Paramedic courses are offered by a variety of training institutes in each country. They vary in cost and approach, but at the end of each of them, you will be an accredited paramedic. The most significant variation between paramedic courses is generally the non-teaching support you get – online coaching, exam preparation, assistance with job hunting, etc.
Choosing to become a paramedic is a noble cause, but something you should think through carefully before you commit. The level of technical proficiency to become a paramedic is highly demanding, and if you’re not interested in rigorous study, then you should choose a different career. Consider the amount of learning necessary to be responsible for saving lives.
You might not need to read as much as for a law degree, for example, but your knowledge will be tested daily and your responsibility will not be winning arguments and convincing judges but responding to real emergencies.
Your decisions will mean the difference between life and death, not every time, but often during your career. Some tests are cheatable, some exams you can cram for and then forget everything afterwards. This isn’t going to work with being a paramedic; do you have the diligence to genuinely learn what you need to?
Paramedic courses aren’t just about technical knowledge, of course. They will guide you through the practical skills you’re going to need to be a successful paramedic. This ranges from the medical intervention techniques you’ll apply on a daily basis – from bandaging through resuscitation -but also how to deal with the myriad of bureaucracy that surrounds health work.
Paramedic work isn’t all sirens and glory. Far from it: the vast majority of paramedic work is mind-numbing boredom, waiting for a call-out, or routine transfers. There are variations in your daily routine, and occasionally you’l be called upon to go above and beyond, but those times are as few and far between as any other long-term job.
If you’re coming to paramedic work from another field, then hearing from working paramedics during your paramedic course will start to enlighten you as to the true nature of the job. If you’ve got a background in perhaps nursing or other health-related fields, then you’ll be a little less culture-shocked by the shift in paradigms.
If you live in or near a major city, though, you’ll probably have a few courses to choose from. If that’s the case, then do a compare-and-contrast. Look at what’s on offer apart from certification. Ask about the employment rates of graduates, almuni networks, continuing professional development.
Check in with local paramedic’s groups. Sometimes paramedic networks will have their own unions, otherwise they’ll combine with nurses and other health workers. Contact officials and ask if they have any recommendations as to which training courses will suit your situation.
Do you need flexible training hours? Do you want to do the coursework remotely and only come in for the practical sessions? Whatever your logistical needs, there should be a way to fit your training into the rest of your lifestyle.
If you’re lucky, not only with the union be able to narrow down your choices for you, but they may be able to hook you up with some personal recommendations. Contacts in a tight-knit industry like emergency healthcare are a wonderful thing for hearing about openings and recruitment.
Occasionally union members can receive discounts on training programs. Generally these only apply to further development once you’re a paramedic, but occasionally they can reduce the cost of initial training as well. It never hurts to ask!
Absorbing vital information like EMT techniques, anatomy, physiology, patient management, diagnostics, equipment management and so on is particularly challenging. Because you’re trying to absorb vast amounts of raw data from inter-related fields, your brain is going to feel a little stretched, especially if you haven’t been in formal learning environments for a while.
Your course advisors will be able to suggest ways to manage your workload and prevent any burn-out. Regardless, there will be times when the challenge may start to get on top of you. Expect it, notice it when it happens, and seek assistance.
Paramedic courses, in some ways, give you a taste of what it’s going to be like to be a working paramedic. There is glory and reward – you save lives, work hard, and get paid well. But that comes after hours of toil and sacrifice.
You have to put in the hours to reap the rewards. If you’re not up for the grind, then get out and save yourself the time. Paramedics are the elite few, the ones that make it through the training, look after themselves, and go the distance.
We wish you the absolute best of luck in finding and completing the paramedic course that’s right for you. Have an excellent time, and a brilliant and rewarding career!
Choosing to become a paramedic is a noble cause, but something you should think through carefully before you commit. The level of technical proficiency to become a paramedic is highly demanding, and if you’re not interested in rigorous study, then you should choose a different career. Consider the amount of learning necessary to be responsible for saving lives.
You might not need to read as much as for a law degree, for example, but your knowledge will be tested daily and your responsibility will not be winning arguments and convincing judges but responding to real emergencies.
Your decisions will mean the difference between life and death, not every time, but often during your career. Some tests are cheatable, some exams you can cram for and then forget everything afterwards. This isn’t going to work with being a paramedic; do you have the diligence to genuinely learn what you need to?
Paramedic courses aren’t just about technical knowledge, of course. They will guide you through the practical skills you’re going to need to be a successful paramedic. This ranges from the medical intervention techniques you’ll apply on a daily basis – from bandaging through resuscitation -but also how to deal with the myriad of bureaucracy that surrounds health work.
Paramedic work isn’t all sirens and glory. Far from it: the vast majority of paramedic work is mind-numbing boredom, waiting for a call-out, or routine transfers. There are variations in your daily routine, and occasionally you’l be called upon to go above and beyond, but those times are as few and far between as any other long-term job.
If you’re coming to paramedic work from another field, then hearing from working paramedics during your paramedic course will start to enlighten you as to the true nature of the job. If you’ve got a background in perhaps nursing or other health-related fields, then you’ll be a little less culture-shocked by the shift in paradigms.
Choosing a Paramedic Course
Interestingly, choosing a paramedic course is not as intuitive as comparing the courses themselves. That’s obviously the best place to start, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of your process. Of course, how complex this is going to be depends on the options open to you. If there’s only one university within a reasonable commute that offers paramedic training, then that’s where you’re going.If you live in or near a major city, though, you’ll probably have a few courses to choose from. If that’s the case, then do a compare-and-contrast. Look at what’s on offer apart from certification. Ask about the employment rates of graduates, almuni networks, continuing professional development.
Check in with local paramedic’s groups. Sometimes paramedic networks will have their own unions, otherwise they’ll combine with nurses and other health workers. Contact officials and ask if they have any recommendations as to which training courses will suit your situation.
Do you need flexible training hours? Do you want to do the coursework remotely and only come in for the practical sessions? Whatever your logistical needs, there should be a way to fit your training into the rest of your lifestyle.
If you’re lucky, not only with the union be able to narrow down your choices for you, but they may be able to hook you up with some personal recommendations. Contacts in a tight-knit industry like emergency healthcare are a wonderful thing for hearing about openings and recruitment.
Occasionally union members can receive discounts on training programs. Generally these only apply to further development once you’re a paramedic, but occasionally they can reduce the cost of initial training as well. It never hurts to ask!
Stamina and Paramedic Training
Like any complex, technically challenging degree, paramedic training is no joke. While it’s not as physically intimidating as the training to become a fireman or an elite military unit, there is a tremendous amount of mental pressure on paramedics from the first day of training.Absorbing vital information like EMT techniques, anatomy, physiology, patient management, diagnostics, equipment management and so on is particularly challenging. Because you’re trying to absorb vast amounts of raw data from inter-related fields, your brain is going to feel a little stretched, especially if you haven’t been in formal learning environments for a while.
Your course advisors will be able to suggest ways to manage your workload and prevent any burn-out. Regardless, there will be times when the challenge may start to get on top of you. Expect it, notice it when it happens, and seek assistance.Paramedic courses, in some ways, give you a taste of what it’s going to be like to be a working paramedic. There is glory and reward – you save lives, work hard, and get paid well. But that comes after hours of toil and sacrifice.
You have to put in the hours to reap the rewards. If you’re not up for the grind, then get out and save yourself the time. Paramedics are the elite few, the ones that make it through the training, look after themselves, and go the distance.
We wish you the absolute best of luck in finding and completing the paramedic course that’s right for you. Have an excellent time, and a brilliant and rewarding career!