That's why I've always been, uh, somewhat skeptical of the cousin's alleged accomplishments.
Maybe one time she drove by a horrible motor vehicular accident.....out of which she then created this fantasy.
That "Vlada Mitty" complex of hers.
I'm reasonably sure that she was an EMT-B
All of the parammedics I know (quite a few) and being on staff (PT) at my regional EMS council in PA, EMT-P's are always referred to as paramedics. One thing that you cannot do is call yourself a paramedic when you are not. It is however ok (but tacky) for an EMT to call themselves a medic if they are not in the company of other first responders. Complicated I know but you are right, nadin never refers to herself as a paramedic, past/present/future and I recall once reading something she wrote where she said she was an EMT.
But to put the whole EMT/paramedic thing in perspective, an EMT has about 150 hours of training and passes a state test. I'm an EMT (volunteer) and basically we package the patient for transport. We do a set of vitals, treat life threatning conditions, colllar and board, o2, and so forth. EMT's can administer 5-10 drugs or medications.
A paramedic trains for a year after being an EMT. Some are very good, some suck. They can start IV lines, read EKGs, give about 25 narcitics, advanced airways and so forth. For what is is worth, nadin doesn't talk like a paramedic, rather she talks like an EMT who ran on a BLS truck.
ON EDIT: just to be clear there are several levels of EMS, they are:
First Responder (40 hours first aid training)
EMT-B (EMT Basic- 150 hours training) <----- nads?
EMT-I (EMT Intermediate- some states allow EMT-Bs to do more with extra training--IVs, C-PAP, combi tubes....)
EMT-P (Paramedic- 1 year after EMT school)
PHRN (Pre hosp RN- an RN with 6 months extra training)
alot I know, thanks for listening!
Tom