Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Recruit

Join our team and help support the department that saves lives! The members of Virginia Beach EMS aim to provide the highest quality of pre-hospital emergency patient care, education, and rescue services that preserve life, improve health and promote the safety of the people in our community.  With an anticipated call volume of approximately 56,000 in 2024, this fast paced system will offer the provider opportunities to practice to their level, to demonstrate their critical thinking skills on challenging incidents, and to work jointly with our emergency response partners in the Volunteer Rescue Squads, Fire Department, and Police Department. Join our exemplary and dedicated team, and know that you make a difference!

The Representative Work Functions and Responsibilities for the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Recruit with the Department of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will include, but are not limited to:

• Candidates selected for AEMT Recruit will enter into the AEMT classroom setting. Class hours may vary, however will primarily be 0800-1700, Monday through Friday, however weekends may be required. Clinical and field shifts will be required. Clinical and field shifts will vary in start /stop times, but will generally be 12 hour shifts.
• Learn and demonstrate proficiency in required practical skills in a training, clinical and field setting.
• Must maintain a passing grade in all psychomotor and didactic AEMT Academy training at 80% or above and show progression towards successful completion of the academy. Failure to maintain an 80% or higher overall academy average and/or failure to demonstrate appropriate progression towards successful academy completion will be grounds for employment termination.
• Effectively and actively participate in all AEMT Academy training, clinicals, and field time. Classroom sessions may consist of lecture, group projects, independent projects, and hands-on skill stations that may occur in the sills lab setting or in other appropriate areas. Clinical sessions will consist of hospital rotations. Field time will consist of time on an ambulance during which the AEMT recruit will practice their patient assessment, treatment, and critical thinking skills.
• Communicate positively and professionally with instructors, patients, bystanders, citizens, members of the emergency health care team, and other public safety personnel, and work seamlessly with both career and volunteer personnel.
• Attend all required AEMT Academy sessions, other training, clinicals and ride-time assignments on-time and prepared. 
• The AEMT course is an intensive, college-level course. Independent study, reading, and course preparation will be necessary to successfully complete the course.
• Work effectively under the pressure and stress of  the classroom setting and emergency situations.
• Provide care for patients in the pre-hospital environment including utilization of medications, IV therapy, and other associated tasks authorized at the A-EMT level; perform as a team member of an ambulance crew in situations involving both basic and advanced life support activities.
• Effectively determine and administer appropriate pre-hospital emergency medical treatment.
• Determine transport destination to the most appropriate medical facility for sick and injured patients and communicate patient turn-over completely and effectively with healthcare facility medical team.
• Safely operate emergency ambulance and other light duty emergency response vehicles in emergency and non-emergency modes.
• Follow all emergency medical services regulations and applicable protocols.
• Complete reports and documentation accurately, efficiently, and within required timelines including AEMT course paperwork, clinical shift documentation, skills documentation, and field patient care reports, and equipment and apparatus checkoffs.
• Effectively communicate and interact positively with coworkers, volunteers, patients, bystanders, citizens, and other public safety agency personnel.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all patient information, personnel, and department information both on and off duty per PHI, HIPAA and other applicable rules, standards, policies, SOPs/SOGs, regulations, and laws.
• Upon successful completion of the AEMT Academy, receipt of both the National Registry and Virginia AEMT certification, and completion of the release to general supervision process, the AEMT Recruit will move through our career progression process into an AEMT position. This will include a 5% annual pay increase and assignment to a shift. Shifts typically work 12 hour rotating shifts with a day or night assignment based on department needs. Shifts include built in overtime.

Applicant must be able to meet the following requirements and not have any of the EMS department disqualifiers. Please use the link to review the full list of disqualifiers. https://ems.virginiabeach.gov/volunteer/requirements-and-disqualifiers. This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. An applicant may also be disqualified for other concerns/actions. Other areas of concern with be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

Applicants hired as an AEMT Recruit will be required to complete an approximately 24-week AEMT Recruit Academy . This program requires the AEMT recruit to sign a repayment contract which requires a minimum of two years of service with the City of Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Department from initial date of hire. 

Perks of working for the City of Virginia Beach:

• 11 Paid Holidays plus 3 Additional Personal Holidays
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Coverage
• Legal and Identity Theft Protection
• Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Hybrid Retirement Plan & Basic Life Insurance
• Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan(COV457)
• Hybrid 457 Cash Match
• Virginia Local Disability Program (VLDP) – Income Replacement(Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Long-Term Care)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Program / Work-Life Services
• Paid Maternity/Paternity/Parental Care Leave

Perks of being a Sworn Public Safety Provider:

• Recertification courses offered in house to maintain Paramedic certification
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave and COMP Time accruals earned
• Hazardous Duty Supplement (LEO Benefit) through VRS at time of retirement. Click here for details.