dropdeded 0 #1 April 13, 2003 Goin to school with the goal of becoming an EMT.I know I would get a lot of satisfaction from the hard work and excitement of working the streets. Yesterday the wifes friends husband asked if Im interested in working as an EMT (they call it something else,dont remember what)in a prison.The guy has worked at Wasco State Prison (Ca.),for many years and using him as a reference would get my foot in the door big time.First I thought "no friggin way", but I been thinkin about it and hell,Im almost 40 and thats a good , honest career with good pay and excelent benifits,but would I be happy? Any thoughts? dropdeded------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WeakMindedFool 0 #2 April 13, 2003 Well hi there dropdeded! Working in a prison....hmmmm. Not a great place to work, i'll list the reasons in a min. First off, i've been a medic since 1990 all over CA. Currently working for the fire department, have worked ground and air ambuli. I love being a medic and i love working the streets. I've worked everywhere from South Central LA to Richmond, Oakland, Sacramento, and all through the north coast. I also teach both BLS and ALS disciplines. I gotta tell ya, I've respoded into Folsom Prison on both routine calls and durring riots. It's not a work environment I would choose or recommend Here is why: -Have run across several less than competent people in prison clinics. This may be due to burnout it may be due to dealing with people who hate and lie to you ALWAYS. It is a quality that many responders have noticed and commented on. Now it is not always the case but it seems more common there than in other places. -In the prison system, patient care issues are subordinate to so many other factors. while i understand the necessity of security in a prison it's not the kind of environment i would personally do well in. -Closely review the "No negotiation policy" the state penal system has. -It is good money, it does provide good bennies...when you leave work will you be happy? When you are on your way to work will you be happy? -There are alot of jobs out there for EMT's. Go to AMR's web site and take a look around. Every ER in the world is hiring EMT's as ER techs. Well that is my $0.02. If you have any questions or would like to call me names...this is where to find me! Peace Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #3 April 13, 2003 Holy crap,I didnt expect an informative reply like that You brought up one of the most important things as far as going into this line of work as far as Im concerned,will I be happy? I have no fantasies that this will be an easy career.I absolutely realize that pain,suffering and misery is something EMS faces EVERY day.Its not all new babies and "making the save". I am turning the prison thing over in my head and yes the money thing would be nice but Im not one that is willing to trade happiness and satisfaction for money. The wife is really pushing for the job(she likes $$).I told her I would consider it so,I am.I just want to hear from people such as yourself that have experience . Thanks again dropdeded ------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #4 April 13, 2003 No matter where you end up working, with your wife ill, you want to weigh the advantages of regular hours. Having really regular hours (as much as you can) is a real stress-reliever when you have outside cares also. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #5 April 13, 2003 Good pay and excellent benefits are definitely a plus. I say go for it, you can always quit if you don't like it, right?She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #6 April 13, 2003 No matter where you end up working, with your wife ill, you want to weigh the advantages of regular hours. Having really regular hours (as much as you can) is a real stress-reliever when you have outside cares also. __________________________________________________ Yeah,the wifes health issues play into this,as they do with everything.Thats another reason Im looking for input wherever I can get it.She is actually in a little bit of a remission right now but the nature of her disease is like "take a break" then , "Im back". We just never know dropdeded ------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #7 April 13, 2003 I don't know of many emts who make much.. i did it as a part time job to pay for skydiving and because i enjoy EMS... it isn't as rewarding as one might think.. i have 1 save directly attributed to my efforts, people don't seem to appreciate the work you do.. long wierd hours.. and pay sucks.. but if you enjoy it like I do, it has it's own rewards :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Billy 0 #8 April 13, 2003 Hay,, Would really consider the benefits and retirement issues... usaully your a state employee... what is AMR's or whoever the local providers package?? What kinda schedule do they have? also remember your an EMT... not an EMT-P,, working into an EMT-P role will take time and the real money & bene's as one is in the Fire dept area,, competition is tough there,, I've never worked in a prison,, been in jail a couple times,, whole nuther subject,, never worked one tho... Good Luck! Natural Born FlyerZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WeakMindedFool 0 #9 April 14, 2003 Yeah...Billy got a point. EMT1 is an Entry level Spot. That's true where ever you go. On the West coast you can expect about $30k/yr starting. Full bennies after 6 mos full time with a 401K match up to like $4k/year. That's private amb. In the ER your looking at a little more money and better benefits. Best of all you get inroads to advancement. In house your on a nursing track, in an ambulance your looking at a Paramedic license and either air amb work(which pays like crap here) or Fire which is competitive, but not nearly as bad as it used to be...and no we don't care if your 40! My agency does hire EMT1's but to my knowledge we are the only major fire dept that does. Kevin is right as well, the saves aren't an everyday occurrence....but they happen enough, and they never happen in a prison.Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybeergodd 0 #10 April 14, 2003 Well here is my $0.02 worth....I've been a medic for 13 years now and have spent that entire time on the street. I've run thousands of calls to local jails and state prisons, I have had mixed experiences depending on which system I was dispatched to. Local jails generally were ended up being deadbeat prisoners who were looking to get outta jail and had given poor medical care while in jail. State prison were for the most part different. Those guys know they are in jail and are going to be there for years, also those prisons had doctors on staff and if you ended up in their hospital or in an ambulance then you really were injured or sick. Now the care they received was a minimal approach to medicine but it was still appropriate. Just remember ANY job experience is still something good to put on your resume. I do agree with the others in that a Tech job in an ER would be a very good opportunity. I really can't say the same about working for a private ambulance service though. I spent some time working with one in my early days and found that their policy of $$ over patient care to be just way to frustrating for me. But again I say that ANY job experience looks better than no job experience. I really hope you like the EMS field and stick with it. Blue Skies and soft landings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
