Mid life crisis is happening for me. I want and need a carrier change. I've been a vet nurse I'm my early years and now I'm a pathology collector. I'm really thinking about becoming a paramedic. Is there any paramedics out there that could tell me what it all involves. How to go about getting into training, is it a uni degree? Or do you have to do course and work your way up?
Thanks all you paramedic mummas
Career change to paramedic
Career change to paramedic
Posted in:
Health & Wellbeing, IM's In Business
6 Replies
Here in WA we have a volunteer program as well as career paramedics and everyone wanting to be a paramedic is encouraged to be a volunteer first to see if it's something they can see themselves doing for 14 hours a day. Some people who only wanted to be volunteers end up liking it that much they go on to being paramedics, others are happy to stay volunteers. Here it is a 4 year uni degree, one year of theory work and the rest is mostly on the job training. If you have a history of mental illness or physical illness you might not be accepted. Each state is different with how it all works, here we have St Johns which is a private organisation, I think some other States have state run ambulance services, so that probably makes a huge difference to salaries and incentives.
Have a look at job prospects in your area too. My cousin has just completed her degree in South Australia and it is extremely competitive and difficult to secure a job as a paramedic
Go ride in an ambulance for a day first. I’ve heard of people dropping out after there first ambo ride cause they got terribly car sick
How do you just 'go ride in an ambulance for a day'?
You can do it in WA if you sign the paper work, go along as background person. Usually for people who are thinking about volunteering or media etc. You aren't allowed to do anything just watch. I don't think car sickness is a reason to not do it though, you do get used to it and unlike TV ambulances aren't always flying around.
not everyone gets used to it, just like not everyone gets over car sickness or sea sickness.