First EMT job test? Any advice?

[megan4x4]

I'm a NR-EMT B and have applied for a job with an ambulance service in MN. I've been moved to the next stage of the interview process and am taking their test next Thursday.

Any advice for a first timer? Any hints on interviews? What to expect on tests? (Can't be worse than the National Registry right? )

Thanks!

[Dustdevil]

Minnesota chicks is yummy! :twisted:

There is already a tonne of advice posted here for you, as this question is asked at least a couple times a month. Search around a little with the search function and you'll get plenty of good advice.

I'll throw in this one piece of advice; be humble. Don't go in with an attitude as if, with your whole 120 hours of training, you are a trauma god that already knows everything there is to know about EMS. Too many new EMTs do that. Don't try to be something you're not. Be straight up. Tell them, "Hey, I think I got a good education, but I'm as green as they come. I'm here to be the best EMT I can be, but I am also here to learn." They will appreciate that.

Good luck!

[NREMT-Basic]

Dust-

I know that its convenient to quote the 120 hours as Basic level training. I personally went through a program that was 176 hours. I know the difference may seem marginal to you, especially since you think Basics should be done away with, but generlizations never help anybody. Its hard for me to accept that someone as intelligent and well trained as you can continually find nothing to do but bash Basics. Like it or not, we are part of the EMS equation and arent going away. Please dont lump us all into one group...alot of us are poorly trained, but there are many of us who are not and who have trained to serve our communities in a BLS capacity. Its like if I constantly said all medics are arrogant arses who think they walk on water. True of alot of them, but not all. Demeaning and degrading members of the EMS community doesnt do anything. If you think Basics need more training, come back here and train us. I personally would be ecstatic to learn from you. When a person generalizes and bashes whole groups of people, they arent part of the solution but rather part of the problem.

[Dustdevil]

Just keepin' it real. :wink:

And, since this lovely young lady is new to the forum, she does not yet have the benefit of your experience listening to my lectures on the inadequacies of EMT training. I just thought I'd let her in on the secret. 8)

[somedic]

Megan4x4: Dust is in fact keeping it real. You should only view your emt training just the minimum requirement to work for Paramedics that no EMS system should be without.

You should have no problems in your employee testing if you follow Dustdevil's previous advice.

I would also advise you to set your goals towards going to Paramedic school as soon as you get the chance. If you are going to work for an ALS system, you will not want to be a career emt-basic that is going no where and gets used and abused by the department.

You will find people that are jealous of those of us that are Paramedics and dont go on to Paramedic school for one excuse or the other. If you want to be taken seriously as an EMS employee and if you really want to give your patients the best care possible...go to Paramedic School.

Good luck to you and your career. Let us know how it goes for you.

Somedic

[Asysin2leads]

Just keepin' it real. :wink:

And, since this lovely young lady is new to the forum, she does not yet have the benefit of your experience listening to my lectures on the inadequacies of EMT training. I just thought I'd let her in on the secret. 8)

Is it okay if I slept through most of those lectures?

[Dustdevil]

Is it okay if I slept through most of those lectures?

Dude, you're like my substitute teacher.

You are not expected to attend my lectures. :wink:

[Asysin2leads]

Dude, you're like my substitute teacher.

That would explain the spitballs.

[Asysin2leads]

Dude, you're like my substitute teacher.

That would explain the spitballs.

[sparky]

You should definitely tell the testers how awesome one of the other candidates named John is!