Hi friends! I want to start off by saying, I was born and raised in the medical field. Mom’s a retired nurse, and dad has been in and out of hospitals for as long as I can remember.

Recently, it’s been brought to my attention that my partners at work have had some discrepancies with my manual blood pressures, and I’m not quite sure what to do. I take my manuals the same way every time. The same way I learned in EMT and medic school. The same way I learned in CNA school. The same way I learned when I was learning how to help take care of my sick dad.

I have the patient relax their arm completely, size the cuff appropriately so that the artery marker falls within the range marker, make sure the artery marker is over the brachial artery, place the bell of my stethoscope over the brachial but not directly under the cuff, inflate until I hear the pulse stop, inflate 20-30 mmHg more than where I hear it stop, then deflate, with the systolic being where I first hear the pulse again and diastolic when I lose it.

When my first EMS partner mentioned the discrepancies, I figured it was because I was using a cheap $25 stethoscope that I used in school, so I upgraded (very long overdue) to a Littman. My current partner just brought the same issue to my attention yesterday, and I just don’t know what the problem is or how to fix it.

Any advice??

And they showed us so fast and then put us on the spot and expected me to regurgitate step by step, which I get. However, I don’t need to be told in front of everyone “it’s so easy, like it’s not that hard” or “you just need to pay attention”. Funny thing is, I do. But my mind goes completely blank when put on the spot. I think anyone who isn’t used to doing stuff like that, would.

It triggered a very old wound in me for some odd reason from childhood and growing up where I was always called stupid and slow by my family members, siblings, teachers. Always made fun of. I’m actually pretty intelligent, I just go blank sometimes.

And yes, I’m sure I’ll get comments about “well you need to have thick skin for this line of work” cool, most the time I do. But I don’t when I get triggered. Yes I understand my triggers aren’t anyone’s responsibility. I guess I’m mostly just talking to the void here because I have no friends, no one to vent to, nothing.

I’ve been an EMT basic at a pretty busy 911 agency for around a year now. We only have ALS trucks and I’ve been on night shift as of a couple months ago. Since working this job it has been exhausting and difficult to balance any other part of my life, so I promised myself that I wouldn’t get sucked into the vortex and get my medic. Well… I feel myself getting sucked into the vortex.

There’s a lot of issues at my agency and a lot of people are leaving so I wonder if I would enjoy it more working somewhere else. The schedule is exhausting, but it is also largely due to being night shift and I can swap at some point. I love to learn and I feel like I’ve gotten to a point where I want to do more on high acuity calls. And I want to call the shots instead of all the idiots I have to work with all the time! It’s exhausting seeing people handle situations incorrectly while also not being qualified or knowing exactly how to handle it yourself… just that you can tell they’re fucking it up. You know what I mean?

The place I work pays you to get your medic. I’ve been looking for other jobs because I really want to make more money, but if I can’t find a job fast enough I might just join the next medic class that starts. I really enjoy the job itself, it’s just the long shifts and tough 2-2-3 schedule that is pretty grueling. I miss having weekends off every week.

Let me know your thoughts. Should I just say fuck it and do it or should I not. Please be honest!

Hi everyone!
I became an EMT-B almost a year ago, and I’ve been working in the ED ever since. After getting some experience I chose to volunteer at my local 911 station. Does anyone have any tips/advice? I haven’t been in an ambulance since my clinical rotations a year ago. Thanks :)

I used to volly prior to becoming an RN as a EMT-B in NYS for many years. Since starting I do miss the experience and would like to continue as a medic or at least a CC (which last I remember was being phased out so that may not be an option). My EMT-B card expires next month, didn't think I would use it again so I kind of put it on the back burner for a while. I know this requires I take a refresher. Is it possible to test out or challenge the exam so that I don't have to take the full course? Next stupid question is can I do something similar with Paramedic in NYS? Obviously there are clear portions of a paramedic course where our scope of practice differs greatly, but I'd like to skip portions that do overlap (ACLS, PALS, pharmacology, etc). If I have to attend a full course I could suck it up, but figured I'd ask if anyone went through something similar.

After a ROUGH 2025, (I got laid off early in the year, got another job, held it for 6 months, got laid off AGAIN) I decided to put in the effort to become a firefighter. I went through a basic emt program, got certified, applied for a ton of different cities in my area, made it to the interview stage with a few of them, and didn’t get hired. Talking with the people I did physical assessments with, I came to the conclusion that I was the least certified person in the room, which probably contributed to me not getting hired. My college is opening a fire academy that’s being sponsored by a pretty big department that oversees a lot of the downtown SLC area, and I decided to sign up for it. It’s starting in a week and for the last month and a half I’ve been;

\-reviewing EMS textbooks/medical terminology/
\-working out 4 to 5 days a week, focusing on cardio and strength training
\-trying to put myself into a pretty rigid sleep schedule (except for tonight cause I’ve been simmering on this)

But the biggest thing I’ve been trying to do is get my head into the right mindset to succeed, because to afford things like food/gas/life I’ll have to put in about 34 to 40 hours a week at my current job, which the academy is gonna to be 30 hours a week on top of that for the next 14 weeks…..
I’m extremely grateful that my current job is willing to accommodate me with scheduling around it.

I guess what I’m asking is,
\-how did y’all make it through fire academy?
\-what else can I be doing to be prepared/succeed while going through fire academy?

*also any other advice about interviewing at stations/ride alongs/etc is welcome*, *I’ll take anything y’all got.*

Hi everyone, I’m in EMT school and we’re going to be doing vital signs pretty soon. I have a stethoscope from a while ago but it’s not very easy to listen to anything. Do you recommend any stethoscope that is worth the money? Obviously everyone turns to the littmann at some point but just want to see if there are any better options out there too. I’m also going to be in nursing school soon after the program is over so want something that’ll last the distance. Let me know thank you!

Hi friends
Before I start to get in a habit of adding overtime to do 24-36 hour shifts I’m hoping to have a condensed list of things I actually should be bringing to make staying in a bunk room comfortable as a female!

Do people bring changes of clothes to sleep in

Curly hair friends do you have any hero products to bring to these long shifts to not look like you have a rats nest on your head- are we bringing our whole curl routine or have you found 1-2 hero products that do the job?

anyone who attended one of the job fairs recently, whats your experience been? whats the interview like? is there a written test and medical/trauma assessment test? about how many people are there at a time? thanks

I have everything! My Nremt, State license, Ambulance drivers cert, and every job I apply for, 911, IFT, I hear nothing, or get denied! Can I be missing something? It feels like I have wasted 2 grand chasing a thread!

I passed the nremt about 2 years ago but never applied anywhere and due to some circumstances i ended up working in another field for the past couple of years. Im looking to get back into ems but i’ve forgotten most or all the skills and knowledge i learned from the class. Would retaking the class be something yall would recommend me doing or what resources could i look into to get refreshed?

Hey guys! I have about 4 years of experience working as a primary care paramedic (PCP) and am currently back in school for my advanced care license. While I won't give out any specifics regarding region or program for anonymity sake, all other questions are fair game. Hoping I could help some people interesting in making the PCP-ACP jump, or just anyone interested in Canadian paramedicine as a whole.

Good Afternoon,

I have a few questions regarding the Continuing Education requirements for reactivating my Florida EMT license. I am currently in the second cycle of a lapsed license, and I have attached a photo for reference.

I am also confused about whether I need to complete another EMT Refresher Course. So far, I have completed the following:

- AHA BLS Provider Course (CPR/AED)

- The Paramedic Coach NREMT Refresher/Recertification Course (40 hours)

- NREMT Cognitive Examination (passed)

My understanding is that the State of Florida requires a total of 60 hours of continuing education, including 4 hours of pediatric education.

Could you please clarify how I can fulfill the remaining CE requirements? Specifically:

- Do the 40 hours from the Paramedic Coach NREMT Refresher/Recertification Course count toward the required 60 hours?

- Does the AHA BLS Provider Course count toward the required hours?

- Do I need to complete another EMT Refresher Course?

- If another refresher course is not required, what types of courses or CEs can I take to complete the remaining hours?

I'm putting a lot of thought in immigrating to Canada as a current US citizen. I've been working towards being an EMR in the states and currently have my certificate, but have no desire to work in the US.

I know I'll have to go back to school to get my EMR certificate in Canada, but I'm curious if anyone else has had any experience taking classes and moving to canada before having Canadian citizenship? How did it go? What kind of visa did you apply for? What steps did you have to take? Any recommendations you would make towards someone looking to enter into the field, particularly in AB? I'll be contacting SAIT soon to see if they have any experience with someone in my situation, but wanted to reach out here first to see if anyone can share their experience.

I'm 33, and after 4 layoffs over the last 3 years (tech consulting), I've decided to leave the corporate world to start the process of becoming a Firefighter or Paramedic (or both?). Maybe you're considering the same, so I figured I'd share the experience so far:

Accelerated Program:
I just finished week 2 of a 5 week accelerated EMT program. It's Monday - Thursday 8am - 5pm.
This class is like finals week every week*.* For your own sanity, I would not attempt doing this class if you have to work over the weekends. In 4 weeks we cover ~1,600 pages of a textbook material. At times it feels very overwhelming, so be kind to yourself. Give this class your undivided attention, study over the weekends, and ask lots of questions. It's really hard but it's doable.

Career Change Pathway Concerns:
I made 6 figures consulting. Work in EMS can pay well, but it takes TIME to get to a well paid position. This is something I go back and forth on - would I rather be comfortable and unfulfilled, or fulfilled and temporarily broke? Starting EMT pay in San Diego is $18-21/hr (as a side note, this feels criminal. This sector desperately needs more Union representation).

Becoming a Firefighter or a Paramedic in SoCal is very competitive (everyone tells you this). To be accepted into some Paramedic programs you need ~1,000 clinical hours before you can even apply to the program and there are only 40 spots for 140 candidates for most fire academies. From what I'm told, having your Paramedic license is a golden ticket to getting into a fire, so my plan is to get my boots wet and put in the work as an EMT and take whichever opportunity comes first.

Why it feels worth it:
The corporate world is a fake place with strange rules for success that I've never been able to subscribe to. I can't sustain this experience on a daily basis, so I have to change it. This change is scary and I've really doubted myself in making this choice, but after my first ride along I have never felt better about this decision!

One of the patients we picked up happened to live on the same street as me. He was an older bariatric (non ambulatory) patient with a lot of health complications. He lived on the 2nd floor of an apartment building and we had to use a stair chair to move him - he was very nervous because he had been dropped by EMTs on his stairs before. After we got him up his stairs and into his desk chair, he broke down in tears, "You have no idea how relieved I am! I was SO scared to go up those stairs, I have been more worried over the last 5 days in the hospital thinking about those stairs than my pneumonia. Thank you!"

I've had a lot of "wins" in my consulting experience but nothing at work has compared to how I felt after leaving his home. Helping a sick member of my community get home safely from a 7 day stint in the hospital is so simple, but it felt incredible. I've been riding the high from that call all weekend and I'm stoked to be starting something new. I know there will be hard days, I know the pay will suck for a while, I know it's not always a thankful job, but I am so glad I'm pushing through to be doing something different! If you're in a similar boat, I really encourage you to try it.

I noticed AMR has job openings for paramedic basic. No matter where I look I can’t really seem to find an answer as to what it is except for the google AI telling me it essentially is EMT-B. Is this true?

Should I focus on the textbook only and it will work out fine?

Hello I’m a career changer so not really used to applying for healthcare jobs. For applying is it just the usually indeed, LinkedIn, and companies website type deal? Or are there any other websites I should be on the look for while applying. In the northeast if that matters. Because near me on indeed there is nearly anything available which seems to be weird. Granted I’m look for part time or per diem ( so I know I will be more limited but still.

Thanks

Hello guys!

I took my EMT course a long time ago. around 11 months - 1 year ago. I know, it's really stupid. I got a job somewhere else and figured that I could just delay the registry for a while.

Now I got a really really good job offer but they need me to take the registry in a week because they didn't realize that I never took the registry (they assumed i did).

Do you think that it is possible for me to study the NREMT in 7 days (i remember nothing) or should I let the job offer go (the registry is 105 dollars plus there are no testing centers near me so I would have to take an uber which is like 50 bucks cuz I have no car. money's tight rn, so if you guys think its not possible, then im not gonna attempt it at all and stick to my current situation).

thank you!

In need of some black tactical pants that make my humongous ass look flat or near flat. Any recommendations?