EMT Certification in College for Premed?

[Anonymous]

DC earned his National Registry EMT certification in high school and is thinking about pursuing premed in college. Is EMT work considered clinical experience for med school applications? If he continues volunteering as an EMT in college, would that be enough clinical experience, or would he still need other experiences like physician shadowing? Also, how time consuming is EMT work in college? He is wondering whether it is manageable with premed classes, research, volunteering, and everything else. Should he take it slow? TIA

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know in the past and currently (about 6 students I can think of off the top of my head) in or on their way into medschool in the fall did NOT do anything emt related.

[Anonymous]

It may a good way for him to get hands-on experience, and see how he likes direct patient care.

[Anonymous]

EMT is useful to get clinical experience with the caveat that beginning EMTs often just do interfacility transport, so not much arrive at scene of an accident sort of thing.

However, hospitals and clinics love to hire those with EMT certs for hands-on clinical positions.

[Anonymous]

It’s very common to do emt to get those clinical hours. Some fire stations offer free housing for emt students, might be useful.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I can tell you this: I teach med students physical exam technique in small groups (4 to 5 students), and in almost every group I have one who worked as an EMT. They ease into learning physical exam maneuvers a little more easily than their peers, but they also have to unlearn bad habits, lol.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids’ friends did her EMT certification in high school and just finished her 4 years of med school. She matched her top choice for internship/residency. To me it sounded like the EMT thing helped her with med school admissions. She also did clerical work at a hospital at some point prior to admission.

[Anonymous]

I know MANY Virginia MDs who started by working on their local (VA) volunteer rescue squad in HS. At least UVa and MCV consider that experience favorably in a Medical School application.

I cannot imagine any scenario where that experience would be a negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the answer to your question, but I can tell you this: I teach med students physical exam technique in small groups (4 to 5 students), and in almost every group I have one who worked as an EMT. They ease into learning physical exam maneuvers a little more easily than their peers, but they also have to unlearn bad habits, lol.

+1 same!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know in the past and currently (about 6 students I can think of off the top of my head) in or on their way into medschool in the fall did NOT do anything emt related.

My son's pediatrician conveyed that this is how he got his clinical hours for med school applications. My child plans on taking a course next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the answer to your question, but I can tell you this: I teach med students physical exam technique in small groups (4 to 5 students), and in almost every group I have one who worked as an EMT. They ease into learning physical exam maneuvers a little more easily than their peers, but they also have to unlearn bad habits, lol.

+1 same!

What bad habits?

[Anonymous]

My college student is an EMT and plans to apply to PA school. Loves being an EMT! Yes, the hours count for clinical hours.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s fine. But being a nurse assistant (CNA/PCA) is much more meaningful clinical experience and you can work PRN in college at a local hospital in pretty much any unit you want- or be be part of a float pool where they assign you to various units throughout the hospital depending on where you are needed.

The thing about EMTs is they don’t do a whole lot. It isn’t like Rescue 911. There is a lot of sitting around in parking lots and transporting people that can’t get to the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s fine. But being a nurse assistant (CNA/PCA) is much more meaningful clinical experience and you can work PRN in college at a local hospital in pretty much any unit you want- or be be part of a float pool where they assign you to various units throughout the hospital depending on where you are needed.

The thing about EMTs is they don’t do a whole lot. It isn’t like Rescue 911. There is a lot of sitting around in parking lots and transporting people that can’t get to the doctor.

If you think stabilizing patients, performing CPR, administering Narcan, performing bag-valve mask ventilation isn't doing much then I guess you are right. That is like saying CNAs change bedpans and take people to the bathroom. Medical schools value EMT work as clinical work. It requires judgment and decision making under pressure and once you are released you are the person making the call on treatment as the first line responder. You have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the answer to your question, but I can tell you this: I teach med students physical exam technique in small groups (4 to 5 students), and in almost every group I have one who worked as an EMT. They ease into learning physical exam maneuvers a little more easily than their peers, but they also have to unlearn bad habits, lol.

+1 same!

What bad habits?

Mainly short cuts with exam maneuvers. They need to learn best practices per what our faculty have deemed best practice. One example of many: They must listen to the heart with their stethoscope directly on skin -- but in real life most practitioners (EMT, MD or whatever) don't bother.