The kind of work that emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics need to handle on a regular basis is not just hard, it’s also extremely demanding and stressful. It’s true that emergency responders save lives on a regular basis, but every busy night takes a toll on them. Consequently, EMTs and paramedics often retire early to preserve both their own wellbeing, as well as to ensure that they are never lacking when someone needs saving.
However, retirement for an emergency medical worker does not usually mean they are stepping out of the professional world as a whole. It simply means they will no longer be working as an EMT or a paramedic. They are still left with plenty of other career options directly and indirectly related to the healthcare industry. Up next, we are going to take a quick look through some of those options.
Teaching and Training Future Paramedics and EMTs
The role, impact, and importance of teachers in any professional or academic field is always tremendous, but it gains that extra level of importance when you are teaching people to save lives amidst the most chaotic of situations. Therefore, one of the best alternative career paths that paramedic and EMT trainers can take is that of becoming a teacher, aka a paramedic/EMT instructor.
Arguably, there is no better way for an experienced emergency responder to pass on his expertise, knowledge, and wisdom than through EMT and EMR test prep. Also, it might be a better proposition from a financial standpoint as well. The average salary of a paramedic instructor is actually higher than that of the active emergency medical responders. It also opens up their career to tackling leadership roles in the healthcare chain down the line as well.
Consider Becoming a Private Medic
If the stress of handling medical emergencies on a consistent basis feels like something that you don’t wish to continue doing anymore, there is a calmer career path that you can take up instead. In fact, you don’t even need to have vast experience as a field medic to become a private medic, or contract medic. As long as you are a qualified, trained, and certified medic, you already meet the requirements to get the job. That is of course because you will still be working as an emergency medic, so it’s technically the same job, but with nowhere near as much stress.
Instead of working as an emergency medical responder to 911 calls, you will now be working for private establishments under a limited/long term contract. The list of private businesses that need private medics includes, but is certainly not limited to, nursing homes, hospices, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, hotels, theme parks, event management companies, event sites, large office buildings, and cruise ships to name a few. Depending on who hires you and your own qualifications, these jobs can be very lucrative from a financial standpoint.
There is Always a Need for Industrial Medics
An industrial medic is also a contract medic, but their job descriptions differ from those of the private medics. On becoming an industrial medic, you will be working at construction sites, mining sites, manufacturing plants, and the like. Industrial work sites are dangerous places and people get hurt while working almost every day.
Therefore, industrial medics must be ready to handle medical emergencies involving more serious injuries, as well as a higher frequency of incidents than what the average private medic might need to. Nevertheless, these jobs are still comparative reprieves for anyone with years of experience in emergency medical response.
Note that all of the above options and more are also open to combat medics. Combat medics have the necessary qualifications to take on any of the alternative career paths at the end of their service period, just like any other emergency medical responder.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.