What You'll Do

  • Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures.
  • Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
  • Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
  • Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
  • Comfort and reassure patients.
  • Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients' vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
  • Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
  • Instruct emergency medical response team about emergency interventions to ensure correct application of procedures.
  • Observe, record, and report to physician the patient's condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
  • Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments.

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Technologies & Tools

Apple iOS eClinicalWorks EHR software Epocrates HyperTox Informed EMS Field Guide Iterum eMedic MedDataSolutions Regist*r Medical Wizards ER & ICU ToolBox Medical Wizards ER Suite Medical Wizards Paramedics ToolBox MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft operating system Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Mosby's Drug Consult Palmtree EMS Field Reference Guide Palmtree Pocket EKG

How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Critical Care Paramedic ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic) EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic) ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic) First Responder Flight Paramedic Healthcare Specialist Medical Technician Paramedic Paramedic Specialist (PS) Rescue Worker Responder