5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Good EMS Job

I recently read a quote from Dave Ramsey that said: “If you celebrate Friday too much, it might be a sign that you need to change what you are doing Monday through Thursday.”

This really made me think about how much of our lives are spent at our jobs. Of course, the “Monday through Thursday” analogy might not apply to EMS schedules, but the context is very relevant. We easily spend a third, if not half, of our lives at work. If we’re working 24-hour shifts, then we literally live there. This is why it is so important to find a job that we actually enjoy. Sure, work is work and most of us would rather be home, but if we are going to spend a large chunk of our lives somewhere, we owe it to ourselves to make the absolute best of it.

Let’s be real here. How many of us are passionate about EMS, but can’t stand the place where we work? Life is too short for that. I understand that logistical and geographical issues come to play when selecting a job, but we still need to be happy at work. Our quality of life depends on it.

Whether you’re just getting started in EMS or you’re looking for a change, you need to evaluate some key elements of any potential employer to figure out if it’s the right fit for you.

Compensation

All EMS pay jokes aside, this is seriously something to consider. Is the pay going to meet your needs without you having to load up on overtime? Remember, when you accept a job, you’re agreeing to work for what they’re paying you. It’s now up to you to make that situation work. Take the time and do the math. Maybe it’s not exactly what you wanted, but the working conditions outweigh the compensation. Perhaps the pay is great, but the environment is undesirable. Either way, you have to decide whether or not you can live with your decision.

Does it allow you to achieve your career goals?

Look at things like future growth, financial health of the service, advancement opportunities, educational opportunities, etc. Perhaps you’re trying to go to paramedic school and there is a service that pays for your education in exchange for years of service? Maybe you have plans to further your college education and move into a management position down the road? Take these things into consideration. Any service that encourages their employees to better themselves is likely to be a place you would enjoy.

The integrity of the service

Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad apples in EMS. Many services use things like inflated billing and Medicare fraud as a business model, and that is NEVER a place you want to be. Any employer willing to violate the law or expect you to do anything unethical is a place you should avoid like the plague. Ask around to see if employees are regularly asked to modify their charts to include key phrases that aren’t 100% true in order to obtain reimbursement. That’s a huge red flag. Remember, it’s OK for your employer to expect you to include pertinent details, when those details are 100% factual. Where they cross the line is when they coach or instruct you to be dishonest. For example: Documenting a patient is bedridden when they are actually able to sit, stand or walk with or without assistance. Don’t compromise your ethics or your integrity in the name of making your employer a few extra bucks.

Do they take your needs seriously?

Just the other day I overhead an ambulance crew from a neighboring county complaining about a broken AC unit in their ambulance. When I asked them why they didn’t go out of service, they informed me that their employer considers AC a “luxury” and is very slow to fix the broken units. This is BS, plain and simple. Expecting your employees and patients to suffer in a mobile oven in the middle of North Texas in the summer is immoral. If fixing and maintaining equipment isn’t a priority of your employer, it’s time to move on. 

Is it possible to be a good practitioner and good employee at the same time?

This may sound silly but there are plenty of services out there that force you to make the decision about being a good employee or a good practitioner. Any reasonable employer is going to support you doing what’s right for your patients. Holding you to a strict black-and-white protocol (or policy manual) and not allowing you to use your skills, knowledge and judgement to make a decision is a recipe for bad medicine. While budgets are always going to a major concern, it shouldn’t be your concern. A good employer is going to give you the tools and the means to provide the best patient care you can while they figure out the logistics of keeping the lights on.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you and your family. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to everyone’s problems, but there is always a choice. If you are in a position where you are unhappy with your job (or your life), take a look around and see what can be improved. Consider things like relocation, switching services, etc. Life is too short to spend at a bad job.