I came into this field because I needed to find a job. After coming in and out of colleges and jobs, I had an experience where a friend who was in EMS convinced me to take my basic. For many years now, I have complained as to this is not what I wanted to be when I grew up. No one in my family is involved in public service, but my father is in a healthcare profession.
For many years I've asked why am I here. I have on many occasions been very uncomfortable of whether or not I am good at what I do. I've felt my training was a quick way through and I regret it. Anytime now someone young comes to me and asks about how they should pursue continuing to get a paramedic education, I tell them to go to the college and go by a degree program. Unless, they already have a degree, then a certificate program maybe more suited for them.
I went to a certificate program w/o having a degree, now my career is at a stand still. Yes, I did do it to prove that I am not an idiot. But after talking with people I work with, I have worked exceedingly hard to prove myself to my peers. Sometimes I have felt I did not have the influences to help me become a better medic, and that as some have stated "have been thrown to the wolves."
Now, with some validation that I am good at what I do. I hope to pursue a college education, unforturnately, in order to excel and I guess nursing or PA is the next route. That kind of bugs me, because, EMS is so much more, and I don't know where to turn. Sometimes, I would love to promote EMS to show others how important it is in society now. We are healthcare workers. We are those who when first arriving to a home, scene, people are asking us medical questions that we may not have the education to answer. I think these are questtions we should be able to answer.
Yes, I work for a private service . I transport those who go from facility to facility to have procedures done that cannot be performed at certain hospitals. I am now like a nurse titrating medications, and attempting to answer questions as to how the procedure is done and what it will do for them.
One of the many goals I have in this field is to educate the public, keep them safe(medically) (trust me you don't want me handling a gun), and keep them comfortable.
I feel so uncomfortable because I haven't continued my education. I didnot come from a military background to do this job. Am I less of a medic because of this? Yet, I know of many ff, pt, and PD officers who respect because of the service I perform to my community.
I know many of you may think I am writing a pity party or so forth. But the whole moral of the story is, that I have become very proud of what I do. I realize how important it is. It bugs me that even if I do go for a degree there won't be more money. We do receive respect, but have very little public recognition. I am always asking what can be done to change this. Would a title of what we are change that?
Kim