Got Questions? Need Answers?
Posted by PocketMedic on January 13, 2011 · 6 Comments
Recently I started chatting with GrinMedic who ran into my blog and is starting out as a paramedic in BC. Like everybody before him, including me, he had a lot of trouble finding the answer to many questions. I remember when I first wanted to enter into paramedicine and had no idea where to find my … Read more
Number Crunching
Posted by PocketMedic on January 6, 2011 · 23 Comments
For those of you who are wired slightly funny like me and want to pursue paramedicine despite possibly working at a station several hours drive away and just getting $2/hr when not on call, good for you **Note: These are the costs I’ve approximated from my personal experience and the school fees are estimates from … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with become paramedic BC, costs, Education, EMA licensing fees, Emergency Medical Responder, EMR, PCP, Primary Care Paramedic Program
Station First Impressions
Posted by PocketMedic on November 16, 2010 · 2 Comments
I’m feeling pretty tired today. Barely slept the last couple of days because a friend came over from the islands, and I also took two shifts with SJA then had to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to get to my station for my orientation. It took a good several hours of … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with ambulance station, BCAS, employment, first day at station, First orientation, meeting UC, misty mountains, paramedic
It’s Official
Posted by PocketMedic on November 9, 2010 · 2 Comments
UC: ”Welcome to the zoo.” So I guess this is it. I don’t even know what to say, aside from I can’t believe it’s happening! To be honest, it still hasn’t really hit home yet. I got the call from my Unit Chief (UC) and my official start date with BCAS. I was very tentative … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with BCAS, start date, The call to start work
My First Station?
Posted by PocketMedic on November 4, 2010 · 1 Comment
I was about to get into my car and head to work when my cell phone started ringing in my pocket. I took it out and looked at the display and it showed the HR assistant’s name from BCAS. My heart started to pound, I knew exactly why she was calling since she left a … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with BCAS, First station, the call
BCAS Physical Assessment
Posted by PocketMedic on October 29, 2010 · 2 Comments
People were right. I had nothing to worry about. I sailed through the assessments. The Capoeira “assessments” I’ve been pitched into for the past 3 years is 200x more difficult. Guess that and staying in shape through biking, hiking and hitting the gym once in a blue moon did the trick The physical assessment I … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with BCAS physical assessment, fitness test, weight lifting, what it involves
Personal Statement
Posted by PocketMedic on October 17, 2010 · 3 Comments
Ever had to write a personal statement? It is one of the most frustrating and difficult things to write. You want to impress but not sound arrogant, you want to be able to express your passion yet not sound clichéd, there is so much you want to write but have only so much space, you want to … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with how to write, paramedic, personal statement, where to begin
The Call
Posted by PocketMedic on October 7, 2010 · 5 Comments
I have decided to combine two posts into one. Here’s an update on my interviews for school and work: October 5, 2010 I parked the 15 seater outside of the school and decided to check my phone since I still had 10 minutes before the kids came out. I got a voice message. I listened … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with BC, BCAS, Employment letter, Employment process, EMR, JIBC, PCP, Primary Care Paramedic Program, school
BCAS Interview
Posted by PocketMedic on September 22, 2010 · 9 Comments
This is going to be a short post. I just got back from my interview with the BC Ambulance Service. I was asked a total of 16 behavioural based questions. The interviewers were great. We had quite a few good laughs and I was much more relaxed with this interview than with the one I … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with BCAS interview
Preparing for the Interviews
Posted by PocketMedic on September 17, 2010 · 3 Comments
In just a couple of days I will be doing my interview for the PCP program and for the BC Ambulance Service. Prepping for interviews is A LOT of work. Especially if you are like me where I’ve never really had an “official” interview before. All my other jobs involved casual interviews, or getting hired … Read more
Category School/Work App Related, The Journey · Tagged with Assessment, BCAS interview, cognitive test, interview, JIBC, PCP Program, preparing, preparing for paramedic interview how, selection process, written test
