My name is Derek Hunt. I have been a paramedic for 8 years and am currently a CCEMT-P who is preparing for the FP-C exam next month. I have been reading input from everyone regarding the RN bridge program and i sensitive nerve of mine was struck. I think it is great that we have a forum like this and everyone i read from and reads these postings are clearly above and beyond the average paramedic. There is a great discrimination towards paramedics in this country and I think now is the time for change. For our level of education we are the paid the worst and work the most. They tell me that flight medics and RN do the same job, that they are interchangeable then why do the RN's make significantly more? there is a shortage of ER nurses so they institute LPN's in the ER. I asked the ER director why not paramedics? She told me LPN's were better trained. Not to be arrogant, but I will bet that I know much more than LPN when it comes to emergency medicine. I have been looking for a flight medic position, but before I can apply I have to consider how long it will take me to get certified for that state, or even that county. Why must we have a separate cert to move to another state? especially another county! It is not like I am from another country. The nurses standardized their profession through time and are now allotted a baseline when it comes to work conditions, salary, etc. I have heard people say that Paramedics aren't standardized due to the young age of this profession, that too many of us are firefighters, and that the is no way to join all of us. I hope that is sparks some interest in you people out there. We need someone to organize us together and lobby Washington to bring us up where we rightfully belong. I look forward to hearing from everyone and seeing what you all think about this. Fly safely!
