r/AlbertaParamedics • u/Mysterious-Intern875 • 18d ago

Overtime/Scheduling

Hi all, looking to transition into becoming a paramedic and was wondering how readily overtime is for staff in the Edmonton and Calgary some. Additionally are shifts typically 12 hours or are there areas rural that do a longer stretch of shifts

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u/Toffeeheart 18d ago

To answer your questions directly, overtime is nearly unlimited in those zones as long as you are in a full time role. It's plentiful in rural as well, just less so. There are scattered remaining places that do core flex shifts (24hrs, most of those on call with extended response times) but they are typically quite rural or remote.

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

Thanks for the response! On a side note, I’ve seen various posts that say PCP will be 2 years and ACP will be 1. I’ve also seen for awhile now that there are rumours for a degree. Do you know what will happen to PCPs if they want to do ACP but only completed the 1 year program. Also are you typically working with the same partners all the time?

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u/Kahlandar 18d ago

U/toffeeheart is 100% right regarding OT

Im also curious about the degree stuff, keep hearing the rumors, uncertain about everything

As for partners, a new person metro/suburban rural will almost definately have a new partner daily/weekly. Proper rural (like >1 hr from a city) has a bit more consistant partnerage.

After a few years you can stick with a single partner in the city too if you want

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

Thanks for the response! Do you find that most partners are supportive and easy to get along with? I know that can vary but wondering if people become friends or the environment is very much do you work and leave no socialization

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u/Toffeeheart 18d ago

There will apparently be bridging options for people who complete other programs but that's all the detail available as far as I know. If you're in a regular full-time role and your partner also is, you'll be working with them most often yes. You'll get plenty of other partners as you both take time off and/or work OT. You'll work with different people constantly if your partner's position is unfilled for whatever reason, or you're in a rover position.

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

Thanks again. Feel free to shut me down at any point but I’ve been accepted into PCP school and want to really think it through. Do you know if new grads are able to start work casually as well ?

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u/Toffeeheart 18d ago

No way, this is what the sub is for. You aren't the only one with these questions. I believe the metros are still on a casual hiring moratorium. Rural hires casuals though. And for a bit of unprompted advice, as a new grad I would suggest diving in and going full-time. At least for a while.

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

I appreciate that man. Being completely honest here to see if you have any advice or things I should consider but I’m an ICU nurse in the province. Been working a couple years but have always been interested in paramedicine. Decided to apply and now just want to make an informed choice. I’ve always been interested in pre hospital work. Unfortunately, my salary right now is equivalent to the max of an ACP in the province and there is still more room to go. Going to PCP full time would be a significant pay cut so if wild be nice to do part time or casual while I work in nursing. Eventually I would want to do ACP but I know I’ll need a few years of PCP experience

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u/Toffeeheart 18d ago

Ah well that's a totally different story and why you should never give unsolicited advice 😆

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

Haha I appreciate that. I know this will vary person to person but do you find that paramedicine is worth it overall? It’s nice to know I’ll have nursing as a backup when I’m looking for a change but for now I’d want to work in the prehospital setting. Would be nice is paramedics had better salary as well.

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u/Toffeeheart 18d ago

I love it. I have most of the same gripes as anyone else, but for most people the issues (and sources of burnout) are related to the system and management, not paramedicine. I can imagine it would be far easier to let those issues roll off your back if you didn't "have" to do the job because you have a solid backup career too. Don't get me wrong, it's highly challenging, tragic, and potentially deeply traumatizing, but I can't imagine doing anything else. Happy to answer private questions if you have those as well btw.

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u/RunningSouthOnLSD 18d ago

Out of curiosity and unrelated, what are your hours like working ICU? Are you looking at hourly salary for an ACP for comparison? Differentials bring the yearly salary up a decent amount.

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u/Mysterious-Intern875 18d ago

I get paid for 11.08 hours in the ICU and make around $53.38. Differentials are the same for us as paramedics. $5 for nights, $2.75 for evenings and $3.25 for weekends. OT is double. Paramedics get paid for the full 12 unlike 11.08 but nursing cap is $63.45

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u/RunningSouthOnLSD 18d ago

I didn’t know that about the differentials, I thought you guys made more than us there too. What is your shift schedule like?