<p>The paramedic program the local cc offers is 42 credits outside of the gen eds I already have. Its manageable but then I would be starting at a much lower salary than an RN and I would be confined to only emergency medicine. With the nursing degree I could probably go farther, broaden employment options and start out at higher pay. The job boards posting for paramedics also want the applicant to be a firefighter, so I’m out of luck for those types of posts. The university has much better job placement for nursing than the cc does. Doing a quick google search I couldn’t find anything local regarding sleep tech programs. But I will further look into that. </p>
<p>Elementary education is one of the top majors at my undergrad institution so substitutes are available by the handful. A lot of them can’t get placed because there are so many education students who can’t find full time positions teaching, so they opted to sub. It’s nearly impossible to get the certification. The certification course is only offered every 3 months and only has room for 60 people. The wait list is just absurd. If I could find a way into the class I would, but I’ve been applying for general admin jobs on the school district website and hoping for some leads.</p>
<p>Firefighting would be rough. I’m a female and I lack the physical strength needed for that job. Plus I’ve seen the training firefighters go through and I honestly doubt my physical capabilities for that. I’m not even sure I could handle the EMT simply because I don’t have the strength to lift patients on a stretcher. I had a mild back injury a few years ago that might also be problematic for that unfortunately.</p>
<p>I wasn’t thinking that you’d be an EMT long term, but EMT training (not the full paramedic) is often free if you’re a member of a volunteer squad, and it would give you a chance to see if you like medical work, and get some references, while you’re on that waiting list. Plus, around here a lot of the people who work on the rescue squad have interesting day jobs. If you were serving alongside them, they might see your potential and help you make another connection.</p>
<p>Thanks CuriousJane, in high school I volunteered/interned in the ER. I definitely like medicine and considered it before I changed my mind and went into Engineering. I was able to use IB and AP credits to comp out of introductory bio and chem courses so that was helpful too. I’m actually planning on going to a local hospital this week to put in a volunteer application. While volunteer firefighting would be interesting, I think I might be more fit for a position inside the hospital itself. </p>
<p>I also actually know a firefighter and he pointed me in the direction of an admin position with the city fire department. I put in an application for that as well.</p>