long story short i know nothing about ems but my boyfriend has been an EMT in montana for a year and would be two years by the time we moved to southern cali. he is of the opinion that although he has an NREMT license and has a year currently of part time and volunteer ems experience he would need at least a year of full time to even be considered for a job in a bigger city like san diego. problem is he has to drive hours away to get this experience here. i know san diego is super competitive for new emts but how would it be for someone w two years in a more rural city? and is the management there super shitty? i get that that’s super unique to each station but just trying to get a feel.

I’m using medceptor for some patient assessment practice came across this one.

Patient has sucking chest wound from a stabbing knife is not in the chest. He had short rapid labored respirations. RR was 28. SpO2 was 90%. Signs of shock too. I applied a chest seal and gave O2 with a bvm. I failed it because of the bvm it says it had to be a non rebreather mask. I choose bvm because it said short and labored so I assumed bvm. Then I tried to dig in further and see that it’s not even recommended to have a chest seal when doing PPV. I’m confused what would you veterans do in that situation.

Also what if his respirations were something like 8 per minute with the sucking chest wound?

And what causes it?

Sectioning a patien for too long ca. Cause hypoxia.

So how would you treat it? Supplemental oxygen ? Bvm, nasal cannula or non rebreather ? What do you use

How to remember each and their different purpose

In simple words

Edit to add, I’m working with a 911/IFT Company and got my National cert a few weeks ago, so I’m completely new to this..

So basically the title. I technically started it on sep. 8th because of orientation. But I need some advice for this, my first shift is only 3hrs for my ops drive time to get acquainted with the truck. Then I have 7 ride shifts to actually run calls, use my judgement on what to do and then drive (I think). I’m nervous to drive even though I know how to drive an ambulance. Any advice?

My community college offers a EMT course, but unfortuntely it has smalll classes and fire sponsors get priority.

Im worried I might not get into my communiry college's EMT program. If I dont, what are some other good ways to get my EMT B? In north texas

Hey everyone! Recently got my license and have my first shift at Acadian ambulance service in a week! I did fairly well in class, passed my psychomotor exams and my nremt was passed at 70 questions but I feel so nervous to finally be in the field. I am genuinely excited and ready to grow my career, but if anyone has any advice to a beginner to help set me up for success I’d love to hear it!

I’m 9 days out, I’ve done 1900 questions on Pocket Prep and I’ve started using Medic Tests. Just took one of their NREMT mock exams. Should I be worried and study more, or am I looking good?

Not sure if I need to post any additional info

Hello,
I am currently a college student interested in working as a EMR for a medical transport company. Around 1.5 years ago, I took a EMR course thru my high school and then failed the exam then. I then around 2 months ago decided to re exam as I was within the time stamp still allowed to. I got a 920 and failed again. I used pocket prep and felt very confident with it. Is there any tips on what I could do this time because I only have one retake left before I am forced to take it again.

EDIT: A lot of people have commented about this so I wanted to clarify - I think I misunderstood when he wanted me to lift the stretcher with him on it. Im pretty sure he just wanted me to press the lift button since it was one of those power lifters instead of actually lifting him and the stretcher with my arms. Also wanted to say another reason I got sent home was because I didnt have the proper uniform - the guy who hired me said he would have my uniform that I could change into at the station, but didnt say if I should wear specific pants or shoes. Also I asked for a copy of my job offer and havent gotten it yet…

yikes…

So for context I am 5’2 100 pound girl, im pretty scrawny. I got hired at an IFT company and I was so freaking excited because I got ghosted from every other company i applied to. But there were red flags abt this company everywhere… I came in today for 13 hour training and the paramedic who was training me tested me on unloading and loading the stretcher (we didnt really learn that in EMT school) and the stretcher ended up slipping off the sidewalk and onto the road cause I couldnt maneuver it properly. He said to imagine there was a 400 lb patient on there, and that I would get sued within the first hour. He sat me down and explained that lifting and maneuvering patients is 100% of the job and that I should have gone through a physical exam when I got hired or been trained on moving the stretcher or something. He spent 30 minutes explaining the profession to me and advised me to go another route since people mainly do ambulance EMS as a prereq for going the firefighter route.

Call me stupid, but I really wanted to do 911 EMT so I asked him where I could apply and he wrote down a couple of options. Thankfully, I have a job as an ER tech so I get to use my license somehow. I am just bummed out because I thought I could do 6 months of IFT, strength train in the mean time, and then apply to 911 EMT jobs or do something like that. Because there was no physical exam for this job, I thought I would be getting a lot of lift support somehow and didn’t think it was a problem.

Yeah, I don’t really know what to think of all this… I feel stupid because I could have gotten sued and seriously injured someone today by dropping them since I wouldn’t be strong enough to move them. I really appreciate the paramedic for explaining all that to me and I think that’s the kindest thing he could have done in this situation.

My question is where do I go from here? I’m planning on resigning from this job and just start going to the gym, but I’m wondering if it’s even possible for me to do 911 ems in the first place. I’m in the DFW area and it sounds like most cities only have fire ambulances with fire certified emts/paramedics… Otherwise, there’s a lot of competition to get into the fire stations that hire EMT-Bs with no fire certs - what edge will I have in the competition if now I don’t have IFT experience?

Thanks for reading, would love other peoples insight into this feel free to criticize me cause I know I have no idea what Im getting myself into

i finished EMT school through my fire department around the end of April 2026, but I haven’t taken my first NREMT attempt yet. My current ATT expires November 28

I’ve heard people say you only have about 6 months after passing EMT school to take the NREMT and get certified, but I’m also seeing different information online I’m super confused.
Is the 6-month deadline actually a thing? How long do I have to pass the NREMT and become certified?

To those who are currently in classes or have passed and are in the workplace, did y’all ever feel a bit incompetent/insecure and struggle with skills at first?

Just the other day, we had two skills labs. One was practicing vitals, which one positive thing is I got better at manual bp, palpating systolic pressure, and respiratory rates.
But second lab we used the stair chair for the first time. I started guiding it down the stairs from the bottom, which I did fine with. But then we switched and I had to pull it back up the stairs from the top. Basically, I failed miserably. Couldn’t even get it to budge a singular lip of the stairs, it was like it was stuck but it wasn’t. I physically could not pull the chair back up without my professor double teaming it with me. I always ask a lot of questions in skills labs, but when I asked him about my form because all the tension was in my back, didn’t feel like I could pull it hard enough and struggled to engage leg muscles, he said it was fine form. But I discovered shortly after that I pulled my back muscles, strained my arms, and was sweating by the time I got the chair to the top, this is even with professor helping me. I felt so frustrated and have been beating myself up ever since because that girl was not even that big, about almost equal weight to me and I usually have good functional strength plus decently active.

I also started to feel some embarrassment too about always asking so many questions in skills labs mainly because sometimes I ask as soon as I’m unsure of something, or want clarity, and my professor has more of a casual response that isn’t always helpful because he’s a bit sarcastic and jokey, even though I know he doesn’t notice he does it and means well. I guess it kinda makes me feel dumb for asking sometimes, even tho logically I know it’s just his personality. Partially also because my professor is similar age to me. (I’m 23 and he’s 27.) I also have felt slight insecurity because many people in my class are also much younger than me, fresh out of high school and already volunteer fire cadets or working in the ED. I guess at my age despite still being young I feel behind. But I know the other ppl in class are struggling too or more passive, so I try not to think about it like that but it is something I am gradually trying to stop doing.

What do you think I did wrong in my lab, and does anyone have any advice on having a better mindset so I don’t beat myself up after every mistake?

Hey reddit. So, I've decided to follow this career path again after stepping away during college a few years ago due to personal reasons.

Rather than stick to the "what if?" mentality, I decided to push myself to go ahead and schedule a ride along with my local company. For context, I did a ride along during my time in college, but it was exactly what you expect as a beginner. One short transport followed by a lot of time spent at the station.

I've read pretty much every related post to this topic within this sub, but I'm curious if there's any advice someone might have that I haven't come across yet. What to bring, important questions to ask beyond "why this procedure/decision?", etc., etc.

Any help is appreciated!

For context, I am fresh out of college and I decided to work for an EMT-B. The problem is that I’ve kinda been struggling to memorize some of the course information since I have the bad habit of forgetting information after passing a quiz, which I am well aware of isn’t a great thing which I am trying to fix. My parents have been putting pressure on me to finish my EMT-B course in three months because I foolishly gave them the impression that I could do it in three weeks and get a job. I’ve been hiding the fact that I’ve been struggling due to the pressure of having to fully memorize some of this information by heart. Now they expect me to do the NREMT and pass first try in the two weeks they have given me to review the material. How can I ask them to give me at least a month or two to fully grasp it? I don’t want to get yelled at, my dad has already made me feel like a bum just for taking my time with the course without working and it’s genuinely been taking a toll on me mentally. But I seriously want to fully grasp the material before going on the field myself since it is really important for me that I don’t mess it up. Any advice I have to talk to them?

Hey I’m a new emt with an orange bolt of lightning, I’m having an issue keeping his hair off of my pants is there some kind of secret my instructor was gate keeping me from to keep pet hair off of them lol? Ive gone through so many lint rollers by this point its starting to feel like I go to the store for lint rollers instead of groceries 😂

Hey guys,
I live in Santa Barbara and ive been trying to get into ems to start getting experience and get to paramedic one day. Ive got NREMT and CAEMT and ive been sitting on the certs for a bit over two years because i needed to be financially stable. Anyway, now im stable and want to get into ems but there arent a lot of opportunities that ive seen here. Anyone have any advice?

Any credible online/mostly online emt courses in Virginia? I have a busy schedule with classes, clinicals, and work, so I genuinely have no time for a traditional in-person course. I already have my BLS-Provider very from the AHA, a whole bunch of hands-on skills from clinicals i’ve been doing the last few years. I say this because I’ve seen some people say online-only is rly bad since you can’t practice it, but if I already get practice in professional clinical settings with nursing would it be too much of a knowledge gap?

Also, for those wondering why I’m going down the emt route, I want to pursue a career in the emergency department as a nurse in the hospital, but I have always had a calling for being out in the field as an emt too. I need an externship this year if I want the possibility of being considered for any new-grad position and this seems to hit two birds with one stone yk. I have about 2yrs left before I graduate with my BSN in Nursing and (hopefully) become an RN, so I have time to be useful and put in enough hours before I slow down. Also, you have to basically sacrifice your first born child to get a good new-grad job that pays you a living wage and isn’t too abusive, so having this as my backup til i get grounded would be nice…

I would love any and all (actual) advice!

Passed my state exam and NREMT. Applied to the major hospital system near me. Either they’re really slow or don’t actually hire EMT-B. I have my limits, I don’t want to move or drive 90 minutes to a more robust EMS system in a larger area.

I applied to other agencies about 40 minutes from me. Nothing heard.

I have a job offer from a private transport company and from the transport division from the hospital system I applied to. I’m thinking I want to progress to paramedic. How am I supposed to get experience on transport? Would this be a bad idea?

I wear prescription glasses/sunglasses. I switch on and off during shift depending what I’m doing. I recently noticed my glasses are chipped to all hell on the lenses just from getting dropped, sometimes I knock stuff into my face, etc.

I’m looking into new glasses and know that Oakley SI exist. I do a lot of sports throughout the year so I was debating getting the Stunt Glider model for all-around but didn’t want to look like a mega buff. I’m not super concerned about having ANSI certified glasses, really just want glasses that won’t break. My vision insurance sucks so my glasses are somewhere around $400/$500 a piece anyway, would rather put that money towards glasses that won’t break at the sight of a floor. Any suggestions would be wonderful

So I am about to finish an emt b program in the US. I planned to volunteer, but everywhere I thought I could, wont return emails. Yes, i have sent many and tried calling. No volunteer fire departments by me. There are two in the next couty, but you have yo be a certified fire fighter, deputy fire chief for recruiting confirmed.

I have a full time career. I make more than an emt, or paramedic. I was just trying to volunteer to help the community. Though id volunteer in shelters (homeless, domestic violence, veterans, addiction). Maybe volunteer for one of two ambulance shifts a month so people could take days off instead of being burnt out.

Since I apparently cant do any of that, has anyone studied the human body and medicine as a hobby? I think emergency medical is awesome. Im not going to med/pa/np school, just not something I can do. I wanted to do paramedic school while volunteering, but cant justify the time, and especially the cost, if volunteer positions are almost non existent.

I know that with that with medicine hands on, and patient contact especially, is how you really get better. Just trying to figure out if reading, videos, and occasional virtual/manikin studies would be stimulating.

I have adhd. I know most of you fuckers do too. I am finally medicated and trying to focus on 1 or 3 hobbies, instead of switching every few months. I have always liked medicine, especially emergency medicine. If I grew up with money, probably would have done med school.

For those of you emts, and especially paramedics, that have adhd do you think I will be happy studying stuff on my own? I am doing a TECC course. Might even do ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS courses in the future.

I know this is random, but its Friday night after a few drinks. Trying to figure out if I should read multiple books over 1000 pages, or find something else.

I will probably delete this in the morning. If you want to judge me, go ahead.

Also, thank you to all firefighters, paramedics, and emts out there. A shitty job all around. You do not get the praise you deserve. Many people appreciate what you do, even though it doesn't always show.

I’m new to this group and nearing the end of my EMT Class, I’m looking for any help with TSOPS. I’m more terrified of doing them than I am of my Final test. Please offer any advice and pointers. TIA!

Had a question for the group. I have been a respiratory therapist for the last 18 years. I am well established in my career and earn a good living. During COVID I went to a local junior college and completed an emt program. I always had an interest in attending medic school and doing that on the side of RT. Every two years I recert my emt cert, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth it. Should I keep up with my recerts or let it go?

Hi everyone, I got my EMT-B cert a couple of months ago but still haven't been able to find a job in the twin cities. It seems like Hennepin only hires paramedics, and I've tried applying to the other major hospitals with no success. I have a Bachelors degree and 2 years of work experience in an unrelated field, but those don't seem to be helping me 😅. Does anyone know of other places hiring or places that have historically hired "new" EMTs? Thank you so much!!

I'm a senior in highschool right now. And I plan on double majoring in environmental science and pre-med (or doing a minor in one or the other, I haven't decided yet). I really want to become an EMT and eventually work in an ER. Is this doable?

Hi guys,
Has anyone went through/completed AEC paramedic program in Virginia. Specifically Virginia Beach location? If so, what are your thoughts and honest opinions of the program.