What are the pros and cons of being an emergency medical technician?

Question

Justin Parker · Accepted Answer

The pros and cons of being an emergency medical technician relate to helping people in critical situations, varied and adventurous work days, and stressful and intense scenarios. Here are the top pros and cons of being an emergency medical technician:

Pros:

Helping people in critical situations. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have the opportunity to provide medical care to those in emergency medical situations.
They can save people's lives or provide immediate care that can help produce better outcomes when a person has experienced a traumatic injury or a serious illness. Providing this kind of care can be very fulfilling to those in the field.
Varied and adventurous work days. EMTs' work days can often differ from one day to the next. Responding to emergencies can be an adrenaline-filled activity that results in many different kinds of situations and dictates different kinds of medical needs.
EMTs spend a lot of time traveling to different locations. While the work can be intense, it is not a profession where one gets bored.
It is a great way to prepare yourself for work in the medical field. Those wanting to pursue a medical career can start as an EMT. It is a unique opportunity that can often be fast-paced and stressful.
This ultimately prepares you for what some medical scenarios can be like. You are likely to encounter all sorts of medical emergencies when you are an EMT, like:
- Victims of severe car crashes
- Those with gun-shot or stab-wounds
- People having a heart attack, stroke, or other urgent medical condition
Being an EMT serves as a valuable foundation for a more lucrative career in the healthcare industry, though this most likely will require advanced education in a particular medical field.
This experience prepares you to think fast and objectively and put the goal of patient care and saving lives first.
- Job demand and educational requirements. Demand for EMTs is rising, and the pay is decent relative to the required education.
- Societal impact. EMTs' jobs can be stressful but also exhilarating. Nearly every day of work is different and presents new challenges. And one of the biggest benefits of being an EMT is that it is a crucial role in society. Meaning many EMTs have a profound sense of pride in their work.

Cons:

Psychological problems. EMTs can sometimes witness horrific things, which can take a psychological toll on them. They might have problems with depression, anxiety, trauma, or PTSD.
Working hours. Many EMTs work varied schedules with morning, day, night, and even graveyard shifts. This can cause some to develop sleep problems, leading to other psychological issues.
Difficult patients. EMTs can often encounter difficult patients, which can present several problems. Helping patients calm down so an EMT can help them is key, but this is often much easier said than done.