Why is being a paramedic so hard?
It takes a lot to get through paramedic training because it is a tough job that requires physical stamina, calmness under pressure, medical knowledge, the ability to make quick decisions, and the compassion to be kind to patients even in tough situations.
Paramedics need to be able to think on their feet and make good decisions in a chaotic, crisis environment. Because of their erratic schedules, paramedics often work when they are over-tired and haven't had a break for many hours. Exhausting schedules and managing repeated crisis calls place high stress on paramedics.
That translates into $35,470 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists it as one of the lowest-paying jobs in health care. Low pay was the primary reason roughly one-third of all EMTs quit in 2021.
Over half of paramedics are suffering from burnout caused by “overwhelming” workloads, record numbers of 999 calls and the public misusing the ambulance service, a study has found.
Challenges of Being a Paramedic
Some of the people present on the scene of emergency could be drunk or violent, while others may show uncontrollable outbursts of emotion. The paramedics have to deal with all these situations and bring calmness along with the policemen in the course of discharging their duties.
Being a paramedic allows the opportunity for you to provide medical care and save lives. As a paramedic you can make a difference in people's lives and help those in need. The choice to become a paramedic presents individuals with the opportunity for a rewarding career based on the work they do on a daily basis.
More than 80 percent of first responders experience traumatic events on the job. 3 And because they face challenging and dangerous situations, first responders are at a high risk of developing PTSD as a work-related injury or condition.
Seeing patients puts them at risk of various diseases, impairment to their immune systems and severe hormone secretion fluctuations due to the stressful nature of the job. In addition to physical risks, paramedics scored highly for mental health risks.
As a paramedic, you'll be thrown into unknown or unpredictable situations, so you'll need to be able to remain calm and reassuring in stressful situations, and have great communication skills. You'll also need to be able to work fast and make quick and precise decisions.
Yes, you can pass the NREMT test on the first try. In fact, look at the statistics. If 33 percent of EMTs and 23 percent of paramedics fail the exam, it means 67 percent and 73 percent, respectively, passed the test. You can be in those passing percentages if you are aware of how the test works and how to study for it.
Is the paramedic exam difficult?
Overall, the EMT exam is somewhat difficult, as it is designed to assess important skills and knowledge. Because the EMT exam is computer-adaptive, the questions will proceed to get slightly harder as you go along, depending on which questions you answer correctly.
The training for a nurse is more standardized than what's provided for a paramedic because, in order to earn a nursing degree, the candidate is required to have taken the required science classes before applying for nursing school in the first place.
