NREMT, werd

[Max Gosey]

I have to get up in 3 1/2 hours to go test for National Registry (EMT-B, that is).

A long day? Yes. Much relieved when it's over? Yes. In a damned cast to take the test? But of course...

Stand by for details regarding a moderately significant day...

[summit]

The NR test is a load of annoyance as we discussed.

Good luck!!!

[Rippinsick]

Good Luck young Max! The force will be with you!

[bdog]

You will do well Max. Peace.

[Trackhead]

Good luck, you'll smoke it.

As Summit said, the NREMT and NREMT-P tests are painful loads of crap. But ya gotta do take 'em anyway.

[bigsugar]

Yeah those tests are a pain in the ass...........you're a smart guy though, you'll do fine.

[bossass]

What's a NMERTGF93B test and why would someone, let's say Max, take it?

[bigsugar]

NREMT= National Registry or Emergency Medical Technicians.

Most states require it as a test to obtain a state license.

I am assuming young Max wants to be an EMT-B. The B is for Basic.

[bossass]

Copy that.

[Max Gosey]

Damn. A lot of support... Thanks, guys.

Well today's motto: "Know when to joke and when to shut the hell up."

That said, here are the scores.

Practicals: 6 for 6.
Written: harder than anticipated, but expecting in the low 80's. We'll find out in 3 weeks or so...

The breakdown (for the EMT savvy):

Took practicals first to get them out of the way. Was shaking like Janet Reno to begin with... took medical (cardiac, ha!) first, no problems at all. Then AED, fumbled a little at the end but again no problems. Trauma was next. Flirted with the time limit but got in every point. They switched up the trio of stations and then I did apneic first and learned that those people have almost zero sense of humor--"BSI, open the airway, insert wintergreen mint for pleasantries, insert OPA..." I reconsidered it and realized how truly moronic that was after I was out the door already and swore they were going to fail me. After that was random (bleeding and shock, ha again!) and then spine (longboard). Random was no problem 'tall but I tried to help the patient out of the board after I had stated "done" and they flipped out... Kinda loosened a strap in the process.

Maybe a little too much detail, but that's how it went down.

I had studied a lot for the written and anticipated about a 55-minute finish for 150 questions (it took me nearer to an hour and a half). Almost ALL ambiguous airway and shock questions. Don't think I did as hot as I would have liked.

Then Chinese buffet. Played the "wonder what this pastry will taste like" dessert game and snacked on some pretty iffy sushi. It was a good day.

BTW, the rest of my class kicked ass. Out of 108 total stations (6 per person) only 6 were failed. Noice, men.

[Trackhead]

Almost ALL ambiguous airway and shock questions. Don't think I did as hot as I would have liked.

When it took the B and P written tests, I couldn't tell if I passed or failed. They are weird that way. Ambiguity is the name of the game. The 'most right' answer seems to be how they are worded. You definitely can't read too much into them.

[natty dread]

NR exams (and state exams) can be a little nerve wracking, especially when you're right out of school with little field experience. Once you're out there doing it for a while, they get easier and easier and you can be more of a slacker in studying for them. Reminds me, I better hit the books a little, got my recert coming up soon and PALS recert in a week...

Nice work max. Never woulda guessed you'd talk too much. Even you should know better than to joke around with NR examiners.

[Max Gosey]

Hey... it's what I do. They don't call me dumbass for nothin!

[summit]

Good work!

Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for 6-8 weeks while you wait for the NR to spend 30seconds putting it into the scantron. Incompetent inefficient uncaring grrrrr...

Get as much of your state shit taken care of now. NR is a long enough delay.

[Mountainman]

Good work!

Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for 6-8 weeks while you wait for the NR to spend 30seconds putting it into the scantron. Incompetent inefficient uncaring grrrrr...

Get as much of your state shit taken care of now. NR is a long enough delay.

Most people i know it took 3 weeks to get theirs back.

[Trackhead]

Just hope you get the 'big envelope' in your mailbox, not the little one.

[Trackhead]

The silly thing about the NR is it basically means crap. You still usually have to take state tests to work in other states. I wish they would phase out state tests and just have the NR be nationwide for certification. Maybe in the future.

[bigsugar]

My NR took about 5 weeks to get back.

I got an 87 on the written, which I was pretty happy with.

This time next year I'll be doing the P test, which should be fun .

Nice job on the mints Max......I should've thought of that, my combitube guy was real friendly and laid back. All the other guys were stern as hell though.

[Max Gosey]

How could they not like the "wintergreen mint for pleasantries"??

Most of them have about as much sense of humor as the manequin on the floor... But I think I laughed enough for all of us.

Hey I heard a P from Vail county talking about an accelerated paramedic program where you can get your license in like 4 or 5 months or something. He didn't give much detail when I overheard it and I was wondering if you guys knew anything about that...

[zion zig zag]

I would think you could go medic in 4-5 months if you had the prereqs out of the way and you were'nt doing much else. I know that in UT there are quite a few hours of clinicals you have to attend.

I love having medic students on the ambulance with me, always a source of entertainment. The one I remember in particular is the student that asked for 4cc's of O2. My partner, knowing full well he meant 4L/min. grabbed a 10cc syringe and sucked up 4cc off the O2 tree and handed it to him.

[Max Gosey]

I love having medic students on the ambulance with me, always a source of entertainment. The one I remember in particular is the student that asked for 4cc's of O2. My partner, knowing full well he meant 4L/min. grabbed a 10cc syringe and sucked up 4cc off the O2 tree and handed it to him.

Classic. I can't wait to be the butt of the joke...

[Trackhead]

I would think you could go medic in 4-5 months if you had the prereqs out of the way and you were'nt doing much else. I know that in UT there are quite a few hours of clinicals you have to attend.

I think the new medic national standard is 1.5 years minimum. I did mine in 8 months in 1995, but I think the curriculum has changed.

I dropped my medic cert a few years ago. Didn't feel like forking the dough for the continuing ed. etc.

[Max Gosey]

Dammit. Well there goes that idea...


Does EMT-I exist in CO? (that was my next plan... I'd like to get a jarb in a fairly saturated market without having to perform sexual favors for whoever hires...)

[summit]

Most of them have about as much sense of humor as the manequin on the floor... But I think I laughed enough for all of us.

Hey I heard a P from Vail county talking about an accelerated paramedic program where you can get your license in like 4 or 5 months or something. He didn't give much detail when I overheard it and I was wondering if you guys knew anything about that...

Saint Anthonys Central in Denver (Centura Health) has an accelerated Paramedic program (~6 months IIRC including A&P). It will be the ONLY thing in your life during that time.

There is a new 1 Year Paramedic program at CMC-Edwards in Eagle County.

There is I in CO. Don't bother with the EMT-I thing (no offense to any EMT-I). Mostly, around here, only rural areas and some semirural FDs are interested in I's. P is a much better choice. There has even been talk of eliminating the the I level.

[Trackhead]

Max,

What do you want to do? Be a medic on an ambo, work fire? Both?