Looking to move to NYC and become an EMT. Got any advice of the "Man, I wish I knew that back when I started!" sort?
June 1, 2010 12:10 AM Subscribe
Looking to move to NYC and become an EMT. Got any advice of the "Man, I wish I knew that back when I started!" sort?
Not too long ago, something clicked in me and I suddenly knew that I had to become an EMT. I also suddenly decided that New York was something that I had to experience at some point in my life, and what better time than now?
My current plans basically consist of moving to New York, living off savings and money from odd jobs as I put myself through EMT-Basic training, then trying to get some ambulance experience under my belt as I wait for the inexplicably long FDNY EMT application waiting list to come 'round to my name.
So, does anyone with relavent experience have any advice or suggestions? The biggest downer for me so far has been that loooooong FDNY waiting list. I don't wanna spend a year twiddling my thumbs and forgetting my training before getting a job and realizing that ambulance work just isn't my thing, or something along those lines.
I've read a bit about private ambulance companies, although I don't know who the major players in NYC are (somehow, Google is failing me here). Would it be realistic to expect a chance at getting work with one of these companies within a reasonable period of time after I get certified?
Please also note that I've never been to New York before. And yes, I realize that this is kinda jumping into the deep end, but that's very much part of the reason I'm pursuing this. Any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!
Not too long ago, something clicked in me and I suddenly knew that I had to become an EMT. I also suddenly decided that New York was something that I had to experience at some point in my life, and what better time than now?
My current plans basically consist of moving to New York, living off savings and money from odd jobs as I put myself through EMT-Basic training, then trying to get some ambulance experience under my belt as I wait for the inexplicably long FDNY EMT application waiting list to come 'round to my name.
So, does anyone with relavent experience have any advice or suggestions? The biggest downer for me so far has been that loooooong FDNY waiting list. I don't wanna spend a year twiddling my thumbs and forgetting my training before getting a job and realizing that ambulance work just isn't my thing, or something along those lines.
I've read a bit about private ambulance companies, although I don't know who the major players in NYC are (somehow, Google is failing me here). Would it be realistic to expect a chance at getting work with one of these companies within a reasonable period of time after I get certified?
Please also note that I've never been to New York before. And yes, I realize that this is kinda jumping into the deep end, but that's very much part of the reason I'm pursuing this. Any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!
Response by poster: Awesome, thanks. Don't know why it didn't occur to me to look for a good, relavent blog. Good stuff.
posted by genericdave at 12:24 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by genericdave at 12:24 AM on June 1, 2010
I realize that this is kinda jumping into the deep end...
Indeed. Be prepared for a drug overdose to "wake from the dead" and explode out the back of a moving ambulance.
Good luck with the FDNY thing. They are the best people, ever.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:28 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Indeed. Be prepared for a drug overdose to "wake from the dead" and explode out the back of a moving ambulance.
Good luck with the FDNY thing. They are the best people, ever.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:28 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Indeed. Be prepared for a drug overdose to "wake from the dead" and explode out the back of a moving ambulance.
Is it bad that that made me more morbidly interested than scared?
They are the best people, ever.
That's encouraging. I've gotten used to the "Well, your coworkers are totally assholes, but the pay's decent," kind of job. Needless to say, it hasn't grown on me.
posted by genericdave at 12:37 AM on June 1, 2010
Is it bad that that made me more morbidly interested than scared?
They are the best people, ever.
That's encouraging. I've gotten used to the "Well, your coworkers are totally assholes, but the pay's decent," kind of job. Needless to say, it hasn't grown on me.
posted by genericdave at 12:37 AM on June 1, 2010
As far as the exploding out the back of a moving ambulance, in truth I only saw that once, on my block.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:43 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:43 AM on June 1, 2010
Is it bad that that made me more morbidly interested than scared?
I didn't want to go there, but... Recently an acquaintance working EMT out of Coney Island had a situation where they were treating a gunshot to the head, who was handcuffed to a police office. While they where checking in, the gunman arrived and shot the victim 4 more times. I don't know what happened after that, because our friend left and hasn't gone back.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:48 AM on June 1, 2010
I didn't want to go there, but... Recently an acquaintance working EMT out of Coney Island had a situation where they were treating a gunshot to the head, who was handcuffed to a police office. While they where checking in, the gunman arrived and shot the victim 4 more times. I don't know what happened after that, because our friend left and hasn't gone back.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:48 AM on June 1, 2010
Response by poster: in truth I only saw that once, on my block.
It still counts.
I don't know what happened after that, because our friend left and hasn't gone back.
Yeah, I imagine the dropout rate is nothing to be sniffed at. It's certainly not a carefree sort of job. I have no illusions that things will be all rainbows and kisses from here on out. I've already read a few EMT horror story threads here and there on the internet. Once again, this is part of what's driving me to this job.
posted by genericdave at 12:56 AM on June 1, 2010
It still counts.
I don't know what happened after that, because our friend left and hasn't gone back.
Yeah, I imagine the dropout rate is nothing to be sniffed at. It's certainly not a carefree sort of job. I have no illusions that things will be all rainbows and kisses from here on out. I've already read a few EMT horror story threads here and there on the internet. Once again, this is part of what's driving me to this job.
posted by genericdave at 12:56 AM on June 1, 2010
as it happens, i know 3 nyc emt's (well, paramedics) named dave.
nyc is losing its lustre, might be good to spend some time here before you make your final decision. also, budget cuts (ny city and state are both cutting costs with both hands) might mean you have that much longer to wait to get hired.
2 of the dave's have moved on, the third is in management, i'll try to see if he has any up to date hiring info. best nyc emt factoid: if you do a rescue and end up in the water (east river, hudson, etc) you are sent to one of 2 hospitals to be decontaminated, and given 6 weeks worth of antibiotics.
posted by kimyo at 1:39 AM on June 1, 2010
nyc is losing its lustre, might be good to spend some time here before you make your final decision. also, budget cuts (ny city and state are both cutting costs with both hands) might mean you have that much longer to wait to get hired.
2 of the dave's have moved on, the third is in management, i'll try to see if he has any up to date hiring info. best nyc emt factoid: if you do a rescue and end up in the water (east river, hudson, etc) you are sent to one of 2 hospitals to be decontaminated, and given 6 weeks worth of antibiotics.
posted by kimyo at 1:39 AM on June 1, 2010
Response by poster: as it happens, i know 3 nyc emt's (well, paramedics) named dave.
Oh, well that clinches it! Us Daves gotta stick together, you know.
i'll try to see if he has any up to date hiring info.
You are a beautiful, beautiful person. See, this is why I love AskMeFi!
posted by genericdave at 2:29 AM on June 1, 2010
Oh, well that clinches it! Us Daves gotta stick together, you know.
i'll try to see if he has any up to date hiring info.
You are a beautiful, beautiful person. See, this is why I love AskMeFi!
posted by genericdave at 2:29 AM on June 1, 2010
Following in yellowbinder's footsteps: if you're interested in relevant blogs, Trauma Queen is a brilliant one written by a paramedic in Edinburgh. I'm not sure exactly what the difference between that and an EMT is, but I think they're pretty similar.
(He's just been on a trip working at the F1 in Abu Dhabi, so you'll need to scroll a bit to get to the everyday stuff. These are the posts he considers his best.)
posted by badmoonrising at 3:38 AM on June 1, 2010
(He's just been on a trip working at the F1 in Abu Dhabi, so you'll need to scroll a bit to get to the everyday stuff. These are the posts he considers his best.)
posted by badmoonrising at 3:38 AM on June 1, 2010
Response by poster: @badmoonrising
Thanks for the link. And a Paramedic is a kind of EMT. They're just the most highly trained version of EMT.
posted by genericdave at 4:15 AM on June 1, 2010
Thanks for the link. And a Paramedic is a kind of EMT. They're just the most highly trained version of EMT.
posted by genericdave at 4:15 AM on June 1, 2010
Is there a reason you can't do EMT training where you are right now?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:17 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:17 AM on June 1, 2010
Response by poster: Each state has their own licensing standards. So, if I got a license somewhere else, it would be no good in NYC. I'd have to get another license in-state. And in any case, I wanna go to New York.
posted by genericdave at 4:31 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by genericdave at 4:31 AM on June 1, 2010
Following on that, what about starting in some other city in New York state? I have no idea about the market in various cities, but it might be worth it if you find out that Rochester (for example) is desperately looking for EMT trainees. Would having that experience make your NYC application stronger later?
posted by CathyG at 7:07 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by CathyG at 7:07 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I was an EMT (just an A, but with some B/C/Paramedic training (airways/spine clearings/etc.). I would really recommend that you take a look at how much money there ISN'T to be made in this field, unless you get as high as EMT-C or Paramedic, you might not actually be able to make much of a living in NYC.
I was not in NYC---or even NY, but I do know lots of rescue personnel around the US, and it seems to hold true pretty universally. FWIW, this is why many firemen go ahead and slap on the EMT or at least a FR certification.
If you mentioned it and I didn't see it, my apologies---but I recommend that you at least have some formal training in this field before you jump in headfirst. Even if you just pop out to NOLS for a round of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT, or if you're set on New York, that's where SOLO is from, and SOLO is where I got my certs. Again, the nice thing with the wilderness certs is that you'll learn fun things like airways and sustained life support that you won't learn in a normal emt class. (Not that they will be part of your standard of care as an EMT, but it'll be good to know.)
You'll get to learn about all the fun things like "injuries incompatible with life" and dealing with putrefaction and multi-hour treatment of increasing cranial pressures...good times, good times.
posted by TomMelee at 7:14 AM on June 1, 2010
I was not in NYC---or even NY, but I do know lots of rescue personnel around the US, and it seems to hold true pretty universally. FWIW, this is why many firemen go ahead and slap on the EMT or at least a FR certification.
If you mentioned it and I didn't see it, my apologies---but I recommend that you at least have some formal training in this field before you jump in headfirst. Even if you just pop out to NOLS for a round of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT, or if you're set on New York, that's where SOLO is from, and SOLO is where I got my certs. Again, the nice thing with the wilderness certs is that you'll learn fun things like airways and sustained life support that you won't learn in a normal emt class. (Not that they will be part of your standard of care as an EMT, but it'll be good to know.)
You'll get to learn about all the fun things like "injuries incompatible with life" and dealing with putrefaction and multi-hour treatment of increasing cranial pressures...good times, good times.
posted by TomMelee at 7:14 AM on June 1, 2010
I'm surprised no one's mentioned it yet, but this is a union job.
This is significant, because EMS officers are not unionized everywhere.
This is also significant because it means that getting a job is going to be tough. They seem to be hiring right now, but the process is likely to take quite a while and involve a level of bureaucracy which you may find surprising. You're going to be working for the government, with all of the advantages--job security, benefits, union membership, etc.--and disadvantages--politicized bureaucracy, organizational inefficiency, union hassles, etc.--that such entails.
posted by valkyryn at 7:45 AM on June 1, 2010
This is significant, because EMS officers are not unionized everywhere.
This is also significant because it means that getting a job is going to be tough. They seem to be hiring right now, but the process is likely to take quite a while and involve a level of bureaucracy which you may find surprising. You're going to be working for the government, with all of the advantages--job security, benefits, union membership, etc.--and disadvantages--politicized bureaucracy, organizational inefficiency, union hassles, etc.--that such entails.
posted by valkyryn at 7:45 AM on June 1, 2010
Things you need to know: no matter how much savings you have, you need double that to live in New York.
I know the certifications don't transfer, but I think the multiple-whammy of
1) moving to new york
2) training in a brand new field
3) getting a job in that field, that is unionized
Is setting yourself up not for a grand adventure, but for a high chance of failure.
Don't get me wrong - I am the first person to say "throw your hat over the fence, you'll figure out how to get to the other side" but I don't think you have enough information to make that decision. Living here is unbelievably difficult and expensive. There are days I start crying in the supermarket checkout line because I cannot take it one more moment - and I'm FROM here, have a great job, good apartment, nice neighborhood, great boyfriend, decent support system. You've never even been here. What is your plan? How are you going to start? where are you going to look for an apartment? Are you going to come with a backpack and send for your things later? Do you know *anyone* here?
You say you're going to live off of savings and "odd jobs" - what jobs are those, specifically? I say that because we kind of have this unemployment problem and when a hotel opens up with, say, 200 jobs available, 1500 people show up to apply for them. People camped out THREE DAYS to be able to get an application to apply for something. I'd spend some time looking at Craigslist NYC for the types of odd jobs you think you'll be able to get and see if they actually do exist.
I ask these things not because I don't want you to come. I ask these things because I don't want you to come and fail miserably.
Furthermore, there are levels of politics and bs to be an EMT in New York City that I believe you are glossing over. While you could gloss over the whole "I don't know anyone in New York and will end up living with six dudes in a bedbug infested loft off the Morgan stop on the L train and living on Top Ramen" thing, this is not something you just step into and hope it works out okay. Reading blogs about what it's like to do this job in Edinburgh might be interesting but completely unhelpful to what it's like to work here. I feel like you have to do some kind of aggressive outreach to find someone who does this job right now and ask some really tough questions. Again, I'm not telling you "don't do this", I'm just suggesting you are missing a dumptruck full of information.
posted by micawber at 9:51 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I know the certifications don't transfer, but I think the multiple-whammy of
1) moving to new york
2) training in a brand new field
3) getting a job in that field, that is unionized
Is setting yourself up not for a grand adventure, but for a high chance of failure.
Don't get me wrong - I am the first person to say "throw your hat over the fence, you'll figure out how to get to the other side" but I don't think you have enough information to make that decision. Living here is unbelievably difficult and expensive. There are days I start crying in the supermarket checkout line because I cannot take it one more moment - and I'm FROM here, have a great job, good apartment, nice neighborhood, great boyfriend, decent support system. You've never even been here. What is your plan? How are you going to start? where are you going to look for an apartment? Are you going to come with a backpack and send for your things later? Do you know *anyone* here?
You say you're going to live off of savings and "odd jobs" - what jobs are those, specifically? I say that because we kind of have this unemployment problem and when a hotel opens up with, say, 200 jobs available, 1500 people show up to apply for them. People camped out THREE DAYS to be able to get an application to apply for something. I'd spend some time looking at Craigslist NYC for the types of odd jobs you think you'll be able to get and see if they actually do exist.
I ask these things not because I don't want you to come. I ask these things because I don't want you to come and fail miserably.
Furthermore, there are levels of politics and bs to be an EMT in New York City that I believe you are glossing over. While you could gloss over the whole "I don't know anyone in New York and will end up living with six dudes in a bedbug infested loft off the Morgan stop on the L train and living on Top Ramen" thing, this is not something you just step into and hope it works out okay. Reading blogs about what it's like to do this job in Edinburgh might be interesting but completely unhelpful to what it's like to work here. I feel like you have to do some kind of aggressive outreach to find someone who does this job right now and ask some really tough questions. Again, I'm not telling you "don't do this", I'm just suggesting you are missing a dumptruck full of information.
posted by micawber at 9:51 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Others who've actually worked as EMTs might provide more details on this one, but my EMT friends talk a lot about doing patient transport. That is, moving some old guy from a nursing home to a hospital, then moving another person from one hospital to another, or to home. It's not exciting work. Make sure you're happy with that, or have a concrete plan of how to go further.
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:49 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:49 AM on June 1, 2010
Best answer: Look into reciprocity. When I was an EMT, I did my initial cert in one state, moved to another, took the National Registry Exam (which you 'll want to do anyway) and then applied for reciprocity in the new state. Pretty easy.
You can definitely swing working and taking the class, which is often done evenings / weekends. EMS is tons of fun and can be very rewarding, but it's not something I would jump into without some experience (which you'll get in class during your ride-alongs and ER rotations).
Typed this on a phone, PM me if you'd like to talk about being an EMT, pros and cons.
PS I'm in nursing school now, for a reason...
posted by charmcityblues at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
You can definitely swing working and taking the class, which is often done evenings / weekends. EMS is tons of fun and can be very rewarding, but it's not something I would jump into without some experience (which you'll get in class during your ride-alongs and ER rotations).
Typed this on a phone, PM me if you'd like to talk about being an EMT, pros and cons.
PS I'm in nursing school now, for a reason...
posted by charmcityblues at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine just got called up to enter the FDNY EMT program, she waited two years.
As has already been mentioned, NYC can be a bit crazy, but so can any other metropolitan area.
Patient transport is important, for the two reasons. If you work for an independent company, you may do the dullish work of moving patients home>hospital>home. OTOH, you may also be responsible for moving a 200+ lb person down 5 flights of narrow 1/2 broken steps in the Bronx - NYC architecture and demographics mean that it can be particularly physically tasking, and EMTs frequently suffer from work related physical injury.
The independent companies are sometimes referred to with nasty epithets like "TrashCare" (TransCare), and I've heard the pay is horrible. This is all 2nd hand
If you live near NYC or can manage to visit, you might be able to arrange some beer time with current EMTs, or instructors at an NYC program. Everyone I know who has entered the field outside of FDNY has gone through the course @ John Jay College.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 12:02 PM on June 1, 2010
As has already been mentioned, NYC can be a bit crazy, but so can any other metropolitan area.
Patient transport is important, for the two reasons. If you work for an independent company, you may do the dullish work of moving patients home>hospital>home. OTOH, you may also be responsible for moving a 200+ lb person down 5 flights of narrow 1/2 broken steps in the Bronx - NYC architecture and demographics mean that it can be particularly physically tasking, and EMTs frequently suffer from work related physical injury.
The independent companies are sometimes referred to with nasty epithets like "TrashCare" (TransCare), and I've heard the pay is horrible. This is all 2nd hand
If you live near NYC or can manage to visit, you might be able to arrange some beer time with current EMTs, or instructors at an NYC program. Everyone I know who has entered the field outside of FDNY has gone through the course @ John Jay College.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 12:02 PM on June 1, 2010
Response by poster: Oh man! I had to step out for a while and now I've got quite a number of replies to deal with. First of all, thanks, everyone, for your advice and concerns. I'll try to respond to each of you as much as I can.
@CathyG
what about starting in some other city in New York state?
I've considered it, but I've tried living situations like this before. Didn't really work out like I originally thought it would. Turned out to be more of a hassle and ended up feeling like a waste of time to a degree because the whole time I had been aiming for someplace else. If I live somewhere, I wanna live there.
@charmcityblues
When I was an EMT, I did my initial cert in one state, moved to another, took the National Registry Exam (which you 'll want to do anyway) and then applied for reciprocity in the new state. Pretty easy.
Ok, this deserves some good consideration. I had heard about this, but didn't know if it was something that was simple enough to merit getting training out of state.
Oh, and you totally got taken up on that PM.
@TomMelee
I would really recommend that you take a look at how much money there ISN'T to be made in this field
There seems to be a lot of concern about my financial well-being since. Just to give you an idea or my experience in this area, I currently live in one of the world's most expensive cities with a yearly salary of less than $22,000 and I'm still managing to save money without much effort at all. God knows what I could do in full-on cheapo mode. I also have an incredibly supportive family who I know will always be there to help me out of a bind if I happen to find myself in one.
I recommend that you at least have some formal training in this field before you jump in headfirst. Even if you just pop out to NOLS for a round of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT
Sounds interesting, I'll take a look at the very least. Just so everyone knows, I'm definitely open to ideas regarding related fields of work. Nothing's 100% here.
@valkyryn
I'm surprised no one's mentioned it yet, but this is a union job.
Ah, so I suppose that's why there's the loooooong waiting list.
@micawber
I'm not telling you "don't do this", I'm just suggesting you are missing a dumptruck full of information.
Well, it's not like I've put every single thing I know about the situation into my opening comment. I do have contacts in New York and I've done a lot of research and a lot of thinking about this, but yes, admittedly, I am in need of more information. That's precisely why I'm asking questions on MeFi.
I ask these things not because I don't want you to come. I ask these things because I don't want you to come and fail miserably.
Your concerns are totally valid and I appreciate them, but realize that there is no "failure" for me in this situation. Even if I run out of cash and have to flee back to my hometown or something, I will have at least completed my first section of training. Even if I end up in crappy situations and have to pull out and start over, I will have learned a ton from the experience. There's only so much you can research and everybody's experience will be different. Research will only take me so far, and experience trumps all research. That includes the bad experiences as well.
@soviet sleepover
my EMT friends talk a lot about doing patient transport... It's not exciting work.
I'm pretty sure that entirely depends on what kind of EMT you are, who you're working for, and where you're working. Private ambulances do more patient transport, while emergency first responder ambulances get all the hairy stuff. At least, this is what I've read.
@Jack Karaoke
A friend of mine just got called up to enter the FDNY EMT program, she waited two years.
Oh lord. Two years is a long time to wait for a job. I called the FDNY recently, and they told me that the waiting list was currently about a year long, but who knows.
The independent companies are sometimes referred to with nasty epithets like "TrashCare" (TransCare), and I've heard the pay is horrible.
I haven't exactly heard great things either, but if I got a job with a company like that, it would be temporary.
Everyone I know who has entered the field outside of FDNY has gone through the course @ John Jay College.
I'll check it out. Thanks.
@internet fraud detective squad, station number 9
I don't want to discourage but I also don't want you to move here with the romantic notion that you'll get by, somehow...no. You won't. It takes a substantial amount of effort or, barring that, a whole hell of a lot of friends, and you don't have friends yet, so...
Don't worry, I don't indulge in romantic fantasies too much. Wanna know what first made me wanna become a paramedic? Years ago, I watched a movie called Bringing Out the Dead and I immediately thought "I wanna do that!" Needless to say, this tends to confuse people, as anyone who's seen the movie will tell you, it far from romanticizes the occupation.
That said, if you want to visit and see what NYC is like, you can stay with me.
Whoa. That's some serious hospitality! How do you know that I'm not some crazed cereal killer (sic) who wove a tale of wanting to become an EMT just so some kind hearted MeFi user would give me access to their apartment, and thus, their cereal collection. Your corn flakes quake in fear at my coming!!!
posted by genericdave at 9:30 PM on June 1, 2010
@CathyG
what about starting in some other city in New York state?
I've considered it, but I've tried living situations like this before. Didn't really work out like I originally thought it would. Turned out to be more of a hassle and ended up feeling like a waste of time to a degree because the whole time I had been aiming for someplace else. If I live somewhere, I wanna live there.
@charmcityblues
When I was an EMT, I did my initial cert in one state, moved to another, took the National Registry Exam (which you 'll want to do anyway) and then applied for reciprocity in the new state. Pretty easy.
Ok, this deserves some good consideration. I had heard about this, but didn't know if it was something that was simple enough to merit getting training out of state.
Oh, and you totally got taken up on that PM.
@TomMelee
I would really recommend that you take a look at how much money there ISN'T to be made in this field
There seems to be a lot of concern about my financial well-being since. Just to give you an idea or my experience in this area, I currently live in one of the world's most expensive cities with a yearly salary of less than $22,000 and I'm still managing to save money without much effort at all. God knows what I could do in full-on cheapo mode. I also have an incredibly supportive family who I know will always be there to help me out of a bind if I happen to find myself in one.
I recommend that you at least have some formal training in this field before you jump in headfirst. Even if you just pop out to NOLS for a round of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT
Sounds interesting, I'll take a look at the very least. Just so everyone knows, I'm definitely open to ideas regarding related fields of work. Nothing's 100% here.
@valkyryn
I'm surprised no one's mentioned it yet, but this is a union job.
Ah, so I suppose that's why there's the loooooong waiting list.
@micawber
I'm not telling you "don't do this", I'm just suggesting you are missing a dumptruck full of information.
Well, it's not like I've put every single thing I know about the situation into my opening comment. I do have contacts in New York and I've done a lot of research and a lot of thinking about this, but yes, admittedly, I am in need of more information. That's precisely why I'm asking questions on MeFi.
I ask these things not because I don't want you to come. I ask these things because I don't want you to come and fail miserably.
Your concerns are totally valid and I appreciate them, but realize that there is no "failure" for me in this situation. Even if I run out of cash and have to flee back to my hometown or something, I will have at least completed my first section of training. Even if I end up in crappy situations and have to pull out and start over, I will have learned a ton from the experience. There's only so much you can research and everybody's experience will be different. Research will only take me so far, and experience trumps all research. That includes the bad experiences as well.
@soviet sleepover
my EMT friends talk a lot about doing patient transport... It's not exciting work.
I'm pretty sure that entirely depends on what kind of EMT you are, who you're working for, and where you're working. Private ambulances do more patient transport, while emergency first responder ambulances get all the hairy stuff. At least, this is what I've read.
@Jack Karaoke
A friend of mine just got called up to enter the FDNY EMT program, she waited two years.
Oh lord. Two years is a long time to wait for a job. I called the FDNY recently, and they told me that the waiting list was currently about a year long, but who knows.
The independent companies are sometimes referred to with nasty epithets like "TrashCare" (TransCare), and I've heard the pay is horrible.
I haven't exactly heard great things either, but if I got a job with a company like that, it would be temporary.
Everyone I know who has entered the field outside of FDNY has gone through the course @ John Jay College.
I'll check it out. Thanks.
@internet fraud detective squad, station number 9
I don't want to discourage but I also don't want you to move here with the romantic notion that you'll get by, somehow...no. You won't. It takes a substantial amount of effort or, barring that, a whole hell of a lot of friends, and you don't have friends yet, so...
Don't worry, I don't indulge in romantic fantasies too much. Wanna know what first made me wanna become a paramedic? Years ago, I watched a movie called Bringing Out the Dead and I immediately thought "I wanna do that!" Needless to say, this tends to confuse people, as anyone who's seen the movie will tell you, it far from romanticizes the occupation.
That said, if you want to visit and see what NYC is like, you can stay with me.
Whoa. That's some serious hospitality! How do you know that I'm not some crazed cereal killer (sic) who wove a tale of wanting to become an EMT just so some kind hearted MeFi user would give me access to their apartment, and thus, their cereal collection. Your corn flakes quake in fear at my coming!!!
posted by genericdave at 9:30 PM on June 1, 2010
reading thru reminded me of a couple of things about the daves - 2 retired because of back injuries sustained in the execution of their duties, none of the 3 lived in the 5 boroughs, one had a 2 hour each way commute. all were certifiable. :)
posted by kimyo at 12:06 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by kimyo at 12:06 AM on June 2, 2010
Response by poster: Well, hopefully I can keep myself in shape so I can avoid back injuries. Maybe I should start doing some dead lifts... of obese people. I'm assuming that's what those injuries were due to.
posted by genericdave at 12:17 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by genericdave at 12:17 AM on June 2, 2010
One anecdote isn't data, but I had a coworker who was once an EMT in the Bronx, where he grew up. He was carrying an obese patient down the stairs and the stair broke. In the fall, he shattered multiple vertebrae. He was out of work for nearly seven years and was initially told he wouldn't walk again. With some surgeries and a lot of PT, he can walk now.
It's a job with serious physical demands, and some of those factors are beyond your control.
Good luck.
posted by canine epigram at 6:16 PM on June 4, 2010
It's a job with serious physical demands, and some of those factors are beyond your control.
Good luck.
posted by canine epigram at 6:16 PM on June 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:16 AM on June 1, 2010 [1 favorite]