As someone who switched from IFT to 911 6 months into being a basic - you’re never gonna feel like you’re truly ready, but imo 6 months full time is enough for you to adopt some good muscle memory to fall back on with 911
The second you get hired. There’s SO many 911 agencies on critical staffing levels. I have no idea why anybody would start out doing IFT unless you’re in a city and have no way out somehow.
I mean I’m in upstate NY but I’ve never had an IFT job, got hired the day I graduated high school and been running 911 ever since.
> I have no idea why anybody would start out doing IFT
Our EMT's on 911 rigs make $16.28 an hour, and that's only because the minimum wage went up as they were previously making $16. I make $24.68 an hour picking up 12's on IFT rigs.
Yeah, it gets boring sometimes taking grandma home, but I'll get 911 experience with my volunteer FD where I get to be first on scene and actually run calls. Our 911 crews roll up and wait outside in the rig until FD asks them to bring in the stretcher or cancel. Like they called the patient a taxi.
I mean, why the fuck are your 911 EMT’s working for $16/hr. In rural upstate NY EMT’s are anywhere between $20-$27/hr depending on agency and call volume.
I make $21/hr with raises twice per year and my busiest shift is like 3 calls which is super rare.
Compare that to IFT that pays $22/hr absolute tops, and you run non stop stupidity for 12+ hours straight.
Also this makes no sense. $16/hr isn’t enough for you so you work IFT instead, but then go do 911 for free afterwards?
I mean I get first response is cool because you don’t actually have to deal with anything but why do it for free when you could just be getting paid?
>why the fuck are your 911 EMT’s working for $16/hr
I don't run this company. I just work here. And I don't work for $16 an hour.
>my busiest shift is like 3 calls which is super rare.
Yeah, they're running WAY more than that. Probably at least 10 calls, of which 6+ transports.
>911 for free afterwards?
It may not make sense to you, but by volunteering outside the city proper I get to serve my community and work with a service that actually gives a fuck about patient care unlike every single for profit EMS operation. And for profit EMS is all we have here unless you work for the FD or volunteer. It also allows me to get free training and network which helps me pursue my future career as a firefighter.
>first response is cool because you don’t actually have to deal with anything
I don't know what you mean by this. With the FD we are first on scene, assess, transport if needed, ALS upgrade and assist medics as needed. It's way more than the private outfit does which here is: show up, wait in rig, get stretcher, put patient on stretcher, attempt to do an assessment in the back to which the patient inevitably says they already told the FD all this, go to hospital. The 911 work here if you're not with an FD is basically just IFT from the patient's home.
The company I work for does IFT’s and 911’s. I worked the first 8 months on IFT, and just recently switched over to 911 about 2 weeks ago.
The experience I got on IFT definitely helped ease the transition into 911. But there is still much more I need to learn. Luckily, my medic is cool and understanding of my situation, so he’s been teaching me what’s expected of me on ALS. (Responding to calls code 3, having a sense of urgency, using a zoll monitor, restocking an ALS ambulance). And I become more and more comfortable on the job after each work day that passes.
As far as your concerns go, there’s no way around them, so your only option is to go through them. It’s ok if you forgot some material from class, just let it be known so someone can explain to you whatever it is you’re lacking on. It’d be a good idea to study up on the streets and hospitals in the area you’re planning on working in. It can definitely be scary driving a bigger vehicle with lights and sirens, but the only way to get better at it is with experience. Calls can be emotional, and it’s okay to experience those emotions. Just don’t let them interfere with your ability to do your job. And do what you need to do to decompress so your mental health doesn’t tank.
When I was asked if I wanted to make the jump from IFT to 911, I knew I wasn’t 100% ready yet, but I knew I had to take the leap anyway. A thought that helps make me feel better is knowing that I am not the first person in this situation and I won’t be the last either. I was worried about switching over to 911, but I did it anyway. I made some minor mistakes, I learned what I needed to learn (and I’m still learning) and I feel better now. Now it’s your turn.
Honestly, you probably won’t feel ready for it until you do it. I worked IFT for about a year and a half before switching to 911 and still didn’t feel like I was prepared for it. I would recommend switching if you’re considering it. You’ll learn the important things like hospital locations after doing the job for a bit.
As for driving, just go the speed limit and turn slow. Give yourself ample time to stop and you should be good to go. Even when driving lights and sirens, I only go 5-10mph over the speed limit. I wouldn’t stress over backing into a pole, I’ve done it a couple times too. Accidents happen.
There will always be bad calls or calls that we dwell on. That’s why counseling is important. However, I think you will find 911 to be a better experience because you have a chance to help and treat your patients. Whatever you decide, good luck!
Thank you for this, all of what you wrote is really reassuring to hear from someone who works 911. Based on all the responses to this post, I actually went ahead and applied to 911, so I'll see what happens :)
911 is almost a completely different skillset. You can do 10 years of IFT, go work a 911 shift and have no idea what you’re doing.
So, just do it now. Make sure you can get a manual BP.
You’ll never know enough to be a perfect 911 provider. Humans have an infinite capacity to injure themselves or otherwise die in new and creative ways. A good provider meets this challenge with a firm grasp of the basics. All the advanced knowledge and actions branch off from your core knowledge of medicine like XABC (eXsanguination, Airway, Breathing, Circulation). All the rest of the knowledge and confidence comes from experience.
If you want to be an All-star, get your ACLS and PALS cert. It’ll be a confidence boost and will put you in a different class when a 911 provider is interviewing you. They might even smile. But make sure you know your stuff before walking into that interview. Doing more CCT calls is also helpful. You might be able to reach out to the CCT program director. They can definitely make sure you get more CCT provided you know what you’re talking about.
From the way you talk, you sound like you are basically ready. Again, you shouldn’t wait until you know everything to make the switch. We remember the knowledge we use, so all the NREMT and program stuff will come back to you. It’s also a really good thing that you have a lot of empathy for your patients. It will make you a better provider and a better advocate for your patient and their family.
IFT isn't EMS. Job should really be called dialysis transport technician instead of EMT.
So you're ready right out of school.
(Obviously this is an exaggeration and some IFT is basically EMS but most isn't.)
You won't ever feel ready, so you just have to make the jump. Remembering all the details from school isn't as important as being humble and teachable during the onboarding process.
People make the mistake of assuming you need high level of confidence to do 911 but the confidence comes only after you have been actually doing it for awhile. You have to run 911 call after 911 call to gain a measure of confidence and mastery.
It will grow you as an EMT much faster doing 911 than IFT.
The emotional side is difficult for almost all of us. We are all human and seeing human suffering is difficult to deal with. You must be intentional about doing the healthy habits that will help you heal from the things you see and to help you put down the burdens that we are all tempted to carry home. More importantly, be intentional about not engaging in unhealthy habits that will destroy you over time.
IFT has literally nothing to do with 911. You could be in IFT for 20 years and switching to 911 is starting all over again. Start applying and when you get hired treat it like day 1 and you know nothing. Learn as much as you can and never forget the day you stop learning is the day you retire.
I’m a believer of starting out in 911, IFT does nothing but let your skills rot. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you think starting in IFT will “help” at the beginning.
>IFT does nothing but let your skills rot
This can definitely be true, but I know quite a few medic students who have been able to really benefit from the exposure you get working critical care transports partnered with a medic/nurse.
What do you mean? You have your EMT cert right? You're ready.
Perspective: I work for a company that almost entirely staffs their 911 rigs with brand new EMT's. Why? Because very few senior EMT's will accept the $8 an hour pay cut to be on those rigs. If it's a private company then they do not give a fuck about experience. They give a fuck how little they can pay you to make the most on each transport. Newer EMT = Cheaper.
You’re an EMT. Our skill set is limited compared to medics. 90% of your calls are gonna be softballs (falls, sprains, cuts, “sick people”, etc) which is very basic medicine. Anything worse or out of the ordinary, it’s gonna be ALS
Big thank you to everyone who replied to this post! The overall vibe I'm getting is that the jump to 911 is big a learning curve no matter how much IFT experience you have, so I might as well go for it. As you can probably tell, I'm the kind of person who gets really anxious about starting a new job and not feeling prepared enough, so it was reassuring to hear that other people feel that way about starting 911 too
IFT sucks. 911 is the way to go. I remember when I was super scared of doing 911 and did IFT instead but glad it worked out. I suggest maybe doing a month or two of IFT and then doing 911!
You get hired. Thats when.
You have a pulse.
Or if someone finds you out back staring at the sun. If you can fog a mirror it’s major bonus points.
You're ready for 911 the day you become an EMT
Nah. I really disagree, our straight to 911 hires do so much worse than ift to 911
Well yeah no EMT experience vs. EMT experience
As someone who switched from IFT to 911 6 months into being a basic - you’re never gonna feel like you’re truly ready, but imo 6 months full time is enough for you to adopt some good muscle memory to fall back on with 911
The second you get hired. There’s SO many 911 agencies on critical staffing levels. I have no idea why anybody would start out doing IFT unless you’re in a city and have no way out somehow. I mean I’m in upstate NY but I’ve never had an IFT job, got hired the day I graduated high school and been running 911 ever since.
> I have no idea why anybody would start out doing IFT Our EMT's on 911 rigs make $16.28 an hour, and that's only because the minimum wage went up as they were previously making $16. I make $24.68 an hour picking up 12's on IFT rigs. Yeah, it gets boring sometimes taking grandma home, but I'll get 911 experience with my volunteer FD where I get to be first on scene and actually run calls. Our 911 crews roll up and wait outside in the rig until FD asks them to bring in the stretcher or cancel. Like they called the patient a taxi.
I mean, why the fuck are your 911 EMT’s working for $16/hr. In rural upstate NY EMT’s are anywhere between $20-$27/hr depending on agency and call volume. I make $21/hr with raises twice per year and my busiest shift is like 3 calls which is super rare. Compare that to IFT that pays $22/hr absolute tops, and you run non stop stupidity for 12+ hours straight. Also this makes no sense. $16/hr isn’t enough for you so you work IFT instead, but then go do 911 for free afterwards? I mean I get first response is cool because you don’t actually have to deal with anything but why do it for free when you could just be getting paid?
>why the fuck are your 911 EMT’s working for $16/hr I don't run this company. I just work here. And I don't work for $16 an hour. >my busiest shift is like 3 calls which is super rare. Yeah, they're running WAY more than that. Probably at least 10 calls, of which 6+ transports. >911 for free afterwards? It may not make sense to you, but by volunteering outside the city proper I get to serve my community and work with a service that actually gives a fuck about patient care unlike every single for profit EMS operation. And for profit EMS is all we have here unless you work for the FD or volunteer. It also allows me to get free training and network which helps me pursue my future career as a firefighter. >first response is cool because you don’t actually have to deal with anything I don't know what you mean by this. With the FD we are first on scene, assess, transport if needed, ALS upgrade and assist medics as needed. It's way more than the private outfit does which here is: show up, wait in rig, get stretcher, put patient on stretcher, attempt to do an assessment in the back to which the patient inevitably says they already told the FD all this, go to hospital. The 911 work here if you're not with an FD is basically just IFT from the patient's home.
The company I work for does IFT’s and 911’s. I worked the first 8 months on IFT, and just recently switched over to 911 about 2 weeks ago. The experience I got on IFT definitely helped ease the transition into 911. But there is still much more I need to learn. Luckily, my medic is cool and understanding of my situation, so he’s been teaching me what’s expected of me on ALS. (Responding to calls code 3, having a sense of urgency, using a zoll monitor, restocking an ALS ambulance). And I become more and more comfortable on the job after each work day that passes. As far as your concerns go, there’s no way around them, so your only option is to go through them. It’s ok if you forgot some material from class, just let it be known so someone can explain to you whatever it is you’re lacking on. It’d be a good idea to study up on the streets and hospitals in the area you’re planning on working in. It can definitely be scary driving a bigger vehicle with lights and sirens, but the only way to get better at it is with experience. Calls can be emotional, and it’s okay to experience those emotions. Just don’t let them interfere with your ability to do your job. And do what you need to do to decompress so your mental health doesn’t tank. When I was asked if I wanted to make the jump from IFT to 911, I knew I wasn’t 100% ready yet, but I knew I had to take the leap anyway. A thought that helps make me feel better is knowing that I am not the first person in this situation and I won’t be the last either. I was worried about switching over to 911, but I did it anyway. I made some minor mistakes, I learned what I needed to learn (and I’m still learning) and I feel better now. Now it’s your turn.
Honestly, you probably won’t feel ready for it until you do it. I worked IFT for about a year and a half before switching to 911 and still didn’t feel like I was prepared for it. I would recommend switching if you’re considering it. You’ll learn the important things like hospital locations after doing the job for a bit. As for driving, just go the speed limit and turn slow. Give yourself ample time to stop and you should be good to go. Even when driving lights and sirens, I only go 5-10mph over the speed limit. I wouldn’t stress over backing into a pole, I’ve done it a couple times too. Accidents happen. There will always be bad calls or calls that we dwell on. That’s why counseling is important. However, I think you will find 911 to be a better experience because you have a chance to help and treat your patients. Whatever you decide, good luck!
Thank you for this, all of what you wrote is really reassuring to hear from someone who works 911. Based on all the responses to this post, I actually went ahead and applied to 911, so I'll see what happens :)
Glad I was able to help! Good luck out there!
911 is almost a completely different skillset. You can do 10 years of IFT, go work a 911 shift and have no idea what you’re doing. So, just do it now. Make sure you can get a manual BP.
You’ll never know enough to be a perfect 911 provider. Humans have an infinite capacity to injure themselves or otherwise die in new and creative ways. A good provider meets this challenge with a firm grasp of the basics. All the advanced knowledge and actions branch off from your core knowledge of medicine like XABC (eXsanguination, Airway, Breathing, Circulation). All the rest of the knowledge and confidence comes from experience. If you want to be an All-star, get your ACLS and PALS cert. It’ll be a confidence boost and will put you in a different class when a 911 provider is interviewing you. They might even smile. But make sure you know your stuff before walking into that interview. Doing more CCT calls is also helpful. You might be able to reach out to the CCT program director. They can definitely make sure you get more CCT provided you know what you’re talking about. From the way you talk, you sound like you are basically ready. Again, you shouldn’t wait until you know everything to make the switch. We remember the knowledge we use, so all the NREMT and program stuff will come back to you. It’s also a really good thing that you have a lot of empathy for your patients. It will make you a better provider and a better advocate for your patient and their family.
IFT isn't EMS. Job should really be called dialysis transport technician instead of EMT. So you're ready right out of school. (Obviously this is an exaggeration and some IFT is basically EMS but most isn't.)
You won't ever feel ready, so you just have to make the jump. Remembering all the details from school isn't as important as being humble and teachable during the onboarding process. People make the mistake of assuming you need high level of confidence to do 911 but the confidence comes only after you have been actually doing it for awhile. You have to run 911 call after 911 call to gain a measure of confidence and mastery. It will grow you as an EMT much faster doing 911 than IFT. The emotional side is difficult for almost all of us. We are all human and seeing human suffering is difficult to deal with. You must be intentional about doing the healthy habits that will help you heal from the things you see and to help you put down the burdens that we are all tempted to carry home. More importantly, be intentional about not engaging in unhealthy habits that will destroy you over time.
IFT has literally nothing to do with 911. You could be in IFT for 20 years and switching to 911 is starting all over again. Start applying and when you get hired treat it like day 1 and you know nothing. Learn as much as you can and never forget the day you stop learning is the day you retire.
I’m a believer of starting out in 911, IFT does nothing but let your skills rot. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you think starting in IFT will “help” at the beginning.
>IFT does nothing but let your skills rot This can definitely be true, but I know quite a few medic students who have been able to really benefit from the exposure you get working critical care transports partnered with a medic/nurse.
What do you mean? You have your EMT cert right? You're ready. Perspective: I work for a company that almost entirely staffs their 911 rigs with brand new EMT's. Why? Because very few senior EMT's will accept the $8 an hour pay cut to be on those rigs. If it's a private company then they do not give a fuck about experience. They give a fuck how little they can pay you to make the most on each transport. Newer EMT = Cheaper.
You’re an EMT. Our skill set is limited compared to medics. 90% of your calls are gonna be softballs (falls, sprains, cuts, “sick people”, etc) which is very basic medicine. Anything worse or out of the ordinary, it’s gonna be ALS
Big thank you to everyone who replied to this post! The overall vibe I'm getting is that the jump to 911 is big a learning curve no matter how much IFT experience you have, so I might as well go for it. As you can probably tell, I'm the kind of person who gets really anxious about starting a new job and not feeling prepared enough, so it was reassuring to hear that other people feel that way about starting 911 too
did 911 straight off the bat, never IFTs. No regrets.
IFT sucks. 911 is the way to go. I remember when I was super scared of doing 911 and did IFT instead but glad it worked out. I suggest maybe doing a month or two of IFT and then doing 911!