Author: Sharon Munoz

Nurses dedicate their skills, time, and effort to caring for others. It’s a demanding career for those choosing to pursue this line of work. The satisfaction that comes with helping people and making a significant contribution to the community is well worth it.

First responders are one of the first people on the scene of an emergency—and it’s challenging. Your skills as a first responder can spell the difference between an emergency and a tragedy, and saving lives. A career as a first responder undoubtedly makes a massive impact in the community. While this career is rewarding, it’s important to be aware of the realities in order to be fully prepared to take on the challenges of being a first responder. Here are some worth taking note of:

Nursing is one of the US’s biggest healthcare professions, with more than 3.8 million Registered Nurses (RNs) working alongside 700 thousand Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) nationwide. Training takes between one and four years. Once qualified, nurses work in a variety of settings—from nursing homes, clinics and shelters, to occupational health and ambulatory services, among others.

Training to be a paramedic is a major commitment in terms of time and money. Anyone entering this field should do so knowing the demands it will make on their work/life balance and the challenges they might encounter while pursuing their certification. Familiarizing yourself with these different factors could spell the difference between succeeding in this profession or simply giving up.

To say that 2020 was eventful is an understatement. For the most part, no other event impacted healthcare more than the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has changed almost every aspect of the healthcare industry. Most notably, it brought unprecedented strain on hospitals and emergency medical services (EMS), as evidenced by the shortages in everything from testing and medical supplies to getting proper medical access. In fact, according to statistics, the number of calls to EMS rose by 90.9 percent from 2019 and 2020.

On Saturday, March 6^th 2021, HCI College EMS Team climbed all 915 steps at the Hard Rock Stadium as part of the Fight for Air Climb Miami to raise money and awareness for lung cancer and all lung diseases, including COVID-19. This year HCI College’s EMS Team raised over $4400 for the American Lung Association and was the fastest climbing team at 00:17:58. Not only were they the fastest team, but they also ranked third in the top fundraising companies.

Most people who end up working in healthcare are driven by a strong desire to help others and make a difference in the world. Many who opt to pursue a career in emergency services find themselves choosing between becoming a paramedic or a nurse. Both are challenging positions that offer the same impact in their community, and each one is at the front line of patient care. Ultimately, however, nurses and paramedics are different in a variety of ways.

It may be fate or just pure coincidence, but this was a situation that David Knighton had been training for in HCI College’s EMT program. Earlier this year Knighton, a recent HCI College EMT graduate, noticed a man lying in the middle of the road and a damaged bicycle nearby. Knighton stopped and exited his vehicle, and immediately began assessing the victim.

If you’re considering a career in healthcare as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) you might have come across some of the persistent misconceptions about this profession. These misconceptions may even be a reason why you’re second-guessing your decision to enter an LPN program.

You’ve already put in all the work towards becoming an EMT and you want to pursue your dreams of becoming a certified paramedic. Given your previous experience and training, it’s easy to assume that you can just jump into paramedic school. However, this isn’t always the case. While experience in the field is certainly valuable, it will take a lot more to succeed and excel.