Anytime there is a medical emergency away from a medical facility, the paramedic plays a crucial role in the treatment of the patient. They must be trained to deal with a variety of medical situations and safely transport individuals to the hospital. Despite the importance of their job, their salary is on the low side of all medical professionals.
This specific paramedic job description reviews their essential functions and responsibilities, the skills that make for a good paramedic, their required education and experience, the typical working schedule, and projected job outlook.
What Does a Paramedic Do?
A paramedic will be first on the scene to medical emergencies such as injuries at home, car accidents, or shootings. The training of a paramedic is often the difference between life and death for critical patients. Thus, their most important role is to assess the situation, communicate with the emergency department about the incoming case, and keep the patient stable until they arrive at the hospital.
The minimum education requirement for paramedics is a high school diploma, CPR training, and a certificate accredited by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. They must also learn how to drive the ambulance. No prior work experience is required to assume this role. The median pay for paramedics is $32,670.
Paramedic Job Description for Resume – Responsibilities
According to the job description of a paramedic, all responsibilities revolve around providing medical care. Consider these as starter statements for your resume.
- Work with firefighters and police officers in an emergency situation.
- Assess the scene and provide necessary treatment to the patient.
- Communicate to the emergency room the patient’s current condition and vitals.
- Drive the ambulance and ensure the safety of other paramedics and the patient.
- Create the necessary documentation for each medical trip.
- Use GPS to accurately find locations that can be hard to find.
- Keep an inventory of supplies in the ambulance and replace as necessary.
This list is based off a list kept by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Paramedic Essential Skills
- Learning from mistakes skills. Paramedics will face new and complex medical situations all of the time. At some point, they will make a mistake. The ability to learn from that mistake and improve for the next time is paramount.
- Teamwork skills. A paramedic will never work by themselves. They need to be able to work well with others and communicate effectively.
- Mentoring skills. More senior paramedics will have the important job of mentoring novice paramedics and leading them in an apprenticeship type role.
- Lifelong learning skills. While all paramedics complete a certification course and exam, the skills learned in that program may not be consistently applied in real life. Practicing various scenarios and staying attuned to changes in medical care are both important job qualities of a paramedic.
Additional paramedic essential skills can be found here.
How to Become a Paramedic
Paramedics need their high school diploma, CPR certification, and a license from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. There is no need for prior work experience.
Education & Training Requirements
Prior to beginning an EMT certification program, paramedics must have their high school diploma or equivalent and their CPR certification. All paramedics need a license. However, the actual requirements vary by state. Most of their certifications will not result in a formal degree, but some paramedics do have their associate’s degree.
Paramedics will typically receive their training at a community college or within a program offered by a medical facility. Individuals interested in the basic emergency medical technician job complete 150 hours of coursework and learn things such as clearing an airway and removing a patient from a car. Conversely, there is an advanced emergency medical technician certificate that takes 400 hours. A full-fledged paramedic needs to complete both of the EMT programs as well as 1,200 hours worth of coursework.
Students who want to become a paramedic should focus on biology and medicine based courses. To become a nationally certified paramedic someone needs to be over the age of 18, pass the certification for at least the basic EMT level, complete the psychomotor competency portfolio, pass the psychomotor exam, and the paramedic cognitive exam.
Work Experience
While paramedics do not have a need for prior work experience, naturally more experienced paramedics will guide and teach new paramedics on the job. The job responsibilities will rely more on the level of certification than on work experience.
Someone interested in becoming a paramedic can begin with the basic EMT training and then start working as an EMT. They can complete their additional coursework while they are employed.
Work Schedules
The vast majority of EMTs are full-time. However, some areas rely on volunteer EMTs and these people work as they can. Extra hours are normal aspect of this position as more than 33 percent of EMTs report working over 40 hours a week. In addition, their schedule varies significantly. They typically work 24 to 48 hour shifts with an equivalent amount of time off.
The length of shift time is a concern when we expect paramedics to provide accurate and quality emergency medical care. It has been demonstrated that working without sleep leads to inferior performance and a higher chance of mistakes.
Career Prospects
Paramedics have a very positive projected job growth. Their field should grow 24 percent through the year 2024. New models of employment may develop such as part-time paid paramedics in rural areas. As the population in the United States ages, more people may need medical attention in the events of age-related illnesses such as heart attack and stroke.
Some paramedics complete additional schooling to become nurses or physician assistants. However, if someone stays in the role of a paramedic there is not a huge opportunity for advancement. According to the job description, a paramedic could be promoted to head paramedic. The 10th percentile of paramedics and EMTs earn $21,240 and the 90th percentile earn $56,310.
Conclusion
A paramedic job description shows that they are often the first medical help in the event of an emergency. Thus, they have a tremendous amount of responsibility in assessing the situation, communicating with the hospital, and providing the initial medical treatment. They have a modest pay, especially for the time investment to become an EMT or paramedic. However, the paramedic job growth of 24 percent is fantastic news. If working in the health care industry is something you wish to do, you can also consider the position of a registered nurse.