UPDATE!!!!Working in EMS is no longer job security

[browningboy84]

ok,

I work for a county based EMS. We work 24 hours on duty, 24 hours on call, and 24 hours off. When we are on call, we have 10 minutes to get to the station once we are toned or paged. We make pretty good, but the county saves money since our whole dept consists of 7 people, including the Director who also does the billing. After our collections, we cost the county less than any OTHER dept in the county. A new Co. Commissioner took our pay stubs out and distributed in the county, and is raising hell that we make too much. We make good money, but I make $15/ hr and make over $60k. You do the math.

Now this rogue commissioner wants to go to a private ambulance service, just because we "make too much". To make matters worse, he has a little "posse " of 50 people that are bullying the county commissioners into all this. Now they are taking bids for a private service. I am so pissed off about this. Luckily for me, my wife is about to be done with paramedic school, so I will be able to take a pay cut. I am probably gonna go back to my first dept, at least they will appreciate me there. All of us here at work are flat out demoralized. Half of the time, we come in on our day off to run calls when both trucks are tied up. I am gonna leave this dept if they go private. I love my job, and I can say that I have made a positive difference in more than one person's life, but I am getting sick of the bullshit in public safety. Sorry to rant guys, but I figured I could let my hair down on this place!!!!

 

[Rhys]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

I worked for a private service for 4 years. Basics made $6.10 an hour for 8 hours of a 24 hour shift, and then went back on the clok from the time of going in route until arriving at the hospital on calls durring off hours. After hours getting the rig back in service and doing the reports was on your own time. Intermediates only made 25 cents more an hour. In the mean time the owner was off to Vegas several times a year, and I understand now heads to the bahamas at least twice a year now.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

I am a paramedic, and have been one for three years. I also have instructor certs, and am gonna start helping teach EMT's starting this fall. I thankfully do have other options, and have worked for a private service as a supervisor before. I also got a bad taste in my mouth with them as well. I walked away from that job, and after they screwed me over on my pay( promised me a pay raise due to picking up two contracts on my own), and did not look back!!! It was my secondary job anyway, and I had a whole lot less stress when I did that. My wife is about to turn 22, and will be a medic in May. I start nursing school this fall, and my goal is to make flight nurse status.

 

[JRose]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Common problem with rural county departments. Let me guess, Rural Metro is trying to push you guys out saying they can provide the service cheaper?

Well, cheaper service is often well, cheaper service.....

Tale your ass to a municipality and work, even if you have to relocate, the job security is there, although I hear that in Georgia RM is trying to move in on city FD's too!

 

[msrtex]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Nursing school will open a lot of doors (good move on your part). I just started this semester.

 

[chris112]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

He "thinks" your earning too much? What is the going rate for that job in that area? Sounds like you are earning the same pay as my BIL who is doing the same job.


"A new Co. Commissioner took our pay stubs out and distributed in the county," if your pay stubs are like mine he is also giving out private information to people that have no business having it. You might want to check if he can legally do that. My guess is he can't. It sounds like he has a connection to another ambulance service and wants to get them a big contract.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

What you do is go to the private ambulance service NOW and see about getting a job - then laugh your ass off when you get a pay raise...

Seriously..

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What you do is go to the private ambulance service NOW and see about getting a job - then laugh your ass off when you get a pay raise...

Seriously.. </div></div>

I could go to the private service, but I really dont care too. The service that is trying to come in is based out of augusta, and I have had dealings with them before, so f**k them. I am gonna go back to my original job, where there is job security, and I will become training officer. The director there I trust, and has promised me he would work around my nursing school schedule. The pay stubs had private info on them, but we did not wanna cause a shitstorm. That may change if we lose our jobs. Two of the employees here had bankruptcy info on their stubs that was handed out. If any attorneys are on this site, and wanna pm me, feel free to do so. We talked to an attorney, but he wanted like $3K up front to research it.

 

[paraman1]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

My sister was an EMS in Seattle . I think she made $8.25 an hour with lousy hours . Pretty tough to make the mortgage on a $325,000 2 bedroom 1 bath 900 square foot pile of shit on that kind of money . She let the bank foreclose and went back to college where she is in the last year of school getting her nursing degree .

 

[crumpmd]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Our county closed the EMS ambulance service and hired a private contractor. The ambulance service now sucks ass. Many times they will not dispatch the third truck when the other two are in service. They only have BLS crew most of the time when the contract calls for ATLS crew at all times. They stand around doing paperwork and doing a wallet biopsy prior to doing the transport and have often said patients were too "unstable" to transport even when the ER doc is telling them the patient is stable.

Private service sucks ass in my county.

 

[JRose]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Go back to school and become a Doctor.

 

[chris112]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crumpmd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Our county closed the EMS ambulance service and hired a private contractor. The ambulance service now sucks ass. Many times they will not dispatch the third truck when the other two are in service. They only have BLS crew most of the time when the contract calls for ATLS crew at all times. They stand around doing paperwork and doing a wallet biopsy prior to doing the transport and have often said patients were too "unstable" to transport even when the ER doc is telling them the patient is stable.

Private service sucks ass in my county. </div></div>

Bet a few lawsuits will cure that nonsense.

 

[chris112]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

"The pay stubs had private info on them, but we did not wanna cause a shitstorm. That may change if we lose our jobs." Sounds like this might go far enough to justify causeing a shitstorm. Especially if you can time it just before that jerk is up for reelection. If there are enough retired folks around they always vote and they hate the idea of anything that might raise their taxes. Care to guess what will happen to his chances of reelection if he causes a lawsuit just before an election?

 

[triplecelectric]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Better yet start your own EMS company and go to the bahamas twice a year. I'm sure it was easy for the previous boss to do it............

 

[Parallax]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

There is NO private EMS provider that can match the level of service a publicly funded, properly managed service can provide. I worked my way through college first on a private franchise (Gold Cross) and then for the County I was in school in. No comparison. I remember catching shit for using too many trauma pads and 4x4 dressings on accident victims. I also remember being told to "...skip using those damn short boards or extracation devices... toss'em on a scoop stretcher and transport... get back in service.... time is money, run numbers are money."

I'm in no way talking about the skill of the workers or their dedication... same/same.

That said...you get what you pay for.

public motive = service
private motive = profit

Next the guy will be after the cops, then the fire department. then the teachers...

 

[JRose]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is NO private EMS provider that can match the level of service a publicly funded, properly managed service can provide. I worked my way through college first on a private franchise (Gold Cross) and then for the County I was in school in. No comparison. I remember catching shit for using too many trauma pads and 4x4 dressings on accident victims. I also remember being told to "...skip using those damn short boards or extracation devices... toss'em on a scoop stretcher and transport... get back in service.... time is money, run numbers are money."

I'm in no way talking about the skill of the workers or their dedication... same/same.

That said...you get what you pay for.

public motive = service
private motive = profit

Next the guy will be after the cops, then the fire department. then the teachers... </div></div>

Couldn't be put any better....

 

[mattj]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Not in EMS myself, but my dad has been a paramedic longer than I've been alive (now eligible for retirement, but hasn't yet) -- he's in a county run system in a pretty urban area with really strong community support, so privates have never had a chance there except has inter-hospital transports and the like -- however he's heard many stories from colleagues in other systems...

One things the privates don't advertise when they run out the existing system: once they've become established and their contract comes up for renewal, they know they have you by the balls and will squeeze every cent they can out of you ('you' here being the locality in question).

 

[JRose]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Private whambulance service: "We can't tell you to start a line, and run a 12 lead on everybody, but we get paid more when you do..."

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Update:

They are gonna keep us, but they are gonna cut all our pay by 15%. We are gonna have to keep working same hours for less pay, and GA has a shortage of medics in the state. I am so pissed, I hate coming into work now. I love what I do, but I am sick of this place. I can go back to working two jobs, and still have less hours tied up a week. I am waiting to hear back from one agency, and my old boss where I used to work wants me back. If both places offer me a job, I am gone!!!!! Sorry to act like a pissed off ass, but they are cutting our pay when we cost the least of ALL depts in the county, minus the rec. dept. If they need to cut the budget, then they can cut service too. They wont do it cause they wanna save their "political" carreer. Once again, sorry to vent, but I gotta do it somehow.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is NO private EMS provider that can match the level of service a publicly funded, properly managed service can provide. I

public motive = service
private motive = profit

Next the guy will be after the cops, then the fire department. then the teachers... </div></div>

Nonsense. Profit is the motivation to provide better service. Public sector workers have jobs guaranteed by unions, contracts, etc., and are shielded directly from the incentives to perform.

There are very few goods and services that can be provided more effectively and cheaply by government than the private sector. Ambulance service is not one of them.

I've yet to see any good argument for public schools, either.

This is not political, just pure economics.

 

[DustyJacket]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: redneck medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now this rogue commissioner wants to go to a private ambulance service, just because we "make too much". </div></div>

Funny, in KC they are going from a private service to city employees "to save money".


Sorry to hear this, man.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Downzero,

I have worked for a private service before and I disagree.

Our budget is 600K. Our Collections from ambulance service fees was 360K. Our cost to the county, 240K.

The cheapest private service bid maintaining the level of service we provide was 490K, plus they keep the collections.

We are non-union, have no contract, and work on hourly pay.

Check your facts. EMS is a money losing business, especially in rural areas. EMS is abused over and over as a taxicab, and if Medicaid wont pay, due to rejecting the claim via "not medically necessary", then you cant bill the pt. Also, a big portion of our clientele dont pay their bills. We have one pt who has amassed a $4,000 bill already this year, is uninsured, and we cant make her pay, and we cant refuse service to her.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

No, they'll be making $6.10 an hour by 2014 too.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

My father is a Dr. He is an opthamologist(eye surgeon), and paid for his education by letting the millitary pay for it. He now has a surgery center, and has 20+ employees. Over 70% of his patients are Medicare/Medicaid. With the cuts that will take place at the end of April, he will be making less profits per surgery than he was making in the 80's. The only profit margin he will have left on surgeries will be on the facillity fee that he gets for doing surgery in-house. His malpractice insurance is gonna go up due to the healthcare bill. He told me if I have any aspirations of going to medical school that he will kick my ass.

He is in his 60's now, and he would be better off financially to close his doors, and go to work for someone just doing eye exams. That is what is going to happen to your sub-specialties of medicine.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: redneck medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Downzero,

I have worked for a private service before and I disagree.

Our budget is 600K. Our Collections from ambulance service fees was 360K. Our cost to the county, 240K.

The cheapest private service bid maintaining the level of service we provide was 490K, plus they keep the collections.

We are non-union, have no contract, and work on hourly pay.

Check your facts. EMS is a money losing business, especially in rural areas. EMS is abused over and over as a taxicab, and if Medicaid wont pay, due to rejecting the claim via "not medically necessary", then you cant bill the pt. Also, a big portion of our clientele dont pay their bills. We have one pt who has amassed a $4,000 bill already this year, is uninsured, and we cant make her pay, and we cant refuse service to her. </div></div>

Might want to study a little concept called "Pareto efficiency." Your facts, even if assumed, merely illustrate that you are providing an inefficiently-high level of services, at the expense of taxpayers.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is NO private EMS provider that can match the level of service a publicly funded, properly managed service can provide. I

public motive = service
private motive = profit

Next the guy will be after the cops, then the fire department. then the teachers... </div></div>

Nonsense. Profit is the motivation to provide better service. Public sector workers have jobs guaranteed by unions, contracts, etc., and are shielded directly from the incentives to perform.

There are very few goods and services that can be provided more effectively and cheaply by government than the private sector. Ambulance service is not one of them.

I've yet to see any good argument for public schools, either.

This is not political, just pure economics. </div></div>

Bingo.

For all of the talk about small government around here, it seems odd that the public sector would be the best way to do a job.

I would argue that the majority of public sector jobs should go private. Police agencies (very specifically), emergency services, road services, roads. All of it.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

I am up for cutting services man. Get the taxpayers in this county to go for it. Good luck on that one. The county wants to cut costs, fine. Cut the level of the service. Problem is, EMS is used as a taxicab, and folks dont pay their bills. Adding to that, Medicare/Medicaid only pays so much. We dont have a hospital in the county. Over 60 percent of the time, the second crew is needed while the first crew is transporting a patient to the nearest hospital, which is at least 18 miles from the county line. EMS and FIRE is a money losing business, and we have nursing homes and a prison in the county, and both of them abuse EMS, but we cant refuse transport when a physician signs the form to transport them.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

That doesn't seem like a problem to me. That seems like a self correcting problems.

Once government is too broke to subsidize those who won't pay their bills, the problem solves itself.

"Money losing business" = inefficient.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

An amazing (and hopeful) potential byproduct of the great American back slide to indolent parasitism, that became official last week, is that other parasite nations which so greatly rely upon us to subsidize their socialism through our productivity, may fold like cheap lawn chairs. Their abandonment of defense spending to less than 1 percent of their GDP continues to decline while they have made a priority of enfaggotizing their society and welcoming their citizenry to embrace the joys of narcotic induced acceptance of a self interested ruling class, while scapegoating the "selfish rich"; Who they all act like...

Who honestly believes that 2.5 billion Asians, mostly unbelievably poor and hungry, are going to willingly remain in abject hopelessness so that 1.5 billion western crybabies can increasingly demand government subsidized boob jobs, sex changes and hip replacements, free of charge, while overeating to the point of monstrous obesity and pretending they "bust their ass" and work anything like our grandparents did just 50 years ago?

Parallax,

I love you bro but honestly this;
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">public motive = service
private motive = profit </div></div>

is hoplessly naive. It's like the gas bag members of congress who make $180,000 clams /year for ever, and all the pork they can shovel on the side, claiming they are making a sacrifice...Giving something back...Making a difference...

Yet I am the greedy one... Where is their warranty? Where is there accountability? When do they ever pay for the damage their incomeptence, avarice and hubris causes?

The worse this gets, the less I have to lose. I long for one of these political or public service martyrs to call me greedy to my face as I will happily provide them the template for some exciting new, and supposedly free, dental work.

Sorry about your gig Redneck, it sounds like you earn your pay, but a whole shit load of government paid, three-hour-break-takers are going to find out you can't get blood from a stone. Eventually, even communists run out of other people's money.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Update:

I am leaving this agency to go back where I started my career in EMS and Fire. I will be going back there as a Shift Captain/ Supervisor, and as Training Officer/ IT Officer. My computer skills once again have added me more responsibillity, but I dont mind it.... extra pay. Kinda strange going back there as a training officer and a supervisor, cause I started there right out of school green and wet behind the ears. This Dept is bleeding people right now to other Departments, and after the first of the month, an entire shift will be gone! On another note, I will be living at my family's farm, so I will have my shooting range right out my back door.

 

[UKDslayer]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security





<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.

</div></div>

Not true. Less smart people want to go to medical school, so that standards have significantly dropped in the past 10 years. Yes, you need an undergraduate degree in the sciences, but a 3.5 and average or better MCAT scores will do, a couple of extracurriculars and demonstrated discipline. The question is do you want to sacrifice 4 years of med. school (12-14 hr. days of class/studying 7 days a week x 4 years) + residency (70-100 hrs/week x 3-5 years) and debt. of $200,000- 250,000 at interest rates as high as 13% if you are caucasian.

Nursing (RN, LPN) or pharmacist is the way to go.

 

[smokshwn]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: UKDslayer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.

</div></div>

Not true. Less smart people want to go to medical school, so that standards have significantly dropped in the past 10 years. Yes, you need an undergraduate degree in the sciences, but a 3.5 and average or better MCAT scores will do, a couple of extracurriculars and demonstrated discipline. The question is do you want to sacrifice 4 years of med. school (12-14 hr. days of class/studying 7 days a week x 4 years) + residency (70-100 hrs/week x 3-5 years) and debt. of $200,000- 250,000 at interest rates as high as 13% if you are caucasian.

Nursing (RN, LPN) or pharmacist is the way to go. </div></div>

+1 Even 10+ years ago the horizons for med school were getting pretty broad. No longer is it a 4.0 with an undergrad in Bio, Chem, etc

 

[lightman]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

Hey Bro,Thats a tough break,but it sounds like you landed on your feet!I would really encourage you to try nursing school.My youngest Son was/is a nurse,makes 30.00+ dollars/hr,works 3 12hr shifts and gets paid for 40hr.There is always an opportunity for OT.I guess we don't know how the health care bill is going to affect all of this,this is yet to be seen.Anyway,Good Luck,you sound like a really competent guy,and I'm sure you will come out of this for the better.If I ever need EMT services,I hope someone like you gets my call. Pete

 

[Snakum]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An amazing (and hopeful) potential byproduct of the great American back slide to indolent parasitism, that became official last week, is that other parasite nations which so greatly rely upon us to subsidize their socialism through our productivity, may fold like cheap lawn chairs. Their abandonment of defense spending to less than 1 percent of their GDP continues to decline while they have made a priority of enfaggotizing their society and welcoming their citizenry to embrace the joys of narcotic induced acceptance of a self interested ruling class, while scapegoating the "selfish rich"; Who they all act like...

Who honestly believes that 2.5 billion Asians, mostly unbelievably poor and hungry, are going to willingly remain in abject hopelessness so that 1.5 billion western crybabies can increasingly demand government subsidized boob jobs, sex changes and hip replacements, free of charge, while overeating to the point of monstrous obesity and pretending they "bust their ass" and work anything like our grandparents did just 50 years ago?

Parallax,

I love you bro but honestly this;
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">public motive = service
private motive = profit </div></div>

is hoplessly naive. It's like the gas bag members of congress who make $180,000 clams /year for ever, and all the pork they can shovel on the side, claiming they are making a sacrifice...Giving something back...Making a difference...

Yet I am the greedy one... Where is their warranty? Where is there accountability? When do they ever pay for the damage their incomeptence, avarice and hubris causes?

The worse this gets, the less I have to lose. I long for one of these political or public service martyrs to call me greedy to my face as I will happily provide them the template for some exciting new, and supposedly free, dental work.

Sorry about your gig Redneck, it sounds like you earn your pay, but a whole shit load of government paid, three-hour-break-takers are going to find out you can't get blood from a stone. Eventually, even communists run out of other people's money. </div></div>

Eggsackery. And when we want to blame someone we can all look in the mirror. We've been asleep at the wheel while the career politicians are lining their pockets on the backs of the people. We let it happen.

But about EMS ... I'm leaving big IT money to go into EMS (start school next month). I just want to do something that matters for a change. My Nurse fiance is going back for her Masters/NP and I may consider applying to a PA school when I finish. But if I stay in EMS I'd rather do that for peanuts than spend one more day in an office staring at a computer and fending off corporate politics.

 

[smokshwn]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Snakum</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

But about EMS ... I'm leaving big IT money to go into EMS (start school next month). I just want to do something that matters for a change. My Nurse fiance is going back for her Masters/NP and I may consider applying to a PA school when I finish. But if I stay in EMS I'd rather do that for peanuts than spend one more day in an office staring at a computer and fending off corporate politics. </div></div>

Don't get your hopes up. I have enjoyed my job but if you think for second you are leaving politics, boredom, and bullshit behind, you are in for a very rude awakening. When you can't pay the bills it only makes it worse.

 

[JRose]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.
</div></div>


This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard... FYI, ANYONE out there can do all of these things, they just have to want it bad enough. I am far from a smart fella, but I finished head of my class in FF recruit school, top 3 of my paramedic class, and was on the Presidents list and on academic scholarships in college... All because of one thing, I wanted to be the best bad enough to do well. The key to good grades and high test scores have more to do with determination and discipline than intelligence.

 

[Mike]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go back to school and become a Doctor. </div></div>

You apparently don't understand what it takes to get into medical school in this country. If you don't have a college education, perfect grades, and a first-rate MCAT score, you can forget about going to medical school in the United States.

</div></div>

Lame excuses. Of course you need an undergraduate degree but it's not that hard, all you have to do is put forth an effort. I didn't have perfect grades nor a first rate MCAT exam (27, Q) but I was granted an interview.

All you have to do is put forth an effort. Anyone can do it...<span style="font-style: italic">anyone</span>.

 

[browningboy84]

Re: Working in EMS is no longer job security

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pete Theodore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Bro,Thats a tough break,but it sounds like you landed on your feet!I would really encourage you to try nursing school.My youngest Son was/is a nurse,makes 30.00+ dollars/hr,works 3 12hr shifts and gets paid for 40hr.There is always an opportunity for OT.I guess we don't know how the health care bill is going to affect all of this,this is yet to be seen.Anyway,Good Luck,you sound like a really competent guy,and I'm sure you will come out of this for the better.If I ever need EMT services,I hope someone like you gets my call. Pete </div></div>


Pete,
I start nursing school in October. I had to wait till then cause my wife is about to finish up paramedic school. It is a 14 month accelerated Paramedic to RN bridge program. I also may teach EMT and Paramedic students part time this fall. I have planned on eventually going back to nursing school, and I have all my core classes done already. I appreciate your compliment man, and I am leaving here as are other employess due to the way that they are giving office workers ( ie clerks and transit bus drivers) raises, but they cut public safety depts by 15%. They basically told our EMS chief that none of us would leave cause we all did not want to leave our positions here. Well, maybe their eyes will be opened because I found out today that 2 people who were up next for full time, and the best candidates for the positions, turned them down!!!! They told our chief that things were too unstable. They tried to bid us out to privatize, and the private service wanted 500K a year, plus the revenue they would collect. Anyway, I am outta here at the end of the month, and will be able to spend some quality time with my wife. She is ecstatic about us moving, and I am looking forward to being able to go hunting with her this fall, since I will have more time to spend with my wife and 2 labs.