Certificate Career Options

What Kind of Work Will You Do?

• Respond to incidents such as automobile accidents, heart attacks, slips and falls, childbirth, gunshot wounds and any other emergencies that require immediate care.
• Assess the nature of a patient's condition and follow emergency medical protocols and guidelines for treatment.
• Prepare and administer drugs orally and intravenously, interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs), perform endotracheal intubations and use monitors and other complex equipment.
• Transport patients to various kinds of medical facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) at times, using special equipment like backboards to immobilize patients.
• Report observations and actions to emergency department staff.
• Perform emergency medical care under the direction of a physician.
• After each run in an ambulance, replace used supplies and check equipment.
• Work in a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, private ambulance services, fire departments, educational institutions and medical supply companies.