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So I'm working on becoming a pararescueman and of couse I'll be going through the paramedic portion at some point in my pipeline. I do have one issue, I get nauseous when it comes to my own blood and certain things can trigger nausea.
When I was really young, I got a surgery done and was sitting in my bed playing the original Nintendo. I believe I was playing Duck Hunt. Anyways, I felt a wet sensation underneath me and when I looked down, I was sitting in a puddle of my own blood. My IV tube had split, so instead of fluid going into my body, my blood was spurting out. Apparently I passed out, and I remember getting really nauseous. Ever since then, giving blood isn't impossible, but I get anxious about it and people always seem to ask, "Are you doing alright?" I went and saw an open heart surgery back in high school and got nauseous, but I managed to stomach it for the most part.
I wonder if you have any experience with people pushing past this. I am not scared of blood or anything else, but I am scared of my own reaction to it I guess. It is certainly a road that I am destined to cross in my future, unless of course I puss out and quit before I get there. Not my intention, of course. Any thoughts?
Congratulations.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
My suggestion would be to volunteer somewhere that you would be exposed to blood. The last thing you want to do is go through all the paramedic training only to find out you can't do the work. I've heard about people, as yourself, who can't handle their own blood but have no problem with others.
It might also be something you have to get used to. No one is going to fault you if you're squeamish the first few times around alot of blood or a dead body. Some emergency rooms have volunteer positions. Of course you won't be doing patient care but you would be exposed to situations that will help you figure out your problem.
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So I assume you can start looking for paramedic job openings and start that as a career?
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I have a quick question for you.
What can you do with your EMT-B certification?
I know where I am in IL pretty much all of the emergency ambulances are run through the fire department and therefore you need your EMT cert as well as being a fire fighter. Aside from that it seems that the only job for EMT-B around here is working in one of the very few local ambulance non emergency service companies ferrying the elderly from nursing homes to the hospital ect.
Just curious! I am really looking into getting an EMT-B certification and maybe the EMT-I or P eventually.
Great post btw, loved all the info
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
It's true that most jobs for EMT-B's are in firehouses which require the additional training you would need to operate onboard their apparatus. You can also get jobs with hospitals working with Advanced Life Support and assisting paramedics on their units.
My advice, if you are considering EMT or Paramedic as a career than plan to work in a firehouse. If you don't, then you're closing yourself off to probably the biggest portion of employment opportunities available.
To answer your question more clearly. With EMT-B you can find jobs working on Basic Life Support ambulances or privately owned ambulance companies like the ones you described. Although the pay for EMT-B's is pretty terrible for the job they do. If you're considering this as a career I would aim for Paramedic and keep working at it until you succeed.
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did you drop out of school to do this or is this something you do on the side as you study?
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What's the best way to look for volunteer positions? I think that is a good idea and would help me get in the "rescue" mindset. My only issue is that I need to work and train for pararescue... but it would be good experience, regardless.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
On May 23 2010 08:03 lowbright wrote:
did you drop out of school to do this or is this something you do on the side as you study?
I finished the current classes I am taking, but I am not continuing on with my degree. By the time I have Paramedic it's the equivalent of an AA degree (2 years of school). I will be able to build upon that for a BA in EMS during my career.
What's the best way to look for volunteer positions? I think that is a good idea and would help me get in the "rescue" mindset. My only issue is that I need to work and train for pararescue... but it would be good experience, regardless.
I think the easiest way is just to go to your local hospitals and emergency rooms and ask if they have volunteer positions or know about any programs available.
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why can't you be an emt and finish your degree?
my friend did emt work on weekends and then worked in a lab (with a few publications O.O) and was a chem major
of course, his grades suffered, but it seems possible to do emt work while being a full time student no?
or at least part time?
or was it just because you felt that getting a degree would be a useless endeavour and that it wasn't worth pursuing?
I kinda want to spend some time as an emt after i graduate, maybe a year or so before i go to medical school
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
It's because I'm going to pursue this as a career. So instead of doing the major I currently was, I am going to go to paramedic school.
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EPT
