r/OntarioParamedics

Hey everyone, kind of a Hail Mary post but here we go.

I’m posting here hoping this might reach the right ACP, PCP, preceptor or someone involved with an Ontario paramedic service who could point us in the right direction.

Myself and two friends are Quebec PCPs currently completing the Advanced Care Paramedic program at La Cité in Ottawa. We’ve now successfully completed the entire classroom portion of the ACP program, and the only thing standing between us and completing the program is our on-road ACP preceptorship.

Unfortunately, we’ve run into a pretty significant placement problem.

All 3 of us live and currently work as PCPs in Montreal. So far, two of the Quebec students in our cohort have managed to receive placements that are reasonably accessible from Montreal, one with Cornwall SDG and another with Prescott-Russell. For the rest of us, the available options have been much farther away, including Renfrew County and Belleville.

We genuinely appreciate those services being willing to take students, and this isn’t meant as criticism of them or of the college. The issue is simply logistics. Completing hundreds of hours of preceptorship several hours away from Montreal while still trying to maintain our employment and shifts as PCPs back home becomes extremely difficult.

So we figured it couldn’t hurt to reach out directly to the Ontario paramedic community.

There are 3 of us looking for ACP preceptors/placement opportunities somewhere in Eastern Ontario, or really anywhere that would be reasonably feasible to travel to from Montreal. We absolutely do not expect anyone to circumvent their service’s placement process or the college.
We ARE allowed to find our own preceptors and get the program in contact with them to get the preceptorship rolling. Any actual placement would still need to be formally arranged and approved through La Cité and the respective paramedic service, but we can get the ball rolling.

We already have all of our requirements to start preceptorship completed (background checks, RPPEO Certification, N95 fit-test etc…).

We’re simply hoping this post might reach an ACP who enjoys precepting and would be willing to take on a student, or even a PCP who reads this and thinks, “I know an ACP at my service who might be interested.”

A little about us: we’re already working paramedics with 4 years of experience in Montreal’s busy EMS system AND we’re fully bilingual (I’ve heard that’s a bonus in some services). We’ve put a lot of work into getting through the ACP program and are eager to get on the road, learn from experienced ACPs, and finish the final stage of our training.

We also don’t necessarily need to be placed together. Three different ACPs at three different services could solve this problem for all three of us.

If you’re an ACP somewhere in Eastern Ontario who might be interested in taking one of us, know someone who could be, or even just know that your service may have capacity for ACP students, please comment or send me a DM. Even pointing us toward the right person within your service would be hugely appreciated.

We’re ready to work, ready to learn, and just need the opportunity to get on the road.
Thanks for reading, and if you work with an ACP who loves having students, please feel free to send this their way.

TL;DR: A Hail-Mary post for 3 experienced Montreal PCPs that need ACP preceptors in Eastern Ontario, preferably closer to Montreal than Renfrew/Belleville.
Thanks in advance!

Paramedic of 10 years.. It’s been 3 years since I left the service for PTSD. And I’m finally making my way back.. any tips/ tricks or resources to getting your flow back (primary survey etc) .. anything is greatly appreciated.

How does the job market look for the near future? 2-3 years. Ik it’s good rn is this projected to remain the same? Thank you

Just curious Im at the top of the waitlist for conestoga paramedics what are my chances of even getting in given that its late august??

Wondering if anyone had details about retaining base hospital certification after leaving a service? I'm in a position where I need to leave my current service, but I don't have another job lined up (and likely won't for at least a few months). Would I lose my cert and need to do scenarios again when I reapply or would they just deactivate and reactivate me as needed?

And if I were to apply to a service under a different base hospital, would I be able to cross certify if my cert is deactivated? Or would I need to re-certify from scratch with the new base hospital?

Ideally I'd wait until I had another job lined up but some personal issues popped up and my service denied me a leave of absence so I'm trying to weigh my options in the meantime. Thanks everyone!

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if someone could expand upon what the ALS PCS means by "Unaltered" in the conditions section of some directives.

For example: for administration of Ondansetron and/or Diphenhydramine, the pt is required to be unaltered. If I have a patient who is intoxicated but complaining of nausea, am I contraindicated for administration of these medications?

Thanks!

Hi, I'm about to start the paramedic program this fall, and I'd like some tips for studying. I think I should delete my social media apps because I easily get distracted.

The classes like a&p and patient care I feel like will be the hardest. How should I use my time when studying for this, and what method should I use to remember and understand the content being taught.

I know we have lots of ADHD talk in here, but I need something for my situation.

I'm 17 male living in York Region, I got diagnosed with ADD (for some reason not ADHD) and I've been struggling with ADHD for most of my life. The more conscious I get about my ADHD and how it affects my life, the more miserable it got to find happiness. But, I started taking ADHD meds and it started going well. I trialed Vyvanse, Biphentin and now I was on Adderall XR. My sister forcefully took and hid my meds, aswell as called my Paediatrician and said that I can't be consulted without her present, and it's took a toll on my life a bit.

I'm going to the 12th year and I want to know what I can do to prepare myself, I had bad grades in 11th around the 70% in courses.

This year I'm taking 12c Math, 12U Bio 12C Chem, should I change anything?

What can I do to prepare myself for biology?

Sorry if this question has been posed before but just like the title says^

I plan on going to school for September 2027 and if there are any books you can recommend to me that would help my studying I would really appreciate it.

Anything from memorization for drugs names/effects, human anatomy, etc please list below.

Hello! Wondering which services have a fall hire?

Hi all,

I’m a paramedic student starting this September. I have a few demerits (3) on my record and am wondering how bad my situation will be when it comes time to get hired. As we haven’t started school yet I’m thinking of delaying going because I’m worried I won’t be able to get employed.

Can anyone please provide some insight? I’d be looking into Peel, Toronto, Hamilton, Halton services etc

Thank you!

I have 2 demerit points. Would a service still hire me?

Durham student, just finished 3rd, & I'm riding out tomorrow.

Incoming students with questions or working medics with advice, fire away!

Edit: My bad, I should mention that this isn't my first shift. I've been riding out throughout the 3rd semester, just pointing out what I'm doing tomorrow.

hello everyone I’m about to start Oxford College this fall, I was wondering how strict they are with there uniform policy. i want to go a cheaper route to get uniform but the thing is I can’t find there crest sooo will there be a issue if I go without it?

Hi,

I am a current practicing ACP. I have been considering a move. How does it work, applying to Toronto? I understand that Toronto does their own internal ACP training.

I’m considering TPS due to the downtown core. I hate traffic and would like to stay in the city due to walkability.

Would i be practicing at a PCP level? And have to redo my education? Or what is the process?

Thanks

Right now I have the option to do a 1 year paramedic program at CTS with the first half of classes being online and the last 3 months for clinical would be in person vs a 2 year program with Conestoga that seems better on paper but might have the same issues as cts. I keep seeing people say that it’s very hands free and u get what u put into it, meaning a lot of self study which is fine but I don’t want any gaps in my education and want to be well prepared as a medic.

My first question is if you know anyone who has graduated from a 1 year program (CTS)and was just as prepared as other medics who graduated from 2 year programs?

The other question was if conestoga is program that will actually prepare you to be a good medic?

And if I were to graduate from any one of these programs could I find work in Toronto or do they prefer graduates from other schools

I recently got accepted into the Paramedic Program at Conestoga College and wanted to know what I should already know before starting. I’m a mature student and haven’t been in school for a few years, so I’d like to start studying and preparing ahead of time.
What topics, skills, or subjects would you recommend I review before the program begins? I want to be as prepared as possible and get a head start so I’m not overwhelmed when classes start.

Peel vs. Halton vs. Toronto Paramedic Services — Best for Long-Term Career/Longevity?
Hey everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from medics who have experience with Peel, Halton, or Toronto.
I’ve been fortunate enough to receive offers from all three services, and I’m having a hard time deciding which one would be the best fit long term.
One of the biggest things I value is the workplace culture and the people I’d be working with. Ideally, I’d like a service where partners are generally supportive, confident, easygoing, and good to work with. I’ve heard Toronto can be a little more relaxed in terms of partner dynamics and overall culture, which definitely appeals to me.
For those who have worked for any of these services, how would you compare them in terms of:
Workplace/partner culture
Overall stress and workload
Management
Scheduling and work-life balance
Burnout and career longevity
Opportunities for advancement
Overall job satisfaction
If you had offers from all three and were choosing somewhere to stay long term, which would you pick and why?
Appreciate any insight!

I just got my schedule for St.Clair and i noticed they removed the fitness class which im not gonna lie i was relying on it teach me a good routine.
Ive been going to the gym and doing cardio and weights but i was wondering if theres anything specific i can work on so i dont fall behind in the fitness category.

Thanks in advance!

Hello all,
Im looking to be a paramedic outside the GTA, thinking Waterloo Kitchener Cambridge Guelph area.

Can you buy a house with your salary?

If yes, How long did it take you to buy a house?

Thank you all