00:59

Josh Hernandez

Advance

San Antonio, TX USA

"You can feel defeated but the best thing is to keep moving and try to stay on your feet. Get back up even when you’re knocked down."

Career Roadmap

Josh's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People

See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.

Take Roadmap Quiz

Day In The Life

Paramedic

I perform medical care while transferring patients as a critical care paramedic.

01:53

Day In The Life Of A Critical Care Transfer Paramedic

My Day to Day

I start by going through my check-offs for medications, supplies, and equipment. Throughout the day, I do basic transfers. I get to know the patient and learn about their diagnosis. I also do critical care transports. For example, I may take someone on a ventilator from one hospital to another, making sure their breath and heart rates are normal while keeping them hooked up to monitors. I also get emergency calls from people who have fallen, had a stroke or seizure, or taken too much medication.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

High School
Associate's Degree
Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic
Del Mar College

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

1.
I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
2.
After high school, I considered joining the military but changed course after being inspired by a passing ambulance—with violence increasing in the world, I wanted to make a difference and save lives.
3.
I went to Del Mar College in Corpus Christi for the EMT program but had to withdraw because I was struggling with the coursework.
4.
A year later, I went back to school and completed the EMT program but didn’t pass the physical or written exam.
5.
I was discouraged but took more classes, finally earned my EMT basic, and went on to paramedic school.
6.
I made it through to the end of the paramedic program and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
7.
I persevered through the pandemic, completed my coursework, passed all of my exams, and graduated as a paramedic.
8.
I’m now looking to continue gaining experience as a paramedic with goals of eventually going back to school to ultimately become a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist).

Defining Moments

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

I have ADD, which made it a struggle for me to sit still and focus on my classwork in school. I had to teach myself to be disciplined, which included secluding myself while studying so that I could fully immerse myself into my studies.
I was homeschooled, so I struggled in the college environment and ended up withdrawing. When I went back, I made it through but failed the final exams. COVID-19 also hit while I was in school. I persevered and finally graduated as a paramedic.

Related Leaders

No related leaders found