I’m a nursing student with an active EMT license in the LA area. While I don’t have extensive professional experience yet, I’ve completed volunteer hours and am eager to gain hands-on clinical experience. My goal isn’t necessarily high pay—I’m primarily looking for opportunities to learn and grow in a medical setting. I’m particularly interested in hospital or clinic-based roles rather than ambulance work, as I want to focus on gaining broader clinical exposure. Any advice?
ER tech, and maybe get a phlebotomy license
For non-Californians, only some states do those.
California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington.
Avoid IFT. 911 only. Another fantastic option is urgent cares or step down EDs attached to level I/II/III trauma centers. You will see a lot in the ED but you will be doing some menial work.
Try and find a place that allows you to: Do ortho care, assist in provider procedures, will teach you how to do IVs and also show you how to use ultrasound.
If you find an ED or UC which has specialist come into the clinic shadow them, see what they do.
Is IFT really that bad? Like you can’t gain experience from it for nursing school?
Depends on the IFT honestly. ALS ift can be a learning moment (managing a drip etc). BLS ift is a joke. Its for people who can't quite be taken by a van.
There is no "high pay" available to any EMT - just to be clear.
You should work as an ED Tech. Just apply. There's like 80 hospitals in L.A....
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ED tech!
I would try to get a part time medical assistant job (they’re hire you with an EMT). Also, IFT is super valuable experience more closely aligned with nursing settings compared to 911