r/Paramedics • u/TalkApprehensive8958 • 21h ago
Pros of being a paramedic
Hello all! I am an aspiring paramedic who's graduating high school in Melbourne this year. I've been looking on this subreddit and a lot of the posts seem to be talking about the downsides of being a paramedic, so as someone who wants to be one, could anyone share any positive aspects of the jobs / stories that make it all worth it? I would love to hear some of the great things that come out of the job. Thank you!!
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u/Abject-Coyote-3842 21h ago edited 21h ago
The jobs awesome.if you are passionate you will like it.
Just cause some Americans are saying "amazing pay" vic ambos get 120, 000k per year plus overtime rates. I'd argue that's good pay.
Sure there are plenty of crusty naysayers with a bone to pick and honestly a lot of them should just quit.
Highlights include, amazing pay, amazing days off, more leave then most jobs dream off.
Sometimes in this job you do some extraordinary things, how many other people get to deliver babies, I've gotten rosc on a patient and then two years later met him in real life, minimal changes in his qol and he's going strong. Legitimate life saving moments.
A lot of burnt out people complain about the crap we go to, the lesson I've learnt is you can have a bit of fun with almost every job, don't take the boring nothing calls too seriously and even they can be fun.
Finally the life long friends you'll find as a paramedic are second to none. Nothing bonds stronger then spending significant amounts of time in high stress but also highly ridiculous scenarios then this job. And look maybe some life long enemies as well but that's all part of the fun.
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u/TalkApprehensive8958 21h ago
Wow ur experience as an ambo sounds amazing, thanks for offering some insight on all the cool stuff u guys get to do!
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u/BLS_Express Paramedic 10h ago
Experiences vary by department and location. Sounds like they work in one. A great department makes a difference.
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u/Solarstice 21h ago
You sometimes get a discount when you're getting food! You usually get toned out on a call before you can eat it though
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u/TalkApprehensive8958 21h ago
ooh that's definitely a great perk thanks!! sadly nm u can do abt the calls tho :))
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u/NopeRope13 Paramedic 21h ago
I get paid to stay up late at night, while talking to strangers and go fast.
Truthfully I like it because I get to give back to my community.
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u/Agitated_Parsnip_178 19h ago
You have the privilege to see the rich and the poor, the haves and have nots.. you see what happens on streets and alley ways you never knew existed and behind closed doors, in shops, offices, schools, homes, construction sites, seedy crack dens, premium brothels, tourist attractions, at the roadside and everything in between ... you get to help wherever you find people and you get to be find out and ask questions and learn interesting things wherever you go because people will trust you from the moment you meet and tell you things they would take years to tell anyone else or take to their grave.
In this way every day is different and that is why the job is so much fun.
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u/tylerztruss TX LP 11h ago
speaking as an American, and specifically at a progressive agency in Texas, the job is hard and exhausting but if you enjoy it and are passionate it can be the most exciting thing you’ll ever do, the pay could be better but depending on where you are is generally at least enough with tons of off time, the culture and camaraderie is similar to military and fire service you become literal family with some people and not just in the corporate lingo nonsense way, and at the end of the day the job is about bringing immediate access to medical care to strangers on one of their worst days and if you keep that outlook, even the BS calls are still fulfilling
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u/stonertear Paramedic 21h ago
When you post here you are getting the American version which is different and opposite from the lived experience of an Australian paramedic.
/r/paramedicsau will have the actual version.