by Basel300324 » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:54 am
Depending on what year you are and when you are planning to apply to med school should tell you whether or not to become an EMT. You have to leave plenty of time to volunteer after you have your certification. If not, it will look just as good to volunteer at a nursing home or hospital. I have been an EMT for 5 years. I have volunteered at many stations and have an assortment of part time paid jobs. I live at a volunteer firehouse while attending school. Here i work as a Rescue Medic on a rescue squad. I get to see a lot of stuff and better yet I get to DO! a lot of stuff.
If you have the time to spend it is well worth it. You will definately see if you are cut out for working in the ER. Time and time again i find myself making critical patient decisions based on my training. For me, its better than volunteering at a hospital. Usually when i deliver a patient to the ER, the doctor and I are talking about the patient and what needs to be done, while the intern stands in the corner and watches! I'm not saying that you don't get anything out of hospital volunteering or interning. I'm just saying that if you are interested in the ER, than you can actually "get your hands dirty" with an EMT cert. and in the right circumstances. More often than not, I am telling my crew what needs to be done. Its a great way to express leadership skills and decision making skills in a very stressful, fast paced enviornment. The Key is.......... YOU HAVE to be willing to put the time in.