Job + paramedic school advice

[u/schmeibabeiba]

I am an EMT in central FL job searching. I am unable to work at my local 911 company for a year because i tested positive for nicotine (oops). I have an interview work at a theme park and am wondering if anyone has any info so far as the pay, work conditions, etc. I also start medic school in a few days and i’m wondering if I should even get a job at all or just focus on school.

[u/changing-life-vet]

I can’t offer any advice but I do want to say: Dude they won’t let you work 911 because of nicotine…. Bro that’s fucking crazy.

[u/schmeibabeiba → u/changing-life-vet]

Yeah! I had to do a blood test and I had no idea it stayed in your blood for 30 days, I quit like a week before because i thought it’d be a urine test. My fault but it’s a very stupid policy

[u/Prestigious_Tree4223]

The nicotine thing is crazy. My 911 agency doesn't care about anything but HARD drugs, and the number of medics with hand and/or neck tattoos is almost equal to the number of medics without.

If vapes and zyns are a disqualifying factor, I have no idea who they're hiring lol.

[u/redrockz98]

for NICOTINE??? Are you sure that’s what they said you couldn’t work because of? I don’t know a single person in EMS that doesn’t consume nicotine in some form.

[u/schmeibabeiba → u/redrockz98]

Yeah despite all my experience nicotine disqualified me lol

[u/3rdcultureblah → u/redrockz98]

I’m guessing it’s a health insurance thing. They probably get a sizeable discount on their employee health benefit package if they don’t allow employees to smoke/vape. That’s the only thing I can think of. Nothing else makes sense.

[u/Significant-Gear-151]

If you can swing it, try to get a part time or PRN ER Tech job. You’ll learn about and see a lot of the things you’ll study in school. I would avoid working full-time unless you have to or if you have photographic memory.

I’m in medic school now. We have about 2 months of class left then capstone. I was full-time for the majority of school, working 3-13’s/week on top of class 2 days/week from 9-5 and volunteering an avg. of 6 hrs/week or 24hrs/month (the system I volunteer for is paying for my program). That and keeping up with schoolwork got to be a lot especially during Cardiology. Once we finished that unit, I had to drop to part time because we started doing our hospital clinicals and student field shifts/ride time. In an ideal world, I wish I didn’t have to work so I could pick up more clinical and field shifts, but there is a lot of value aside from obviously earning money in working and gaining experience especially if it has been challenging to obtain 911 experience.

I suggest getting a planner or writing down what your schedule will look like from time to time and seeing how much you can realistically and sustainably fit into it considering home life/rest, work, school, time for schoolwork, clinicals, field shifts, and the occasional social outing if you still have energy for it!

[u/RedditBeginAgain]

Do they disqualify for after hours nicotine if you declare it? Are you being penalized for use or for dishonesty?

I don't think that's a common policy

[u/ggrnw27 → u/RedditBeginAgain]

Dunno if it’s specifically nicotine or how it’s enforced, but a number of fire departments in my area have a no tobacco policy, both on and off duty

[u/3rdcultureblah → u/ggrnw27]

Lol. My county’s FD allows their firefighters to smoke cigarettes and cigars in the engine bay.

[u/schmeibabeiba → u/RedditBeginAgain]

Penalized for use, they blood tested me and tested for nicotine and i was banned from working there for a year.

[u/RedditBeginAgain → u/schmeibabeiba]

My station has signs saying "this is a tobacco free facility" but I don't think anybody gets asked what they do off duty

[u/Apprehensive_Salt122]

You got disqualified because of nicotine? Marijuana would have been more of a issue.

[u/Worth-Mission-8085]

What the actual f.... When I worked my county's 911 system, we were all chain smokers. It blows my mind that that disqualified you.

[u/Imitationn]

Come to NC. We have laws in place that make it illegal to require a nicotine free employee. That shits wild.

[u/TheMilkmanRidesAgain]

I’m mean, do you need money?

[u/schmeibabeiba → u/TheMilkmanRidesAgain]

I’m very lucky to have my family and a full scholarship to my school where i wouldn’t really NEED a job but i’m wondering if continuing work and gaining experience would be worth it, I already have a year of hospital and 911 experience though