Is Paramedic School Worth It?

Alongside fire fighters and police officers, paramedics are the first people to arrive in an emergency. As a paramedic your job is to assess and provide treatment for any injured persons before they are taken to the hospital. Life as a paramedic is a demanding one, both mentally and physically. You will need specific training to become a paramedic, not to mention a high level of interpersonal skills.

Why Become a Paramedic?

First, life as a paramedic is not a glamorous one. In addition to that, becoming a paramedic takes time, perseverance, and hard work as the key ingredients. The job itself is definitely not for the faint-hearted. That being said, it is also important to know that being a paramedic can be one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world.

Think about it: you spend your days saving lives. Many people out there need medical attention at any given moment. Perhaps due to the occurrence of an accident or other forms of emergencies. It could be a shooting, childbirth, drowning, heart attack, or a car accident. What is important is knowing that the life of the individuals will depend on how fast you can get to them.

As a paramedic, you will be working with the fire fighters, police officers, and other first responders. A 911 operator will dispatch you to provide medical care. If you have always wanted to help people, earning a degree in emergency medicine could help you fulfill this goal. It gives you a chance to save lives in your community and help others when they are in desperate need.

Becoming a Paramedic

Paramedics are required to have a license to carry on with their duties. Therefore, you will have to go through a training program. You don’t necessarily need a college degree to enroll in a paramedic program. In most cases, a high school certificate or a GED will suffice. Paramedics programs are a little different depending on the institution.

Formal training is a requirement, so you will have to attend a formal school. You have to complete the paramedic/EMT course for you to become a paramedic. The course program includes some clinical and classroom time. Earning an associate degree in emergency medicine can help prepare you for the trials you’ll face in the field.

Skills and Traits

In your life as a paramedic, you will find yourself in various unusual situations, some of which will require skills and traits get through. Here are some of the key personal attributes an individual needs to become a paramedic:

• Ability to learn from mistakes: To err is human. Sometimes mistakes happen, and they can be costly. A good paramedic can learn from their mistakes ... without repeating them.
• Health and physical strength: You need to be of good health and be a strong person – mentally and physically. Your job will require you to move children and adults in various ways to help treat them. You will be bending, lifting, and twisting a great deal in this job.
• Superb interpersonal skills: Communication is key. As a paramedic, you need to have a high level of interpersonal skills to communicate with the patient effectively. This won’t be having a pleasant conversation. The person and their friends and family members, even bystanders, will most likely be in distress.
• Be a problem solver: The biggest part of your job as a paramedic, assisting those experiencing a medical crisis, is unpredictable. You will be in difficult situations. Paramedics need to have a high level of problem-solving skills to think through these difficulties.

Are you interested in becoming a paramedic and helping to save lives? If you are interested in earning an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated pace. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, you could get the skills you need to help others. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.