Volunteer Vs. Paid HCE

[Teacher2PAC]

I think this topic has been spoken about before, but I would like to get some thoughts on my particular situation.

 

I work as a teacher full-time, and the only healthcare I can get is volunteer. I think it is good quality health care experience as I am an EMT-B and also scribe and interpret in a free clinic. Does anyone know if schools prefer paid or volunteer experiences? Would I be at a disadvantage with this experience? 

 

Thank you for the advice!

[db_pavnp]

Paid HCE is the norm, but if you are functioning as an EMT-B and a scribe and simply not getting paid for it, only an idiot would give you a hard time over it.  The subliving wage scribes and EMT's get paid around me makes the money pointless, anyway.  If you get delayed a year because you aren't being paid, I would think your experience will leverage you into a paying PRN position easily enough for next cycle.  Again, if you truly have EMT and scribe duties, the fact you aren't bringing home $4/hr after taxes should be meaningless.

 

Find a way to get paid in soda or PENNIES and call it paid.

[EMEDPA]

Paid is generally better than volunteer, BUT what you describe should count. It might be hard to get 1000 hrs +(the threshold for many programs) though if you are only doing it a few hrs/week

Some ER tech jobs actually pay a reasonable wage. Our techs make in the $15-22/hr range and are required to be either EMT-B +CNA or LPN. We don't use medics in our ED( guess who hires for tech positions? yup, nursing supervisors), although they would certainly be overqualified. Other local EDs do.

[Teacher2PAC]

Thank you, I really appreciate your responses. I am able to ride 12-16 hours a week because I do weekend duty when I can, and summers help too (although I teach summer school during the day).  

 

Hahaha, I have thought about getting paid in soda and pennies before. I will see what I can do, hopefully, the hours will count for something. In truth, my experiences have been wonderful for both volunteer positions, I feel like they are equal to any paid ones.

 

Honestly, I do not mind doing this work for free as long as it fits my schedule. I will see if I can get a paid HCE, that will be a little flexible with my current teaching job. Teaching is great and there are a few students I am still trying to see through, which is another reason I cannot complete leave it for a paid HCE.

[fakingpatience]

I have seen schools making exceptions to the paid HCE requirement for EMT jobs, since some areas don't have paid EMS.  

[rev ronin]

Unpaid, certified work  > paid, un-certified work in many AdComs' minds.