To want to leave teaching and retrain as a paramedic

[runningmummy1]

So although I do put my all into the classroom, I am never good enough. I am not great at observed lessons and nowadays it really has to be a good or outstanding grade. Its not just the school as I have felt this way for a while. Actually love the classroom side but find all the other aspects of the job soul destroying. I am a voluntary community first responder so I am trained in basic life support and am sent to local 999 calls (within my area and training) to defibrillate etc until the ambulance arrives. I have also done a shift on an ambulance so this decision comes is based on the reality of what could be my new role. However my husband is in a similar role so works shifts making childcare difficult. My kids are 9 and 11 so I might well need to wait a few years. Then there is school holidays to consider and loosing weekends. Of course I would work longer days but less days a week. AIBU?

[Sparklesocks]

This thread is nearly 3 years old angelseyes so I’m guessing OP made up their mind by now..!

[angelseyes]

I would say go for it as the role of the paramedic is changing where you can do another areas after a few years experience. My friend works in a GP surgery and another one works as a PIP assessor so it doesnt stop at the ambulance anymore. Goodluck

[ems1910]

My other half was on a midday-midnight shift today, still not home. Very often 12 hours turn into 14/15 hours.

But go for it! Life is too short for regrets! :)

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Great news that your Trust supports a helpful shift pattern, that's great news. Definitely go for it, life is too short to wonder what would have been

[Fromparistoberlin73]

So all your sums and research and go for it ! Millions of parents both work ft with school age kids

[mrsnoodle55]

YANBU but beware the reality of shifts is pretty rough. I've been a paramedic for 15 yrs on a rolling shift pattern and I think it's knocked years off my life!

I seem to live in a state of near permanent exhaustion. Weekend/ night shifts probably aren't too bad if you either have no kids or grown up ones. However if you have to factor in school runs and their hobbies etc you can often go 4 days on about 10 hrs sleep in total.

This is all we've ever known so we cope ( OH is a policeman so another double shift house here.) But it's quite grim. The job itselfs a whole other thread.......I'd just be aware that as a 'job' it does impact hugely on home life.

Good luck though- I can honestly say I'm never bored at work!

[NCIS]

I've just qualifies and am late 40's and so not fit. I've been working as an ECA, then tech and have done the conversion course to qualify as a paramedic. I love my job, it's emotionally hard and you need a very good (and black ) sense of humour to cope but it is immensely rewarding.
Lots of my colleagues have young children and partners who do shift work and they cope.

[runningmummy1]

There is a thread on TES about what else a teacher can do

[CalleighDoodle]

I also want to leave teaching. The pay is just too poor now. Ive effectively had a pay cut for the last few years due to being top of the scale, the pay freeze and cost of living. BUT I have a daughter in infants. The thought of finding childcare in holidays worries me.

Also, ive no idea what jobs i could do! Feel stuck

[runningmummy1]

Ive found a two year course that gets you registration in the city I live in and that is the university I will apply for as up rooting everyone is out of the question. I had expected lots of people to say stay in teaching for my kids sake.

[PandaMummyofOne]

I've got two paramedics under my belt now from my previous Learners. You will need specific a-levels in one of the science courses. Which one will depend entirely on the university of your choice.

You will need a specific degree in paramedic science. Then it's the training on the job. You can get an NHS bursary to help and you can get child care costs to help with the training.

If you work within your regions NHS Ambulance Service, they do have child care specific to people in your position so may be worth looking at.

I say go for it! Be a little selfish. You are not at all disillusioned as to what to expect once in the job, know what the day to day is etc. I teach and now feel the same way as you. I'm going through the process to be a prison officer at the minute.

Good luck to you OP! I hope you get to do this.

[IonaNE]

There is, runningmummy, and a much better one, too. :)

[runningmummy1]

Good to know there is life after teaching.????

[IonaNE]

YANBU for wanting to leave teaching. I have done the same and my life has become incomparably better. I have a 9-5 (well, actually, 8-4 :) ) office job though.

[AliceHoney]

Your age shouldn't be an issue at all, my partner qualified aged 45. Your previous life and professional experience will probably be seen as a great asset. You'll need tp pass a fitness test, which as a runner shouldn't be a problem, but you'll probably also be asked to do a grip strength test, a test of flexibility and of lower back strength. They might be areas to work on if you feel you need to.

[runningmummy1]

The ambulance service can offer opposite shifts and often does. He doesn't work nights and has a regular shift pattern. However during my student placements, I would need to do any shift pattern I was given. Could anyone advise me if my age 41, would go against me and as a regular runner would I need to start training for the physical

[AliceHoney]

I don't know if this helps, but my partner and I are both paramedics, and have been able to negotiate a rota that allows us to share childcare between us. Depends which ambulance service you'll be applying to, but there's a good chance they'll be able to work with you as regards your and your OH's shifts. Happy to answer any questions if I can be of help.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Check out how big your Ambulance Trust is as you might not get a job in your local station but have to commute. On top of a likely 7-7 shift, a long commute might be tough too.

Childcare could be a real issue if your DH also works shifts, but if it takes 4 years to train your DCs will be 13 & 15yo. However what happens if both you and DH are on night shifts, who will look after the kids overnight? Can the kids have friends around if DH (or you) are sleeping during the day, how likely might that be if you work 4 days on, 4 days off? (or whatever the rota is for your Trust). How will it impact kids after school activities or going out with friends?

I worked for an Ambulance Trust in the past (not in a medical role) and loved going out on shift, the work was varied and really interesting. I can totally see the draw.

[runningmummy1]

Thanks everyone so many helpful replies, CallMeExhausted, how do you juggle it with family life as in my household both of us will be in similar work.

[CallMeExhausted]

I was a paramedic. If you'd like to chat privately, please drop me a PM. I may well have some tales that will help you with your decision.

[sharonthewaspandthewineywall]

The OP said in her first post she's a first responder

[itsmeitscathy]

aye didn't read the full post before posting

the second bit is applicable though!

[itsmeitscathy]

why not join St John ambulance as a volunteer and see if you enjoy first aid before giving in your teaching? you could even become a first responder.

look into it more, in Scotland it doesn't take 4 years to get out on the job and paid.

[Zanzibaragain]

runningmummy1 are you my twin?

My dc are 10 & 11.
I have been a community first responder for the last 2 years.
Just applied to university for the Adult Nursing Course, and waiting for my last interview.

I totally get the pull towards being a paramedic but the working hours after training just aren't compatable with childcare. It's a pretty full on shift pattern in my area with a lot of night shifts.
I am hoping that Adult Nursing can be more flexible and give me a much larger choice of areas for work in a hospital or in the community.
Funnily as a 1st responder I have far more hands on experience than my nursing student friend.

All the courses are massively oversubscribed so put in a lot of time on your application and read up everything connected you can get your hands on( the Francis report, the 6c's)
And get your mental arethmatic up to speed as there is an entrance maths test with no calculators!

Also do consider that for the 3 years degree you have only 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter and 2/3 weeks in August, no time off for half term childcare, no reading week,unlike all the other students.

Personally I can't wait to start no matter what the hours, just wish I had done this 35 years ago

[xiaozhu]

I meant that she was only able to get a job in Ox or the surrounding areas - ambulance trusts tend to recruit from their local training establishment because they've already worked with many of the candidates.