15 Key Attributes Emergency Medical Technicians And Paramedics Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Noah Smith

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

The core tasks that emergency medical technicians and paramedics are likely to carry out include:

Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management, or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
Observe, record, and report to physician the patient's condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.
Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that emergency medical technicians and paramedics would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 92.4%

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 91.6%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 91.4%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 91.2%

Having a strong preference for social work environments. Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 90.43%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.4%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87%

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 87%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 86.2%

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 85.8%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.6%

Being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 84.2%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.6%

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 82%

Preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81%