Choosing to become a paramedic is an excellent decision. As a paramedic, you play a vital part in assisting to help save lives during an emergency situation. Having said that, the career of an advanced EMT isn't all sunshine and roses. As with any job, you will discover positives and negatives to stepping out into this emergency medical services field. In this article, you will discover several common advantages and drawbacks regarding becoming a paramedic. To begin, here are a few of the positives of being an EMT-paramedic. Serving People: This, without a doubt, can be viewed as the number one benefit to becoming a paramedic. You are directly involved with helping other people. More often than not, you're making an effort to help save the life of a person you don’t know. It’s an unbelievable feeling to recognize that you’re helping to make a difference to someone who is potentially experiencing the most difficult day of their life. Good Pay and Job Outlook: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment as an EMT and paramedic is anticipated to grow by about 33 percent between now and the year 2020. This is noticeably faster than other jobs. Paramedics earn more money than basic EMTs. Your wages are dependent upon the amount of education and experience you possess. As you gain more expertise in both knowledge and training, expect your income to also grow. Easy of Entry: In order to become a paramedic, it is not required that you head off to college. Generally, you only need to be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma (or GED). Afterward, you will have a number of options as to how you obtain your formal training in order to become eligible to sit for and pass the state administered paramedic exam. Now, let’s take a look at examples of the negatives of deciding to pursue a career as a paramedic. Lack of Sleep: As a paramedic, you may be required to work extended hours. Consequently, chances are you may find yourself working a shift where you're on the clock for 24 hours, and then off for the next 48 hours. Odds are, you’re going to wind up being forced to be awake for those full 24 hours too, since you might not always get the opportunity to rest through the night. Not So Nice Patients: Let’s face it, as a paramedic chances are you are likely to come into contact with people who are not having the greatest day. Patients, along with their loved ones, due to being in an emergency situation, might speak to you in language that will be offensive and/or rude. In extreme situations, you might also become the target of someone’s attempt to strike you, all as a consequence of stress that the emergency situation causes. You will need to make sure you are capable of remaining calm under extreme pressure. Remember, you are not the cause of their rude behavior. Risk for Work Related Injuries and Illnesses: Due to the various bending, lifting, and kneeling that you will be typically doing, you will be vulnerable to suffering from a work-related injury and/or illness. You might be spit on by a patient or come into contact with their vomit. As an advanced EMT, you may come into contact with persons who are infected with diseases like hepatitis-B, HIV, or AIDS. If you are interested in more information regarding how to become a paramedic or, you would like state-specific paramedic training requirements, please visit http://ehowtobecomeaparamedic.org today!
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