I obtained my National Registry!

[69byrd]

Hey guys hows it going?  I wanted to share with everyone something that I am very proud of.  I was layed off from my job and I have been enrolled in the EMT program for the past year and have finally finished.  I took my national registry exam the other day and passed, so I am now nationally certified and have a state license to practice as an EMT-IV.  Also I will be going to work for the local ambulance service in the next few weeks, so I am extremely excited about that.  After spending 10 years in a factory it is satisfying to accomplish this.  Now when I start making some money again I can start back working on my truck!

[Captkaos]

Congratulations on passing and getting a job.  Hard to do in these times.

[Irish_Alley]

Things do get better, good job

[Grover 1]

Great news!!  Congratulations!!

[Lt.Del]

good job! Congrats. Working on a human is no different than working on a truck--all it takes is a few pieces of duct tape to stop a leak (bleeding) and perhaps a jump start (AED) every so often to get the engine going again.  Just don't try to put an O2 sensor up someone's tailpipe, that's where suppositories go.     

[baddogg79]

Congrats!

[VileZambonie]

glad to hear - congrats!

[ccz145a]

Sounds good! Congratulations on your accomplishment.

LOL Sarge.

[Grim 82]

Congrats! What's first on the list for the truck?

[Blazin]

Awesome. Something like that under your belt.

[beastie_3]

Congrats! Just dont come to Cali looking for a job, my wife is a EMT and rakes in 10.75. That is average for CA and there isnt much room for raises or promotions unless you become a paramedic. Then you can get on with a fire department and make 80+ starting. But with all the fire departments laying off, the dedicated paramedic companies are taking all the firefighters with experience.

[69byrd]

Thanks guys I am excited to have this opportunity and Sarge I will always remember that advice.  Beastie I will say that I will make a little more than that but in my area that is more than I can make at jobs that are a lot harder on the body.  I have applied to the paramedic program for this fall and plans are to work and go to school.  Grim first on the list for the truck is all the stuff to finish the body work and paint.

[smitty77]

Congrats!  I was a volunteer EMT for a while (before I had kids) and it can be both terribly stressful yet insanely satisfying.  Sometimes all in the span of a couple of hours.  And watch what you say about "jobs harder on the body" - the general rule is the biggest patients always live on the top floor of a multi-level apartment house with no elevator.  You've not lived until you and one other person get a 300+ lb patient down a narrow stairway in a "stair-chair".  My back still aches thinking about it!

Stay safe out there, too.  No matter how urgent the call - take care in getting there.  You can't help anyone if you end up being another rescue call yourself.  Congratulations once again.  You'll be hard-pressed to find a steadier line of work.  They pay isn't always the greatest, but there's always work.

[69byrd]

Thanks for the advice, I will keep it in mind when I get to work.  I know what you mean about the over weight patients, we had a 500 pound patients on one of my clinical rotations. It was all we could do to get them on the cot and we had help.  Also I know I wont get rich in this line of work but it has other rewards. Theres nothing more rewarding than saving a life!

[fitz]

Congratulations. Like Smitty said it should be a steady line of work. Hopefully it's a job that you enjoy and it will be a rewarding career.