Emergency Medicine Paramedic Education and Career Pathways

This post presents all you need to know about the emergency medicine paramedic education and career pathways, as well as information to help you decide if emergency medicine paramedic is the career for you.

Please, read on:   

Why Choose Emergency Medicine Paramedic Career?

There are several reasons why you should choose an Emergency medicine paramedic career, including:

1. Making good money as an Emergency medicine paramedic. The average salary for an Emergency medicine paramedic ranges from $45,000-$65,000 per year depending on where you work.
2. Getting paid more than other EMS careers such as paramedics or firefighters.
3. Having better job security than other EMS careers.
4. Being your own boss when working as an emergency medicine paramedic.
5. Can start out with a lower pay scale than other EMS careers. For example, if you want to become an EMT-Basic, you would need at least 2 years of experience before being able to apply for that position. However, if you want to be an Emergency medicine paramedic, you only need 1 year of experience.
6. There are many different types of jobs available for you to choose from. Some examples include:

• Ambulance driver
• Paramedic
• Flight medic
• Field coordinator
• Medical director

7. You do not need any special training to become an Emergency medicine paramedic since it is a relatively new field. What you need is a diploma (high school) or a GED certificate.

8. It is easy to find employment opportunities as an Emergency medicine paramedic because there are so many companies hiring them.

9. You can work anywhere including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even sports events.

10. There is opportunity to travel all over the world and see exotic places while working as an Emergency medicine paramedic. 

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Education Requirements

To become an emergency medicine paramedic, you must first complete an accredited program.

These programs usually last between 3 months and 2 years and they require students to take classes in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, and psychology.

In addition, students also learn how to use various equipment, like defibrillators, blood pressure cuffs, and oxygen tanks. 

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Continuing Education

After completing their education, most students go back to school to obtain additional certifications. Among these certificates include, but are not limited to:

• American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians – CPR
• National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician – First Aid/AED
• National Registry of EMT-PALS.

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Certification/License

Once a student has completed their education and obtained their certification, they then have to pass a national exam to receive their license.

This license allows them to practice as an emergency medicine paramedic.

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Career Pathways

There are several career pathways for an emergency medicine paramedic, these include:

1. Emergency Room Technician (ERT)

An ERT works in the emergency department helping patients who come in complaining of chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, etc.

They also help doctors diagnose patients by taking vital signs and performing physical exams.

ERTs also assist doctors during surgeries and perform routine tasks such as cleaning up after surgery.

2. Nurse Practitioner (NP)

NPs are physicians who specialize in treating illnesses related to women’s reproductive health.

They provide primary care services to pregnant women, children, and adults.

NPs also manage chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

They order laboratory tests, prescribe medications, and make referrals to specialists when necessary.

3. Physician Assistant (PA)

PAs are healthcare professionals that treat patients with acute and chronic conditions.

They work closely with medical doctors and nurses to ensure that patients get the best treatment possible.

PAs are licensed to practice independently and they may be able to bill insurance companies directly for some services.

4. Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Respiratory therapists help people breathe better through treatments like administering breathing exercises, providing ventilator support, and giving nebulizer treatments.

RTs also teach people how to do breathing exercises at home.

5. Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurses are healthcare providers who work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, or other healthcare facilities.

RNs can specialize in areas such as pediatrics, gerontology, critical care, oncology, mental health, and many others.

They administer medication, give injections, draw blood samples, insert catheters, and change dressings among other things.

Other careers include:

• Critical care nurse
• Emergency medical services (EMS) dispatcher
• Firefighter/paramedics
• Hospitalist
• Medical equipment repairer
• Hospital administrator
• Clinical research associate

How to Advance your Emergency Medicine Paramedic Career

If you want to advance your career as an emergency medicine paramedic, there are several ways to do so. Here are a few ideas:

1. Become certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). ACLS is a course designed to teach CPR, defibrillation, and basic airway management.

It is taught to first responders, EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters.

2. Gain a certification in pediatric advanced life support (PALS). PALS teaches students how to handle emergencies involving infants, children, and adolescents.

Students learn about child abuse, burns, choking, seizures, poisoning, and drowning.

3. Take continuing education courses to keep yourself updated on new techniques and technologies.

Courses offered by the American Heart Association include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillators, and neonatal resuscitation.

4. Join professional organizations. These organizations offer certification and allow members to network and find jobs.

Some examples include the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, the International Society for Technology in Healthcare, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

5. Attend conferences and trade shows. Conferences and trade shows bring together industry leaders and professionals from all over the world.

You can meet employers, hear presentations, and learn more about the latest technology.

How to Find a Good Emergency Medicine Paramedic School

The next step in your emergency medicine paramedic training will depend on where you currently live.

If you are interested in attending school close to home, you might consider enrolling in an online program.

Online programs are convenient because they don’t require you to travel long distances.

However, not every state allows online schooling, so make sure that yours does before signing up.

Online schools may be less expensive than traditional programs, but their curriculum isn’t always as extensive.

For example, some online programs only cover CPR and AED use, while others focus on more advanced topics like pediatric emergencies and trauma care.

If you plan to pursue a job out of state, it may be best to attend a traditional college or university.

This way, you won’t have to worry about finding housing if you decide to move after graduation.

Online schools also tend to be smaller than traditional colleges and universities. While this may seem like a good thing, it means that you’ll have fewer opportunities to interact with other students and professors.

More tips on How to Find a Good Emergency Medicine Paramedic School

In addition, many online schools only accept students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree. So, if you aren’t ready to earn one yet, you may need to look elsewhere.

If you want to study at a local college or university, visit the website of the institution closest to you.

The admissions office should have information about any required prerequisites, financial aid options, and scholarships available.

They can also tell you what classes are most likely to prepare you for a career in emergency medicine.

You may also want to check out community colleges. Many of these institutions offer Associate degrees in Emergency Medical Services.

Depending on which ones you choose, you could complete the coursework in just a few years.

Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to take the national exam administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medicine Technicians (NREMT). 

How to be Successful in your Emergency Medicine Paramedic Career

If you want to become an emergency medicine paramedic, you will have to put in a lot of efforts.

Here are some pointers to help you succeed in your profession.

1. Be prepared

Make sure you know how to do everything necessary to work as an emergency medicine paramedic.

Start practicing now! Learn basic first aid skills, including CPR and AED use.

Practice using a defibrillator. Know how to properly administer medications.

And practice administering oxygen.

2. Get certified

Obtain certification in both CPR and AED use through the American Heart Association.

To become certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), you must pass two exams: ACLS Provider and ACLS Instructor.

You must also obtain certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

3. Earn your degree

After obtaining your certification, apply to an accredited four-year college or university. Your goal is to earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Emergency Medical Services.

4. Take the NREMT exam

Once you receive your degree, you will be able to test for the NREMT certification exam.

Passing this exam will allow you to work as an emergency medical technician.

5. Work hard

It takes time to learn all of the skills needed to work as an emergency medic. But once you get started, you’ll find yourself learning new things every day.

Keep up the effort and you’ll soon see results.

What Does an Emergency Medicine Paramedic Do?

As a paramedic, you’ll spend most of your time working in an ambulance. However, you may also be called upon to provide medical assistance during large events like concerts and sporting events.

In fact, you might even assist police officers when they respond to calls involving violent crimes.

While performing CPR on someone suffering from cardiac arrest, you’ll use a defibrillator to shock their heart back into normal rhythm.

If the person has been unconscious for more than 10 minutes, you’ll begin chest compressions as well.

However, if you’re treating someone who’s having a seizure, you’ll administer medication to stop it.

You may also perform other procedures such as placing an IV line.

Qualities of a Good Emergency Medicine Paramedic

To succeed in your new career, you’ll need to develop several important qualities.

• First, you’ll require strong communication skills. You’ll need to be able to explain complex medical concepts to patients and family members.

• Additionally, you should be able to listen carefully without interrupting.

• You’ll also need to be patient.

While you may encounter situations where you feel rushed or frustrated, you must remain calm. Remember that you’re helping people who are often scared and confused.

• Finally, you’ll want to be flexible.

When you arrive at a scene, there’s likely to be a lot going on. For example, you could be dealing with multiple emergencies at a time. 

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Salary

According to Salary.com, the starting income for an emergency room paramedic is between $33,627 and $41,951, with an average starting salary of $37,375.

Emergency Medicine Paramedic Job Outlook

EMT and paramedic employment is expected to expand 11 percent between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 20,700 vacancies for EMTs and paramedics are expected per year on average during the next decade.

Conclusion

The job outlook for emergency medicine paramedics is very promising. As long as you have the right training and experience, you can expect to find a great job in this field.

This post has provided detailed information on the emergency medicine paramedic education and career, to boost your knowledge about the job.