s Answer
Hi! My name is Katie Ross and I am based out of Michigan. I'm an EMT and a college student. It's great that you are reaching out for advice. Being open to new ideas and information is a very important skill! To answer your questions,
What skills are most important in this career?
- Time management is huge. Shifts are long and busy but you can be quite productive if you plan your time well between role duties and calls. Communication is arguably the most important. You will need to be able to converse with all types of people. Quiet, distracted, rude, intoxicated, deaf, blind, young, old, etc. This could go on for forever. Being able to remain compassionate and professional with your patients and coworkers will change everything. Healthcare has so many sides to it but to succeed, you need to have your heart set.
What surprised you most about this occupation?
- The constant negativity. It's hard. No one will tell you it's easy. EMS is a wonderful field but it's who you surround yourself with that matters. Be picky with where you choose to work, you'll thank yourself later by having a more positive and supportive environment.
Where/How did you receive your education/training?
- I received my EMS education in Minnesota.
What advice do you have for someone new to this career?
- To be open with your mental health. This field is tough, and you'll see things that will hurt you. Don't bottle things up. After a hard call, debrief with those around you. Take care of yourself. Have friends outside of EMS, even though you love it, your brain needs the break.
How many hours do you typically work in a day?
- The agencies run 24 and 12 hour shifts. But if you work with a FD, they may vary by days.
What skills are most important in this career?
- Time management is huge. Shifts are long and busy but you can be quite productive if you plan your time well between role duties and calls. Communication is arguably the most important. You will need to be able to converse with all types of people. Quiet, distracted, rude, intoxicated, deaf, blind, young, old, etc. This could go on for forever. Being able to remain compassionate and professional with your patients and coworkers will change everything. Healthcare has so many sides to it but to succeed, you need to have your heart set.
What surprised you most about this occupation?
- The constant negativity. It's hard. No one will tell you it's easy. EMS is a wonderful field but it's who you surround yourself with that matters. Be picky with where you choose to work, you'll thank yourself later by having a more positive and supportive environment.
Where/How did you receive your education/training?
- I received my EMS education in Minnesota.
What advice do you have for someone new to this career?
- To be open with your mental health. This field is tough, and you'll see things that will hurt you. Don't bottle things up. After a hard call, debrief with those around you. Take care of yourself. Have friends outside of EMS, even though you love it, your brain needs the break.
How many hours do you typically work in a day?
- The agencies run 24 and 12 hour shifts. But if you work with a FD, they may vary by days.
Martin Schoen
APRN
387
Answers
Ocala, Florida
Updated
Martin’s Answer
I was one of the first paramedics in New York State, and while some things have changed, many remain the same. The job can be tough with long hours and emotional moments, but it also brings personal rewards and helps the community. Sometimes we arrive at a scene before the police, and people try to give us instructions. Our main task is to stabilize the patient and get them into the ambulance quickly to avoid distractions. When you're on a call, focus on yourself and the patient. If you're in danger, prioritize your safety. I’ve learned to ignore unqualified advice and use others mainly for crowd control. It's part of the job's chaos, and you adapt by working with the tools you have. Don't worry about what others say unless there's a threat. In dangerous situations, like an active stabbing, if you can't safely help the patient, their needs come second. Always have a plan with your partner for handling tough situations.
Eric Swanson
Firefighter & Paramedic
17
Answers
Ohio, Ohio
Updated
Eric’s Answer
What skills are important in this career? You need good people skills because you work with the public, and they aren't always easy to deal with. They might not give you all the information you need. Investigative skills are also crucial.
What surprised me most about this job? People think they know how to do my job. It still amazes me that someone without training can tell me how to do my work.
Where did I receive my training? I went to a local college for fire and paramedic training. I've also learned a lot on the job.
What advice do you have for someone new to this career? It's a rewarding career. Training is ongoing, so keep up with it as protocols change. Aim to be the best at your job.
How many hours do you typically work in a day? It depends on your role. A volunteer firefighter responds from home when needed. Others might work 12 to 24 hours at the station. In EMS, private EMS shifts are 8 to 12 hours, while public EMS (911) often works with the fire department for 12 to 24 hours.
What surprised me most about this job? People think they know how to do my job. It still amazes me that someone without training can tell me how to do my work.
Where did I receive my training? I went to a local college for fire and paramedic training. I've also learned a lot on the job.
What advice do you have for someone new to this career? It's a rewarding career. Training is ongoing, so keep up with it as protocols change. Aim to be the best at your job.
How many hours do you typically work in a day? It depends on your role. A volunteer firefighter responds from home when needed. Others might work 12 to 24 hours at the station. In EMS, private EMS shifts are 8 to 12 hours, while public EMS (911) often works with the fire department for 12 to 24 hours.
Cynthia Goss
paramedic
6
Answers
Worcester, Massachusetts
Updated
Cynthia’s Answer
My name is Cynthia. I'm currently taking a break from the field but have worked in California and Massachusetts and have been in both the field (IFT and 911) and education.
- The most important skills are the 'soft' ones. First, you need to be able to work with people all of walks of life. I've had partners who are VERY different from me in core beliefs, attitudes, behaviors. You're going to be sitting within a foot of your partner for 12+ hours. You have to be able to get along with everybody and find the best in everybody. With patients, you'll be working with everything from newborns to the very elderly, people who've never had a paper cut to people with terminal diseases to 'frequent flyers' who you transport multiple times a week. Some patients will be kind, lovely people. Some people will make you wonder how anybody tolerates them for longer than an ambulance ride. You have to treat everybody with respect, and know how to navigate situations to avoid escalating problems or putting anyone in danger. You also can never assume you know exactly which category someone falls into- I had one frequent flyer who always complained of chest pain. She was an opioid addict and would complain until she was given opioids, and the hospital would release her the same day. One day, as usual, she called with chest pain. This was the one time I didn't plan to do a 12-lead EKG prior to sitting her on the gurney. Another medic said that maybe we should, because we always did. That day she was having a heart attack. It would have been a huge mistake to not catch this right away, and my assumption that it was 'the usual' could have been detrimental to the patient's outcome. Along with this, you need to be able to communicate with the patient. I arrived after other paramedics to an Arabic speaking patient who did not want to go to the hospital despite having a serious medical problem. I was able to say hello, that I'm a paramedic, and that we'd like to take her to the hospital in Arabic, and that was enough- she immediately felt comfortable enough to come along. You should always try to be able to speak to your patient at their level and in their language.
-What surprised me most was that most calls are really not all that serious. The patient generally doesn't know that their condition isn't critical, and a lot of what they want is to hear that it doesn't look too serious but we'll get them checked out to be sure. Reassurance is huge. It was also surprising how people react very differently to the same situation. For example, in a death many family members scream or cry, but some people are completely quiet, and some laugh or joke. This is all very normal, we're all human and express our emotions differently.
-I received my primary training at a community college (EMT), a private paramedic school (paramedic), and since then have received a few degrees that have been very helpful but not directly in EMS.
-My advice is to ask for help. Keep a paper with conversions, equations, dosages, and a few notes about difficult protocols on your clipboard. Confirm (show to your partner) drug/dose/expiration date prior to giving it, just like they do at hospitals, to help with patient confidence and your own. Be eager to learn, and don't stop learning- when we stop learning we get complacent, and when we get complacent our patient care suffers.
-How many hours I work depends on the service and position. I did 24s for a while, working 72 hours a week in a very busy area. This was horrible and I was never rested. I worked 12s at nights for a while, also not great, and the luxurious 12 hour day shifts. I've also worked swing shifts of around 8 hours, which made school much more possible but generally the shorter the shift the busier you are (due to being placed in a busy area or running extra transport calls). As for teaching, the number of hours depends on how often you teach the topic, how much that topic changes, and what materials you already have prepared.
- The most important skills are the 'soft' ones. First, you need to be able to work with people all of walks of life. I've had partners who are VERY different from me in core beliefs, attitudes, behaviors. You're going to be sitting within a foot of your partner for 12+ hours. You have to be able to get along with everybody and find the best in everybody. With patients, you'll be working with everything from newborns to the very elderly, people who've never had a paper cut to people with terminal diseases to 'frequent flyers' who you transport multiple times a week. Some patients will be kind, lovely people. Some people will make you wonder how anybody tolerates them for longer than an ambulance ride. You have to treat everybody with respect, and know how to navigate situations to avoid escalating problems or putting anyone in danger. You also can never assume you know exactly which category someone falls into- I had one frequent flyer who always complained of chest pain. She was an opioid addict and would complain until she was given opioids, and the hospital would release her the same day. One day, as usual, she called with chest pain. This was the one time I didn't plan to do a 12-lead EKG prior to sitting her on the gurney. Another medic said that maybe we should, because we always did. That day she was having a heart attack. It would have been a huge mistake to not catch this right away, and my assumption that it was 'the usual' could have been detrimental to the patient's outcome. Along with this, you need to be able to communicate with the patient. I arrived after other paramedics to an Arabic speaking patient who did not want to go to the hospital despite having a serious medical problem. I was able to say hello, that I'm a paramedic, and that we'd like to take her to the hospital in Arabic, and that was enough- she immediately felt comfortable enough to come along. You should always try to be able to speak to your patient at their level and in their language.
-What surprised me most was that most calls are really not all that serious. The patient generally doesn't know that their condition isn't critical, and a lot of what they want is to hear that it doesn't look too serious but we'll get them checked out to be sure. Reassurance is huge. It was also surprising how people react very differently to the same situation. For example, in a death many family members scream or cry, but some people are completely quiet, and some laugh or joke. This is all very normal, we're all human and express our emotions differently.
-I received my primary training at a community college (EMT), a private paramedic school (paramedic), and since then have received a few degrees that have been very helpful but not directly in EMS.
-My advice is to ask for help. Keep a paper with conversions, equations, dosages, and a few notes about difficult protocols on your clipboard. Confirm (show to your partner) drug/dose/expiration date prior to giving it, just like they do at hospitals, to help with patient confidence and your own. Be eager to learn, and don't stop learning- when we stop learning we get complacent, and when we get complacent our patient care suffers.
-How many hours I work depends on the service and position. I did 24s for a while, working 72 hours a week in a very busy area. This was horrible and I was never rested. I worked 12s at nights for a while, also not great, and the luxurious 12 hour day shifts. I've also worked swing shifts of around 8 hours, which made school much more possible but generally the shorter the shift the busier you are (due to being placed in a busy area or running extra transport calls). As for teaching, the number of hours depends on how often you teach the topic, how much that topic changes, and what materials you already have prepared.