Any paramedic students/graduates?

[cbr guy]

hi
im in my last year of school and am seriously considering becoming a paramedic. just wondering if theres anyone who would be able to answer a couple questions for me because i don't really have anyone else to ask :brick:
especially about the differences in one of the wellington polytechs (whiti-something i think) and AUT courses.
worth a shot asking. cheers

[Brett]

PM Speedie. He is one.

[crashe]

Pm Speedie, Riff Raff and Donor.
They are the ones to contact to get the answers to your questions.

[cbr guy]

thanks alot guys, will do

[0arbreaka]

Are you sensitive to blood and gore?, because you get to see some pretty fucked up shit which if you arent of decent mental stature will leave you scarred fo life, one thing you also have to consider is the amount of hours and the pay in which you will recieve, I dont know what the pay structure is so i cant help you. I know a bit about this shit coz I work in a hospital, and I also have been considering becoming a paramedic.

[cbr guy]

Are you sensitive to blood and gore?, because you get to see some pretty fucked up shit which if you arent of decent mental stature will leave you scarred fo life, one thing you also have to consider is the amount of hours and the pay in which you will recieve, I dont know what the pay structure is so i cant help you. I know a bit about this shit coz I work in a hospital, and I also have been considering becoming a paramedic. um i think that i am, but its pretty hard to know when i haven't been in too bad of a situation though. but i think helping people like what they do would be really rewarding and a good use of my skills. yeah the shift work is a bit of a drawback, but worth it, but pay isnt too important, as long as i have enough money for a bike, im sweet!lol. thanks for that though man, do you mind if i ask why you chose a different job over paramedic?not really my or other people who can see this threads business though, so don't worry if you mind

[Riff Raff]

Ditto about replying to your PM, but for me it's cos I've been absolutely flogged on thsi night shift and I only came onto KB to get away from it.

[Donor]

Pfft... frontline need to re-stock on the HTFU pills... we PTS types replied within the hour... :dodge:

No, guys - put those rusty 14 gauge implements away... nooooo!

[Riff Raff]

You can keep Lyn.
'k you. :innocent:

[0arbreaka]

do you mind if i ask why you chose a different job over paramedic?
Im still considering becoming a paramedic, my current job is just an interim job untill ive made my mind up.

[cbr guy]

Im still considering becoming a paramedic, my current job is just an interim job untill ive made my mind up.
oh right, cool, good idea

[cbr guy]

sweet, that will be good, no rush though. lol i'm not sure what you mean about the worse crash the better.
acknowlegdements to donor for the helpful PM's

[Riff Raff]

Decided to put my reply to you in here, rather than PM so others who are interested can read.

I've done all my training through St John's internal education. I started as a volunteer in Coromandel where I did the Basic Ambulance course (now called Pre-Hospital Emergency Care), which gave me the qualification of Primary Care 1. I was put through the Driving course and then went on to do the Certificate in Ambulance Practice (basically a mushy course about dealing with death etc), which gave me the Primary Care 2 qualification. I then moved to Auckland to become a full time ambulance officer and did my National Certificate in Ambulance, giving me the qualification of Ambulance Officer. A further 18 months of study resulted in me getting my Paramedic qualification. Next on the agenda is Upskilled Paramedic, and then if I want to I can do continuing study through AUT to get Advanced Paramedic qualification.

The benefit of doing it this way is the experience gained on the road and being paid while you gain qualifications.

From my experience of watching AUT students coming through I have a few reservations about doing it this way. The biggest problem is the amount of time on the road using the skills learned. Basically there's not enough. First year students' road time is with PTS (Patient Transfer Services). Second year students are with a Paramedic and 3rd years are with an Advanced Paramedic. They go from transferring patients (a valuable experience where the most important thing they learn is how to deal with people and talk to them), to getting out on the road and having a whole lot of skills they can play with, but not knowing how to do the basics. That is very wrong. Then in their final year they are playing with all the toys, but still can't do the basics. And it's not their fault, but it's hard work for their mentors who have to try and cram in as much experience as possible in far too short a time.

Anyone doing it this way needs to know that the most important part of their learning is going to be done on the road and they need to put in 200% during this time. There is no guarantee that there's going to be a job at the end of the degree - you need to have 'Wow' factor. Those that do get a job with St John start as Ambulance Officers, then after a while they can challenge to go up to Paramedic level, and eventually challenge to practice as an Advanced Paramedic.

For young people still at school who think they might want to have a career in the ambulance service I suggest joining the Cadet programme - for 8 to 18 years focusing on first aid, healthcare, leadership and general life skills.
I also suggest becoming an Event Volunteer - With ongoing healthcare and management training to build your skills, confidence and enthusiasm, you will work right in the heart of community events ranging from local street festivals and parades through to the large sporting and cultural events and concerts.
Life skills are very important in ambulance work. Young people often struggle to deal with the things we see and do, and have difficulty relating to patients. Rather than going straight from school into the Paramedic degree programme I suggest doing something else first to gain life skills, experience and maturity. This is a good time to become an Event Volunteer so you know if it's a career you want to pursue.
Sorry if this sounds negative for young'uns who are keen to get straight into it. Ambulance work can be incredibly rewarding, but also soul destroying if you don't have the machanisms to cope with what we see and deal with. Once you're old enough, why not look at starting within PTS. This is an excellent grounding for going into frontline ambulance.

[Brett]

Good answer.. what she said.

I can concur with Riff Raff's sentiments on the AUT students. The best ones we have had that are now employed are the older students who have done something else first.. ie military, ex police, or other jobs where they have gained some life experience. There are a few that are almost just out of school, go and do the Uni course and then expect to be good Ambulance officers.. wont happen! As Sue has already pointed out the best thing by a million miles is on road experience. You can gain this by becoming a volunteer in events or volunteer Ambulance, as already suggested.
Again, dont take it negativly, conversly take it as a positive, and get a good grounding, get a job of some sort, join as a volly, and when you are in your early twenties it is a good time to start looking at gaining a full time position with us.

Following on to our conversation down at Taupo at the KB trackday, I am still seriously considering becoming a paramedic once my wife is qualified and the coin I earn is no longer necessary for survival!

I think the sentiments on ex-Uni students rings true for most professions. I know that in our office we have been reviewing engineering graduates from AUT and Auckland Uni's as well as Business Degree grads and the pure 'greeness' is astonishing. I think it is vital that these kids be given some life experience before being ditched into high pressure/demand work places. They are not for everyone.

I think what appeals to me most about being a paramedic is being able to use my skills to actually help people and make a difference rather than just being some honcho in the corporate world. I considered the cops for a while...but there is far too much PC bullshit going on there for my liking right now.

[cbr guy]

Thanks, you two!
Really thought provoking, the experience factor sounds good, it sounds more rewarding to be a good paramedic than have a piece of paper saying that i am! Not being so far from home is a huge bonus too. And yeah, i guess its not so much one of those jobs that you just jump into without that much experience, but it does seem great. There's alot of information there, it seems the only benefit of doing it outside of St John would be the time factor, although i just am thinking about one more thing. Is the St John qualification recognised by other services? I want to keep Australia in my options list. but anyway, thanks again!
cheers

[cbr guy]

cool, sounds good Brett. yeah i'd prefer to do a job that makes a difference than just money.

[Donor]

Is the St John qualification recognised by other services? I want to keep Australia in my options list. but anyway, thanks again!
cheers

St John quals carry NZQA accreditation, so they're viewed rather warmly overseas.

[0arbreaka]

If you want job and life skills get a job at a hospital doing something mundane i.e. orderly, thats what I did, it keeps you fit and you get to meet some really interesting people. And when your ready you can go and do your st johns course, a couple of my colleagues just left to do just that. And in doing so you get a better idea as to what the job involves.
My 2c

[RT527]

If you want to get some life skills , then try joining a volunteer fire brigade....some of the time ambulance dont get their patients untill weve freed them from the vehicle, which often means seeing the really bad stuff up front and in your face.

But on a more serious note, a volunteer ambulance officer or events officer , as has been pointed out gains much more hands on / practical on the job training than anything else, besides why waste money on a course if after a year or two you decide you dont like it?.

good luck deciding.
another thing ...I dont know if it can be done , but is there a way that Cbr Guy can get to ride along for a couple of shifts , and get an Idea about what its all about?....

[Brett]

Not unless he wants to come up to Mt Wellington from Invercargill.

But in all seriousness he may ask at the local station to do an observer shift or two. Depending on the boss at the time, may get a yes or no.

That is something I would like to organise in the not too distant future...ahem ahem.

[Riff Raff]

I don't know whether it's changed, but to do an observer shift you had to be 20 or over. Will have to check on that.

[cbr guy]

that's great about the st john qualification, to be honest i haven't looked into that side of it as much as i should! thats pretty funny about MAS, weirdos. yeah hospital work, good idea, i had a holiday job a while ago, might follow that up, hope its worth the boredom.lol. RT527, good idea, a little extreme for me at the moment im thinking.thanks but im going to try observe, im only 18 but i may get something out of it.
Thank you for the comments everyone