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A fifth grader asked her mother the age-old question, 'How did I get here?' Her mother told her, 'God sent you.' 'Did God send you, too?' asked the child. 'Yes, Dear,' the mother replied. 'What about Grandma and Grandpa?' the child persisted 'He sent them also,' the mother said. 'Did he send their parents, too?' asked the child. 'Yes, Dear, He did,' said the mother patiently. 'So you're telling me that there has been NO sex in this family for 200 years? No wonder everyone's so grouchy around here!'

Yeah, well that was Michael Jackson's chief complaint too. Obviously, it should not be taken lightly.

We still have 4 month shake and bake paramedic camps in the United States, an Associates degree is not even required for entry into practice in most areas and most paramedic programmes require little to no mathematics or physical science education, yet this "paramedic practitioner" concept continues to come up on this site? Of course, there exist NP's with minimal physical science background who are independent practitioners, so I shouldn't be too surprised about people thinking they can be the new "diet physician." Take care, chbare.

I like your thinking, but I personally can't see things going this way for a number of reasons. My personal opinion is that a lot could be gained by paramedics embracing the PA profession to bring it back to its roots. I feel that PAs could be strong advocates for paramedics if the majority of PAs were once paramedics and that it would provide a good avenue for advancement for experienced paramedics that would also benefit the PA profession. Unfortunately (in my opinion, at least), PA programs have largely shifted from valuing real healthcare experience to instead focusing on GPA and offering advanced degrees.

I won't start the NP vs PA debate, but I think you are looking at a background that has nothing to do with the field you are trying to enter. A paramedic, by definition, is a provider of prehospital emergency care. They are not providers of primary care, orthopedics, nephrology, etc. By moving into those fields, they are no longer paramedics, they have basically become PAs, NPs, and MD/DOs. I think paramedics should focus on making prehospital care better, more respected and better educated.

But if you are going to specialize in those fields, how is it different from becoming a PA? A paramedics field of expertise is in prehospital care, what sense does it make to take them out of that field? Even if it did start to happen, the DNP lobby would shut it down in no time.

We're allowed to carry OC, provided it's under 5% in concentration of active ingredients. The higher the concentration, the longer the effects last (and that obviously provides problems in a care situation). For example, my 17% Streetwise burns for about 45 minutes (I've tested it on myself) and it's side affects last for hours, whereas my Fox Labs burns for about ten minutes (also tested it on myself) and within an hour it's like you've never been sprayed. In a professional situation, you don't want somebody screaming for 45 minutes (that's just overkill); you just want to stun them, secure them, and move on. We're also required to take an OC certification class in addition to an eight hour "Power to Arrest" class. As for TASERS, they're not allowed at all. I petitioned to make them allowed, but that didn't go anywhere. I don't know why, they're perfectly safe (more safe than OC, I'd argue). The TASER is for personal use, and I don't carry it on duty. As for liability, OC is perfectly safe. In addition, it's only used when a direct and specific threat of violence is presented against us (the EMTs). The alternative would be for us to throw punches, which is far more dangerous than spraying something that only temporary blinds. Furthermore, in our power to arrest class, they made it very clear when we can and can't detain people. As for somebody coming after us after we've sprayed them... you have to figure that in order for us to spray them, they were coming after us BEFORE we sprayed them. If we get injured, it had nothing to do with the OC, and everything to do with the jerk trying to attack us.<br><br>EDIT:<br><br> <br><br>Then we'd have two, possibly three patients, wouldn't we?&nbsp; Plus, I'm not one to cower.&nbsp; I would have a hard time sleeping if I would have done that.<br>

I'm a medic by day (work for county in an RA), and by night (and by that I mean my days off) I'm a volunteer for my church's outreach group and am a part of the first aid team (which consists of me and a bunch of people with zero training). The US and Australia are very different places. In Australia, I believe it's illegal for anyone to even possess pepper spray; in the United States, sixteen year old girls carry it in their purses. Scene safety is an utmost concern of mine. It's not uncommon for a supposedly innocent scene to turn dangerous. Highly unlikely. I'm a trained martial artist, and I've gone through nearly every combat training class that is offered.

"RA" stands for Rescue Ambulance. It's distinguished from a regular ambulance by its equipment (and lights and sirens), and is staffed by at least two EMTs (verse one EMT and a driver). It was developed in a time in my county where a distinction actually existed, but now a days just about every bus is an RA. We do have a couple of the older vehicles, but they only get used for special events wanting a first aid team. The abbreviation is still active in our area's radio codes. You'll hear the police asking for an "RA" over the radio, ect. The Power of Arrest training is required for anyone who wants to carry either handcuffs or OC. It's basically an eight hour course that teaches basic criminal law, focusing on private arrests. "Battery", "unlawful detention", and other legal problems that people can get into by restraining supposed suspects. It covers when you can detain, and when you can't. Searches, and so on. We're also required to go through specific training for each piece of equipment we want to carry (OC Certification for OC, and handcuff certification for handcuffs).