Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 OK, I'm educated, I have a degree, and a license.......and was just denied my 2nd straight yearly raise because of a " wage freeze " . My wife, who has an ADN, makes 4 times what I do in L & D. I couldn't afford to be a paramedic if it weren't for her, period. I am the same boat as you were, but here's the rub. I don't want to be a doctor, or a nurse, or a PA. I could. I could do practically anything I wanted to, but I, and a lot of other dedicated people choose to remain in EMS against all reason. I just don't see how you are going to get people to commit to EMS with the pay disparity that there is right now. Look at 2 hypothetical associate's programs...one in nursing, and one in EMS. Little ny Gage picks up a course catalog from the local junior college and leafs thru it. In it, he discovers that both programs require 2 years of study, cost the same, and have similar coursework. Doing a little research he discovers that after he is done, his first job in EMS will pay him $10 and hour. His first job in nursing will pay him $18, until he puts in a year, then he can either work agency, or transfer to a higher paying specialty, and within 5 years, be making $30 an hour. In 5 years his EMS job will pay him....$11.50 an hour....maybe. What's ny gonna do? Have faith that someday he'll make $20 an hour...maybe? I'm not asking for the moon, but I think a paramedic should be able to provide for a single income family, own a home, take a vacation once a year, and send their kids to college without working 60 hours every week. I actually do better than most people, because I get good benefits, and made about 38K last year. I have good retirement also, but I am lucky, and am certainly not the norm. Having said that, I couldn't support my family on the 2K a month that I bring home. I'd have to drive an even older car than I already do, live in a $500 a month apartment and eat a lot of Ramen noodles. My wife would not deal well with that. I wrote in my upcoming book, " My mother begged me to be a lawyer " that if I had known what I know now the first day I walked into EMT school, I'd have turned around and walked right back out. We already deserve the money with the education we have right now. We have reached the point of diminishing returns already. Adding additional educational requirements will just encourage the people who decide what we are to be paid to feel superior because they now employ a gaggle of better educated ambulance drivers....for the same money. magnetass sends Re: spell check omitted > > > > You know, I agree with most of what you said, but this statement worries > me: > > > > " We recieve the least ammount of education, are charged > > with the most responsibility, and paid the least ammount of money, but are > > expected to be damned near perfect in our judgements. " > > > > Whose fault is it that we receive the least amount of education? Last > time I > > looked education was readily available in this country to just about > anybody > > who really wants it. So what's keeping us from breaking out of the > > " uneducated " mold? Could it be......ourselves? > > > > GG > > > > In a message dated 4/15/2004 8:03:45 PM Central Daylight Time, > > magnetass@... writes: > > We recieve the least ammount of education, are charged > > with the most responsibility, and paid the least ammount of money, but are > > expected to be damned near perfect in our judgements. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 OK, I'm educated, I have a degree, and a license.......and was just denied my 2nd straight yearly raise because of a " wage freeze " . My wife, who has an ADN, makes 4 times what I do in L & D. I couldn't afford to be a paramedic if it weren't for her, period. I am the same boat as you were, but here's the rub. I don't want to be a doctor, or a nurse, or a PA. I could. I could do practically anything I wanted to, but I, and a lot of other dedicated people choose to remain in EMS against all reason. I just don't see how you are going to get people to commit to EMS with the pay disparity that there is right now. Look at 2 hypothetical associate's programs...one in nursing, and one in EMS. Little ny Gage picks up a course catalog from the local junior college and leafs thru it. In it, he discovers that both programs require 2 years of study, cost the same, and have similar coursework. Doing a little research he discovers that after he is done, his first job in EMS will pay him $10 and hour. His first job in nursing will pay him $18, until he puts in a year, then he can either work agency, or transfer to a higher paying specialty, and within 5 years, be making $30 an hour. In 5 years his EMS job will pay him....$11.50 an hour....maybe. What's ny gonna do? Have faith that someday he'll make $20 an hour...maybe? I'm not asking for the moon, but I think a paramedic should be able to provide for a single income family, own a home, take a vacation once a year, and send their kids to college without working 60 hours every week. I actually do better than most people, because I get good benefits, and made about 38K last year. I have good retirement also, but I am lucky, and am certainly not the norm. Having said that, I couldn't support my family on the 2K a month that I bring home. I'd have to drive an even older car than I already do, live in a $500 a month apartment and eat a lot of Ramen noodles. My wife would not deal well with that. I wrote in my upcoming book, " My mother begged me to be a lawyer " that if I had known what I know now the first day I walked into EMT school, I'd have turned around and walked right back out. We already deserve the money with the education we have right now. We have reached the point of diminishing returns already. Adding additional educational requirements will just encourage the people who decide what we are to be paid to feel superior because they now employ a gaggle of better educated ambulance drivers....for the same money. magnetass sends Re: spell check omitted > > > > You know, I agree with most of what you said, but this statement worries > me: > > > > " We recieve the least ammount of education, are charged > > with the most responsibility, and paid the least ammount of money, but are > > expected to be damned near perfect in our judgements. " > > > > Whose fault is it that we receive the least amount of education? Last > time I > > looked education was readily available in this country to just about > anybody > > who really wants it. So what's keeping us from breaking out of the > > " uneducated " mold? Could it be......ourselves? > > > > GG > > > > In a message dated 4/15/2004 8:03:45 PM Central Daylight Time, > > magnetass@... writes: > > We recieve the least ammount of education, are charged > > with the most responsibility, and paid the least ammount of money, but are > > expected to be damned near perfect in our judgements. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 Thanks....now I have to wipe the coffe I spewed on the monitor off. magnetass sends Re: spell check omitted > > > > > > > > Just when I get depreesed, somebody like Hatfield or Magnetass brings me > > hope for EMS. > > > We're in a world of sh** if your hope for EMS lies in a guy who is an > opinionated, arrogant, egostitical SOB, and another guy with a nickname like > 'Magnetass'.... > > No offense ....... > > Mike > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 Thanks....now I have to wipe the coffe I spewed on the monitor off. magnetass sends Re: spell check omitted > > > > > > > > Just when I get depreesed, somebody like Hatfield or Magnetass brings me > > hope for EMS. > > > We're in a world of sh** if your hope for EMS lies in a guy who is an > opinionated, arrogant, egostitical SOB, and another guy with a nickname like > 'Magnetass'.... > > No offense ....... > > Mike > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.