I was a paramedic before I became a RN. My step-dad died of a heart attack and my motivation to become a paramedic was because I didn't want other little kids to lose their dads at such a young age as my sisters did.

Being a paramedic was hard physically and sometimes emotionally but was very rewarding. I knew what I was doing was making a difference in people's lives.

Yes, you sometimes see people who can't be fixed. There are a couple I wish I could forget but it is part of the job. I was a medic in the early 80's and I think EMS has progressed now and is more active in helping workers process the trauma scenes and all. Fortunately I never had a critically ill or injured child. That would have to be the worst.