Education Survey

[cosgrojo]

do I get free food?

Free coffee for all on-duty public safety, 25% discount off food for EMS and PD... Double menu price for Fire Fighters...

I kid... I kid... Fire Fighters count too...

[maverick56]

Wow! My mobility is at the mercy of the O&P guys, and I have the greatest respect for them. Their knowledge base is just amazing, often every bit as impressive as my Physical Therapists. There's just not that many O&P guys out there either, so it seems the job market is expansive and lucrative. I definitely would not pull out of that altogether if I were you. The fun wears off of EMS pretty quickly, especially when mortgages and high-maintenance wives enter the picture. That background will make you an awesome medic though!

O&P is an interesting field - as few people as there are going into it, getting a job is really difficult. And as far as lucrative goes - only after you have a master's degree, license and 5yrs experience. Starting out with a B.S. I was only making $13-16/hr and kept getting wait-listed for school. I loved the technology, the possibilities, the problem-solving, and making a difference in people's lives. But hated the realities of paperwork, bargaining with insurance companies, shopping around for parts, and non-compliant patients. Basicially, I found out that what I like, and what my strenths are, I could find and use in other fields too, like EMS, without banging my head against the wall with grad school and the other stuff. I have ADHD and the atmosphere in EMS fits me much better, same reason I excelled in and loved the military. I keep my up with my weird gear-head fix though by teaching adaptive skiing and snowboarding and designing/modifying equipment. It's awesome.

Edited October 23, 2009 by maverick56