Ambulance Attendant
Medical Assistant & Health Sciences
Assist licensed EMTs, under the supervision of a physician, to prepare and transport ill or injured patients, and to operate emergency vehicles and equipment such as life support units.
What Ambulance Attendants Do
Assist licensed EMTs, under the supervision of a physician, to prepare and transport ill or injured patients, and to operate emergency vehicles and equipment such as life support units.
Common Tasks
- 1Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
- 2Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
- 3Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
- 4Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
- 5Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
What You'll Learn
Types of Ambulance Attendants
Work Environment
Locations
- • Ambulance and EMS services
- • Hospitals and emergency departments
- • Private medical transport companies
- • Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- • Fire departments or municipal EMS agencies
Schedule
Many roles work set schedules that may include nights, weekends, and holidays, with moderate time pressure during calls.
Physical Demands
The job requires frequent lifting, moving, and securing patients and equipment, with lots of handling objects and moderate bending and twisting. You’ll spend time sitting while driving and standing/walking during patient transfers.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 12,300 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand can rise as the population ages and more people need non-emergency medical transport and assistance getting to care. Growth in healthcare facilities and community EMS systems can also increase call volume and staffing needs.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Directly helps people during stressful situations
- • Work is varied and rarely routine day-to-day
- • Team-based environment with EMTs and hospital staff
- • Skills can transfer to other healthcare or EMS roles
- • Clear procedures and protocols to follow
Cons
- • Physically demanding patient lifting and equipment handling
- • Exposure to illness, bodily fluids, and traumatic scenes
- • Shift work can include nights, weekends, and holidays
- • Emotional stress from emergencies and patient outcomes
- • Pay may be modest compared with the responsibility
Common Questions About the Ambulance Attendant Trade
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