Can I get fired for not having a Driver's License at my job?
@handsomeitaliano (1050)
United States
October 5, 2008 11:37am CST
I'm an EMT in NYC, I just became one in May. I've been working at this company for 3 months now. When I was taking the class, I was looking forward to doing the Tech side of things because that's an EMT really is for. I heard the driving part was optional. So anyways I didn't find out that the driving thing is required in the event something happens to your partner and you have to drive back or whatever.
So I went and got my learners permit, I've taken 15 driving lessons so far but I have to schedule my road test. Anyways, a couple managers at work, mainly one of them, keeps nagging me (in a nice way) about when I'm going to take THEIR ambulance driving test (where I have to drive an ambulance around with an instructor) so I can be cleared to drive. I keep telling him as soon as i pass my car road test.
Because if I pass their ambulance road test and they clear me to drive, I'm going to be driving an ambulance around with only a learners permit. I dont wanna get arrested. Not only that, the thought of driving an ambulance kinda scares me, just you driving on highways and stuff is scary to me. I'm very good at the tech stuff that I do with patients, but this driving thing is worrying me... I guess theres no way out of it?
Do you think I will get fired if I fail my car road test?
2 responses
@shoffman2000 (560)
• Alexandria, Virginia
5 Oct 08
you need to get your driver's license with all deliberate speed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
5 Oct 08
Your manager should not be asking you to take the ambulance driving course until you get your license and you should tell him you will not do it either until then. Your learners permit is just that a permit that allows you to learn (with a licensed driver)and driving an ambulance with your partner in the back with a patient is not a good idea. You need to be an experienced driver to be driving an ambulance, there will be times when you will be driving at high speeds making split second decisions in and out of traffic and most important of all always making sure that your patients are safe and gets to the hospital as soon as possible. There are so many drivers out there that do not yield to emergency vehicles and this will only make your job even harder. After you get your license you should take the ambulance training class as soon as you feel comfortable, in the mean time when you go out with your partner maybe you can practice driving the ambulance in between calls and allow him/her to take over when a call comes through. In the event if you should fail your car road test possibly you can ask them to allow you to dispatch or answer incoming ambulance calls which requires you to be an EMT which you are. I understand you want to be out in the field but this is if you fail the test - until you re-take it and pass. Best of luck.
