Creating a Career Road Map

     In the workplace, you will find that many jobs have a well-defined career plan. There are certain knowledge and education requirements that need to be met in order to advance, and a light at the end of the tunnel in regard to where you can expect your working life to go. Not so in EMS.

     As some of the recent articles we have published about EMS recruitment have shown, many medics feel frustrated about the lack of such a plan, where essentially you are left to your own devices to formulate a road map for your working life, and that even if you do create one, there may not be the facilities for you to put it into place. Not only does this situation drive away good staff, but it may even prevent talented folks from joining the profession.

     Myriad system delivery models, a lack of political representation and no national identity have all been thrown into the mix as reasons behind this situation. While undoubtedly there are more options these days in terms of higher education for providers, what happens after you have added those letters behind your name? Once it is on your resume, will you be able to secure the job of your dreams? And what exactly does that mean in EMS?

     In Preparing for Supervision on page 40, Paul Ganss offers advice for medics making the move upward. In EMS, the folks often promoted are the ones with the best clinical skills, but just because you're an ace with an ET tube, there's no guarantee that will make you an ace in the EMS boardroom.

     Ganss encourages folks to assess themselves and their organization to find out whether it's a good fit. Ask yourself if you have the managerial qualities your agency embraces and if you believe in what your agency embodies. As with all fields, knowledge is key, says Ganss. There are certain skills that are essential as you develop your career, such as organization, communications and financial planning. Both formal and informal education can assist you in developing these abilities. You wouldn't go into the field without all your equipment, so don't go into the next phase of your working life unprepared.