New To Site --- Questions

[bravowhiskey]

Hello, I've joined this site becuase I'm currently considering enlisting in the United States Navy. I had previously considered Army SF 18D but the risk of washout and being re-classed to 11B is pretty high and one is not guaranteed a particular 18X MOS anyway. So now I'm interested in becoming an FMF Corpsman. Here's my question. At what "scope of practice" are corpsmen trained? If they are not trained to the EMT-P level, are there opportunities for a transfer to different NECs that provide for a wider scope of practice? I'm only interested in field medicine, really, not so much in becoming a surgical tech or something like that.

[8404]

I had previously considered Army SF 18D but the risk of washout and being re-classed to 11B is pretty high and one is not guaranteed a particular 18X MOS anyway.

Welcome Aboard: There is a 'risk' of washout with anything you do in life, regardless if it's with the military or civilian employment. One should go into something with the idea of succeeding.

At what "scope of practice" are corpsmen trained? If they are not trained to the EMT-P level are there opportunities for a transfer to different NECs that provide for a wider scope of practice?

Navy Corpsman are not trained at the EMT-P level. There are opportunities for you to request additional specialty training, but more in the realm of surgical technician, preventative medicine technician and so on. The Navy also has a Corpsman to BSN program. You can also looking into Dive Med Tech, SAR Corpsman.

Also spend some time reviewing the information at this link:
http://www.corpsman.com/category/ships-library/navy-medical-training/

We wish you the best in your endeavor.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

Paramedic, or EMT-P, is a civilian term and does not really apply to military medicine; especially what goes on in the trenches or out in the surf. Admittedly I do use the term when talking to civilians to try to describe what a Hospital Corpsman is.

An individual Corpsman's scope of practice is basically whatever his MO is comfortable letting him do. I have watched Corpsmen perform minor surgeries and take extraordinary measures to keep patients alive. I have also ran across a couple idiots wearing a caduceus that were literally not allowed to touch patients.

The laws, licensing, and liabilities are night and day. There are things nearly all paramedics do that many Corpsmen are not trained on and basic Corpsman training will not get you any civilian credentials. Yet there are procedures that most Corpsmen perform that are well beyond the scope of any Paramedic. Shots, blood draws, IV, suturing, airway adjuncts, & more are all taught in A-School. Your typical paramedic has a truck full of gear, a partner with them, a doctor on the radio, and is only about 10-minutes from the hospital full of doctors & supplies. Let's just say that a lot of Corpsmen do not have such luxuries. However, looking through these linked files, I am pretty comfortable in saying that most Corpsmen are exposed to the majority of the standard paramedic skills.
http://www.emsa.cahwnet.gov/aboutemsa/ems_prog.pdf
http://www.emsa.cahwnet.gov/Para/scopechart.pdf
http://nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/EMSScope.pdf

Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDC) exceed the scope for paramedics and may even write scripts for certain Rx med's. As an extra goodie while attending the 18D course (and a CYA to teach civilian patients during clinicals) IDC's get their National Registry EMT-P as part of the pipeline training for Recon, MARSOC, & SEAL. (although technically SEAL's no longer have HM's)

Good Doc's learn more and are trusted to do more. Basically, your career is what you make it. Your scope is what you make it.