anyone know anything about emt's??

[chinchillalover0927]

i was looking into becoming an emt..
the pay is good and school is very short, but i was concerned on the risk involved..

fooling with people with aids, and getting aids contracted to you accidently or something, or about giving people mouth to mouth that have diseases etc..if anyone has any advice please let me know!!

 

[threewingedfury]

Going into a profession because of pay or short time in school is not a good idea. Sometimes it's best just to find something that you love. I'm learning this after 5 years of working on my bachelors in Computer Science - it's not something that I care for anymore.

As far as contracting AIDS - I think that's a little much and that should be the least of your concern. I believe EMTs don't use mouth-to-mouth anymore because of infection and cracked ribs, or at least I've heard. I think they use rhythmic abdominal compression.

But really, if AIDS is your concern, you shouldn't go into this as a profession. You'll be trained on how to prevent the transmission of diseases. It's about saving lives, not making money.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

i am in college to become a neo natal nurse,but id like to get a current job involving something in the field and that makes good money. 7.35 an hour isnt cutting it for me, sick of my crappy job

 

[Essentia]

EMT's get paid well? Since when?! Paramedics get paid fairly well, but not EMT's.

Average pay for an EMT in Mississippi with 2 years experience: $26.7k
Average pay for Paramedic in Mississippi with 2 years experience: $38.2k

Again, this is with 2 years experience, so expect to get paid less than that going in.


I agree with Tiffany though. Being in this area of the health field is definitely not about making money, it's about helping people and truly desiring to be doing the job you are doing. If you want to make better money in the mean time, work at a call center. Most start at $11 an hour.

 

[Ash]

EMTs definitely don't make that much money. And you really must not know much about the profession if you think you have a large chance on contracting HIV/AIDS. The first thing taught in these sorts of professions are how to protect yourself, which you should already know if you're going to school for nursing.

And if I recall correctly, nurses make much than an EMT any day...

ETA: Starting rate I found for an EMT is about 26k whereas starting rate for a neonatal nurse is about 30k in the Southern states, higher in other parts of the US.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

exactly...i make 7.35 rite now, emt;s here start at 12 dollars an hour is good for a temporary job for me,i want to be neonatal nurse becuase i will enjoy to do it...im just looking for something in a similar field..and whats a call center? like calling 911 , the people that answer the phone and stuff?how do you apply for those??

 

[Ash]

You do realize you're going to have to go through training for an EMT on top of your nursing school? Any why not leave that job open for someone who actually plans on staying with it? There is hard enough time finding good help... How much longer do you have left in nursing school? And an EMT is going to be much more of a demanding job than what you're already doing.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

im taking all my pre req's <spelling?> rite now, im not CURRENTLY taking nursing but im doing all of the pre classes that are required for it, and where i live you start out doing emt at 12 an hour, my friend just started and that was his starting rate...and i know they teach you how not to get aids and stuff but there is always the possiblity it could happen thats the only thing im concerned about...

 

[Vixey]

Well i'd be afraid to do it. I watch "mystery dignosis" and the guy on there DID get HIV from his job as an EMT.

 

[ticklechin]

I worked in SF as a dental hygienist in the early 80s when Aids was prevelant in our practice-we were more worried about getting Hepatitis B than Aids, the transmission of Aids is much more difficult than Hep B, and even now Hep B can be a death sentance. We all got vaccinated for Hep B when the vaccine came out.

 

[Sesame]

I was a certified NYS EMT-B and I volunteered.

As a person who is scared of contracting blood-borne diseases, this risk is constant in every health care field, whether you're a first responder or in the clinical setting. Since you're currently in the nursing track, you should know that PPE is your best friend. It is YOUR responsibility to protect yourself before entering the scene and treating the patient. On a side note, I agree with ticklechin, that your chances of catching Hepatitis is higher than HIV/AIDS. You should have your vaccinations up-to-date if you are working in a high-risk environment. It would be naive to think that you would not be at risk for anything working in the neonatal department; You just never know what can happen.

As for administering "mouth-to-mouth," there is a device that helps facilitate. There is a one-way valve that prevents any back flow and thus, protects the user.

It is very fast-paced and stressful, as every situation is never constant, never the same. There are ups and downs... As a first responder to the scene, your job is important. The care you deliver can greatly effect the positive outcome of the patient at times. Also, you must be able to communicate efficiently and effectively. You must be able to get information from the patient and you must be able to report vital information to the ER staff.

An EMT-B (EMT Basic) does not have the advanced skill set as an EMT-C (Cardio) or a Paramedic (the highest level). Depending on your state of certification, even the EMT-B responsibilities slightly differ (in NY state, EMT-Bs are allowed to administer activated-charcoal, asthma neubulizer/inhaler medication, Epi-Pen. In other states, an EMT-B cannot perform these procedures by law).

In the course, whether you're taking the fast-track or regular course, you will definitely be able to get a good feel if being an EMT is for you. The certification examination process is a two part test, consisting of a hands-on practical with scenarios and a written part. In addition, you must complete a certain amount of hours either in the hospital ER or on an ambulance ride-along.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

thank you alot for the info that did help

 

[kimbt622]

the only reason you should think about being an emt is because you truly want to save lives and you definitely need to be able to handle the craziness, but this is also similar to the reasons for becoming a nurse. money should not be your concern. as for aids, if you're in nursing you should know that aids can only be transmitted through blood not spit and even so, most emts do not do mouth to mouth anymore, they have machines for that. but still, aids is extremely hard to catch through a persons mouth unless you both have an open exposed wound. what is your job now? maybe you can find a better easy job since you're in school.

 

[kimbt622]

*my mistake, you WILL learn in nursing that aids can only be transmitted through blood and sperm. you're still taking your pre requisites so you would not have learned that yet but hopefully you can a good paying job that won't stress you out too much during your nursing courses, its tough trust me!

 

[Ash]

I dunno about down in Mississippi, but up here we learned how HIV/AIDS and other STDs were transmitted in 10th grade health class... Honestly, anyone taking even the pre-reqs should already know at least that much.

 

[Lmbswimmer]

I would be way more concerned as an EMT about any of the Hep's or even TB before AIDS on a call. My sister was an EMT in Boston and then a paramedic. She did come in contact with some crazy stuff, but she also really enjoyed it. She ended up after one call having to go in for routine TB tests since they were all exposed - and they were exposed to a resistant strain. She did not contract it.

The exposure rate for an EMT is not much higher than for LE - esp. since in LE people are purposfully trying at times to contaminate you with needles/spit/vomit/feces/blood/etc...

 

[chinchillalover0927]

i work at mcdonalds rite now i have been there since i was 16 it was my first job and i just never went anywhere else due to it being a comfort zone because i know how to do everything in there lol...it really sucks

 

[kimbt622]

maybe you can ask for a raise since you've been there for so long?

 

[alpayton]

My only question here really is...if you're so worried about contracting some kind of disease, be it blood-borne (AIDS, etc) or otherwise, why on earth would you think that it would be any less of a concern for you in the neonatal nursing setting than being an EMT or first responder or whatever? I mean, really.... What about that neonate who was born with AIDS/HIV because the mother had it? If you're not comfortable with these things, you should really reconsider your career aspirations.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

i never thought about dealing with it with neonatal career but im not going to change my mind on that at all....plus i think its less likely to catch it from a tiny baby than a grown human who can hurt you or fight you causing u to get an injury