Emt Blood, Sweat, and Tears (and by blood, I mean vomit)
So, after over a year of fighting and struggling to get into an EMT course, the day has come. I am nationally certified! Months of studying and sweating and freaking out have finally paid off. Last month saw me freaking out in Des Moines while I took my practical skills test. At least I wasn't the only one puking over it. I think I may have deafened the poor guy who told me my results. I was the only person to completely pass the first try! I was dumbfounded, especially since I ran out of time on the trauma skill. It was a tough scenario though. I feel bad for the people who went through what they did earlier, only to realize they tilted the head on a patient with suspected spinal injury, or didn't fasten the patient to the board tight enough because the board was upside down, or forgot to ask if the patient had any allergies and thus completely missed anaphylactic shock. I feel even worse for the people who missed too many skills, and had to leave because they had to retake all the skills.
Anyways, yesterday I trooped down to Fort Dodge to Iowa Central Community College for my big knowledge test. That's two hours, 70-120 questions, difficult trick questions, and a lot of sweating. They do not fool around with those tests. I had to have two forms of ID, check in and check out, have my picture taken, stick my stuff in a locker, the whole nine yards. No bags, jewelry, electronics, coats, absolutely nothing goes in with you. I guess in some facilities they'll do a palm scan or fingerprint you. You're supposed to get there half an hour early for this rigamarole, and the test is scheduled at 1:45 but I'm checked in at 1:10. So, I'm there, taking my test, when the screen completely changes. I've finished the test. I'm completely gobsmacked. I'd gotten maybe 70 questions. The test cost $70. That's a dollar a question. So, I end the test, walk out, grab my stuff, and check out at 1:50. It took me longer to drive down there than it did to take the test.
Also, maybe because our instructor had us use FISDAP exams, I thought the NREMT exam was easy. There were a few questions I eyed skeptically, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had been led to believe. The FISDAP exams were ridiculously difficult in comparison. I had more trouble with our class final than this exam. Seriously.
Anyways, I looked today, and boom! Nationally certified! Now to figure out this state certifiation thing...
Anyways, yesterday I trooped down to Fort Dodge to Iowa Central Community College for my big knowledge test. That's two hours, 70-120 questions, difficult trick questions, and a lot of sweating. They do not fool around with those tests. I had to have two forms of ID, check in and check out, have my picture taken, stick my stuff in a locker, the whole nine yards. No bags, jewelry, electronics, coats, absolutely nothing goes in with you. I guess in some facilities they'll do a palm scan or fingerprint you. You're supposed to get there half an hour early for this rigamarole, and the test is scheduled at 1:45 but I'm checked in at 1:10. So, I'm there, taking my test, when the screen completely changes. I've finished the test. I'm completely gobsmacked. I'd gotten maybe 70 questions. The test cost $70. That's a dollar a question. So, I end the test, walk out, grab my stuff, and check out at 1:50. It took me longer to drive down there than it did to take the test.
Also, maybe because our instructor had us use FISDAP exams, I thought the NREMT exam was easy. There were a few questions I eyed skeptically, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had been led to believe. The FISDAP exams were ridiculously difficult in comparison. I had more trouble with our class final than this exam. Seriously.
Anyways, I looked today, and boom! Nationally certified! Now to figure out this state certifiation thing...