1emt2PA Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Am i crazy to think I can pick up a few per diem medic shifts while in PA school? I also work on contract for FEMA to teach ICS classes and will probably be asked to teach a few of those during the year too. keep in mind the medic shifts could be nights, weekends, holidays, ect. My goal is to not have any cost of living loans. So with money saved up plus some supplement here and there. Have any of you done this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHAD Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 In my opinion, yes, it is crazy to try and work during PA school. I know of a few that do, but they are the MINORITY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkertdm Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 One of my friends in my class does paramedic shifts on the weekends. It's possible. Advise it? Nope. But you gotta go what you gotta do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajnelson Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 If you would be working per diem, you can pick up shifts if and when you want them. While I was in PA school, I knew my schedule ahead of time, and only picked up shifts when I could (I worked about one 12 hr shift/week). Even though I am crazy and have always worked and gone to school, I could only do this for 2 reasons, a. I worked during a fairly slow shift and was able to do homework while I was at work and b. I chose the days and shifts, and was able to work as much or as little as I wanted. Don't over exert yourself while in school, if you find your studies slipping, a little extra loan for living expenses is much less than having to repeat a full year of PA school... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Crazy? Perhaps... but probably not impossible... Are you open to other options? I knocked down half a shift at the school library every Sunday afternoon for extra coin... it wasn't much but it supplemented the food budget nicely. Also: Sundays are slow, not many patrons, most want to be left alone. I studied the whole time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jen0508 Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 i know a couple ppl in PA school that work... one does 1 day a weekend, and another does sat and sun every other weekend. They seem to be doing just fine. If you spend every waking minute every weekend studying you will drive yourself crazy. Just know that ur probably using up what little free time you have to work, which means less free time for other (more fun ) things :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michell Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I am going to start a PA program next month and I am going to try to work. I have a different situation though. I currently live in North Carolina and own a business here. My program is in Virginia and is about 5 hours away from where I live in North Carolina. I was planning on shutting my business down to go to school, but just changed my mind and hired some people to work at my store while I go to school in VA. I will be working online mostly since I do have an online store as well as a storefront in NC. I was really hesitant at the idea of trusting other people to run my business while I go to school, but I will give it a try. If it does not work out, I always have an option to shut my business down until I finish school. You can always try to work to see how you adjust to it. If you can not handle it, focus on PA school, but at least you did give it a try. The good thing is that you do have options and choices:) Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA-sal Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Whilst in PA school I worked as a physical therapist assistant on weekends, and during the week during break. It was no problem and still graduated on top of the class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docazer Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Schedule during rotations can be very unpredictable. Talk to students ahead of you for advice on what you are getting into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain1028 Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 You ain't working trust me. Two people in my class worked. 1) Evan, he worked 5 hours a weekend in the library 2) Another guy worked at the campus security desk a few hours on the weekend. And they could study while working. You most like are not working. Don't plan on it. But everyone is different of course. Just experiences from my class. Oh, I worked one 12 hour shift as a RT during the whole program while on Winter Break, and it totally sucked and only did it once..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 I worked a little during breaks, but it kind of sucks because I never got down time and I miss down time. Looking forward to when my breaks are breaks and working is working. If you don't have to, I would recommend not. Do you have a minimum # of hours you have to work on per diem to remain an employee? If not, then working once in a blue moon may not be so bad, but if you have to get in so many hours/month, that may be more stress than it is worth. The FEMA stuff should not be either, the wonders of contract working- provided you time it right with your school schedule. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdn PA Student Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I worked 12 hrs a week during my didactic year. It was REALLY busy... but I managed. It was doable for a year, but I don't think I could keep it up longer than a year, and I don't think I could do it in clerkship. There was one other student in my class of 24 that worked - she was a paramedic and took 1-2 12 hour shifts every weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 yes I think its crazy (prob doable but not advisable). I just finished a 9 hour shift in my Hepatology/GI in pt. rotations and now studying up for my presentation during rounds tomorrow to my attending. I will probably need another 4 hours to do this! I thought I can work in fact i promised my wife i would find a job once i started clinical-it has been 8 months and I haven't even filled out that starbuck's app yet-something my wife won't live down :0( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mednut83 Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 Oh my gosh, I couldn't imagine working, especially during the first quarter when we were taking anatomy! Now into the second quarter, I could see MAYBE squeezing in a few hours here and there of work if really needed, but I think with how hard we work, I would rather sacrifice a few extra bucks to just sit and do nothing and rest my brain. :) The amount of free time in PA school is slim to none, so you really learn to appreciate it and use it wisely when it comes around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted September 24, 2010 Moderator Share Posted September 24, 2010 I did a 3 yr part time program and worked the first 2 yrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainah Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 I got lucky and got a job that pays while I'm in class :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_me Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 am I the only one looking forward to NOT working......just knowing that I could spend that time learning, sleeping or otherwise having a life is enticing. I have spent the last 4 years in school full time, working full time and being a single mom full time. Once Im in a program my daughter will be with her grandmother, I wont have to work and all I have to do is pass beautiful..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkertdm Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 I've been non stop since I was 17- and I'm now 37. I feel funny if I'm not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acozadd Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 am I the only one looking forward to NOT working......just knowing that I could spend that time learning, sleeping or otherwise having a life is enticing. Don't plan on getting too much of an opportunity to enjoy #2 and #3 in that list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdime00 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I've worked 4-6 8 hour shifts in x-ray every month since starting my program and have had no issues what so ever keeping up. I think it depends on the person, program and job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Drove three hours home every weekend and spent the time with my family, not studying the entire didactic year on weekends....sorta. Come Sunday evening I would dig in a bit as tests were on Mondays. If I had no family I could have easily pulled a 24 hour shift every Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 In all honesty loans for living expenses are nothing compared to everything else. It's probably the least amount of money you'd spend while in school and what you'd be able to pay off the fastest after graduation (if you divided the loan into parts that is). Enjoy free time with with friends, not working, or you'd be miserable. Medic shifts are very tiring too if you have to get up at night. You will be useless the day after the shift, but you already know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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