Another one of those EMT threads

<p>I kind of have a specific question about becoming an EMT.</p>

<p>I just read on another post most premeds (or a good majority) become EMTs for the licensure as a resume builder- and that what you do with it realy counts.</p>

<p>I am currently taking an EMT-Basic course so I want an idea as to where to go with it. I can become a PCT, and be paid, or I can volunteer as an EMT. It is very hard finding a part-time paid EMT job here. So what do you think is the better choice? Ultimately they both give me patient contact and clinical experience, but is there a negative to being paid- especially for a job I didn't train for (PCT); just a job that I am eligible for with an EMT certification?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>You should do whichever you would like more, seeing how it’s still patient contact whether you’re an EMT or a PCT. I wouldn’t think you’d be out anything choosing PCT over EMT seeing how neither are required. Whether it’s paid or not I don’t think it matters as long as you have some sort of volunteer time doing something.</p>

<p>what is a PCT?</p>

<p>also, getting paid for something is regarded more favorably than volunteering…it shows that you are valuable to whoever you are performing the service for</p>

<p>…not saying you should go for the paid one no matter what…especially since i dont know what ur acronym stands for</p>

<p>Sorry, it means Patient Care Technician. That’s a good point to consider.</p>

<p>I don’t think it’s all that common for pre-med students to become EMT, but what really matters for med school is what you actually do with your cert if you do get one.</p>

<p>I’m not sure what a PCT exactly does, but I’m guessing its a hospital job? If you need the money or if you want to work in a hospital setting, then that job would make more sense, but I’m guessing you would see and get to do a lot more as an EMT in the field, especially depending on where you are located and how the ALS system there is operated. You might get to learn additional procedures (IV, blood draw, EKG) in the hospital that, depending on your state, you won’t be able to do in the field, but you’re probably going to be more involved in patient care in the field. The “mentality” of patient care is quite different in the hospital, where there are dozens of specialists, nurses, technicians etc always around, and in EMS, where you’re the only one there.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply,</p>

<p>My understanding is that a PCT takes vital signs, labwork, CPR, taking care of the patient’s needs, feeding etc. It has a lot of patient contact.</p>

<p>The truth is I do want to start earning some money, take a little burden off my family (3 in college). As an EMT I would most likely be volunteering. And as an EMT I would have to get used to much more stres, I think, than a PCT, because of the emergency type situations. It does help start to develop the gut to become a doctor, but as a soph, I don’t know if I am that ready. And I have a busy schedule ahead of me.</p>

<p>Sounds like being a PCT would be best then. Nothing wrong with paying for your education while getting some experience. Were you offered a job already?</p>

<p>Doing EMT while in college and trying to get good grades to get into is probably not a good idea because of time and stress involved. EMT is good if you don’t get into med school and do for awhile to “mature”</p>

<p>^^ what about over the summer EMT’ing.</p>

<p>I am about to do a EMT-B or CC (which is better?) course and I also have some questions. Can an EMT-B/CC get paid for anything (I’m in NY)? How does the volunteering work out? Can I get a job on campus with EMT-B? Do I need to know how to drive in order to get the training? Sorry for asking so many somewhat similar questions, but any help would be appreciated. xD</p>

<p>I would stick with Basic unless you want to continue your education to CC but it doesn’t seem like it would be worth all that time. (Other more important things to do) They can get paid or can be volunteer, you have to look around and find what’s available. I don’t know how you would get a job on campus that requires EMT certification and you probably need a driver’s license especially if you intend on driving ambulances.</p>

<p>Like Nate said, CC is fare more advanced than EMT-Basic, and I would stick to Basic unless you really want to spend time working as a medic full time after you graduate. The only way I can think of getting a job on campus is if your school has an affiliated medical school/hospital - you can look for jobs as an ER tech or as a EMT in their transport service (if they have one)</p>

<p>Also, it is quite possible to work as an EMT during college. In fact, many colleges have their own student run EMS services that provide 24/7 EMS coverage on and around campus - check out the National Collegiate EMS Foundation (ncemsf.org) for more info</p>

<p>Thanks for the help,</p>

<p>Knowing myself, I don’t think I could quite manage as an actual EMT and regular schoolwork + ECs. I wasn’t offered a job yet as a PCT, but they are more available at my university’s medical center. They pay around 11. The nice thing is the course only cost $350. The money I would make as a PCT would probably cover me for the extra money a student needs, not so much my education- although I wish that were the case.</p>

<p>So, I think I will got down the PCT path.</p>