I work part time for an ambulance company. I have a partner that I work with, that nit-picks every single thing I do. He's constantly telling me I'm driving too fast, too slow.. accusing me of being scared, no decision I make is ever the correct one. Unfortunately this slot is the only one I am able to work, and I see now why he doesn't have a consistent partner. Anybody have any tips? I'm tired of getting talked down to on scene in front of patients, firefighters, etc. I try so hard not to make mistakes that I end up making more. I'm almost to the point that I'm just going to quit. Any of you guys have to deal with a partner like this?
Nit-Picking Partners...
- Thread starter Cobra01
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stemi
Forum Crew Member
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To get picked on and chewed out in front of others not of your company is one of the most unprofessional things that you can do.
Unfortunately, it sounds like you might need to wait it out for the sake of your career, unless you can find another partner. Unfortunately, these types of people are more present than they should be.
Unfortunately, it sounds like you might need to wait it out for the sake of your career, unless you can find another partner. Unfortunately, these types of people are more present than they should be.
Epi-do
I see dead people
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Have you talked to them about this? If you haven't, and none of his previous partners have, he may not realize how he comes across. If you have tried that, and it hasn't gotten you anywhere, is there an impartial 3rd party the two of you could talk with together? You can't force someone to change, but maybe the two of you could work out a plan that would allow you to work better together.
As for calling you out in front of others, have you tried to interrupt what he is saying with a polite, "I don't think this is the best time to discuss this. What about when we are finished?"
Those are the only things that come to mind, as far as trying on your own to work this out. It sucks to have a partner you don't get along with, and I have been there, so I can relate. Try your best to not let him get to you and beat down your self-confidence.
As for calling you out in front of others, have you tried to interrupt what he is saying with a polite, "I don't think this is the best time to discuss this. What about when we are finished?"
Those are the only things that come to mind, as far as trying on your own to work this out. It sucks to have a partner you don't get along with, and I have been there, so I can relate. Try your best to not let him get to you and beat down your self-confidence.
ExpatMedic0
MS, NRP
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I would play Mr.Nice guy at first if possible. Communicate politely what your partner is doing and how much its bothering you. If that does not work...
Might be to time to sit your partner down, look him/her in the eye and just tell them in black and white its pissing you off. Then demand unless your doing something detrimental to patient care to keep there comments to them self.
The whole thing is awkward... but you will reach a point where you gonna "freak out" on this person or quit your job over it. No need to let either of those happen
Might be to time to sit your partner down, look him/her in the eye and just tell them in black and white its pissing you off. Then demand unless your doing something detrimental to patient care to keep there comments to them self.
The whole thing is awkward... but you will reach a point where you gonna "freak out" on this person or quit your job over it. No need to let either of those happen
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JPINFV
Gadfly
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mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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As for sitting and taking it for your career, remember basic EMS is like working at McDonalds.
Booger that. Ask if you can be reassigned. If the answer is no, or "wait a few weeks", then get another job.
A tactic in the meantime: at the time, not later, right out front ask about how something can be done better. For instance, you are offloading the litter with a patient at the ED. Your partner, er, co-worker starts saying you're doing it wrong. Stop and say "You know, I need to do this the right way for safety sake. How am I supposed to?". Do this each and every time, be very sincere. But you have to STOP. If they get wise and start doing it in private, next time you go to do that something, before you actually do it ask them out loud if this is the right way.
1. You might learn something, if only about this person.
2. Still be looking for another job.
3. They might stop or ask for another co-worker.
A tactic in the meantime: at the time, not later, right out front ask about how something can be done better. For instance, you are offloading the litter with a patient at the ED. Your partner, er, co-worker starts saying you're doing it wrong. Stop and say "You know, I need to do this the right way for safety sake. How am I supposed to?". Do this each and every time, be very sincere. But you have to STOP. If they get wise and start doing it in private, next time you go to do that something, before you actually do it ask them out loud if this is the right way.
1. You might learn something, if only about this person.
2. Still be looking for another job.
3. They might stop or ask for another co-worker.
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JPINFV
Gadfly
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Calling out people on scene unless it's a safety issue (either safety for the patient or safety for the provider.) For example... poor body mechanics should get called out before a lift or move. Otherwise what's the point?
Here's my problem with threads like this.
We don't know the validity of the complaints. Are the complaints valid? Are they valid, but poorly articulated (i.e. valid, but not constructive)? Are the complaints invalid and an issue of provider preference (too many people in EMS act like there's no gray zone and their way is the only way to do things)? Similarly, since there are multiple correct ways, is the partner just poorly articulating a possibly better way of approaching the same situation?
The reality is if you know you're doing something correct and the person is yelling at you on scene, tell him to bugger off.
Here's my problem with threads like this.
We don't know the validity of the complaints. Are the complaints valid? Are they valid, but poorly articulated (i.e. valid, but not constructive)? Are the complaints invalid and an issue of provider preference (too many people in EMS act like there's no gray zone and their way is the only way to do things)? Similarly, since there are multiple correct ways, is the partner just poorly articulating a possibly better way of approaching the same situation?
The reality is if you know you're doing something correct and the person is yelling at you on scene, tell him to bugger off.
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I'm with epi and schulz on this one. You need to talk to talk to him. Communication is key in partnerships.
I'm great friends with my last partner but we definitely had a few bad arguments about a few things.
If someone's doing something that irks you, they're not going to know it or be able to do anything about it unless you say something.
If that doesn't work that's when you have to decide whether it's worth just waiting it out until you can get a new partner or taking it to the higher powers.
My big advice though is don't let one partner ruin this for you. EMS is a cool job no matter which way you twist it and no matter what people say I know lots of medics who's career is EMS. There's plenty of cool people in this job that are fun to work with and pleasant to be around.
I'm great friends with my last partner but we definitely had a few bad arguments about a few things.
If someone's doing something that irks you, they're not going to know it or be able to do anything about it unless you say something.
If that doesn't work that's when you have to decide whether it's worth just waiting it out until you can get a new partner or taking it to the higher powers.
My big advice though is don't let one partner ruin this for you. EMS is a cool job no matter which way you twist it and no matter what people say I know lots of medics who's career is EMS. There's plenty of cool people in this job that are fun to work with and pleasant to be around.
wanderingmedic
RN, Paramedic
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I agree. Talk with them. A lot of the time people dont intend to be :censored: holes...however it sounds like your partner might be an exception. If talking with him doesn't work find a new partner or job.
MagicTyler
Forum Lieutenant
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Document EVRYTHING. What you're describing can be a form of harasment, which if it is more than a few instances is illegal. On that note I would go the least invasive route first, talk to him. If nothing is solved, then go up your chain of command (or to HR if you have an HR department). My guess is that if he has had a ton of partners, your employer knows his behavior.
What he's doing compromises patient safety and the image of the department. If fire/patients/other agencies see him talking down to you they assume that you are a sub-par provider, thus the department is sub-par.
Any real complaints on your work practices should be going up the chain of command, not just to you.
What he's doing compromises patient safety and the image of the department. If fire/patients/other agencies see him talking down to you they assume that you are a sub-par provider, thus the department is sub-par.
Any real complaints on your work practices should be going up the chain of command, not just to you.
WuLabsWuTecH
Forum Deputy Chief
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talk to him first, for sure, but if he continues to do it or if he's just doing it to be a d-bag and management won't do anything about it, then you can just ignore it as much as possible until you can get reassigned or find another job.
I once had a partner who refused to do anything but drive. Fine by me since I'm a med student and don't like driving (other people were not ok with this), but he also wanted to control all aspects of patient care and tell me what to do and write. After a particularly complex run, he put us back in service when I had 3 run reports to write (yes, with the way the run went, it was technically 3 run reports. One from the facility to the psychiatric hospital, a second from the hospital back to the facility when the hospital refused to admit, and a third generated as we were leaving and the nurse came out to our truck shouting "He went unresponsive!"). Yes, I had to document the hell out of that one. But somewhere between my first and second report, my partner, "got bored" when he was sitting in the truck (I was still in the hospital writing my reports) and put us back in service and came running in to tell me that we had another run. That's where I put my foot down and just flat out ignored him. I was doing the patient care, and I am in-charge until that run is over. Since I'm still writing, the run is not over and if you decided to put us back in service, you'll have to explain to dispatch that we're not actually ready to go on another run yet. He could yell at me all he wanted to in the hospital, it just made him (and the company) look unprofessional and we didn't actually go anywhere for about another hour while I was crossing my t's and dotting my i's. Of course I had to speak to the boss when we got back to the station, but at least the company finally realized there was a problem with this guy. Thinking back, it was probably actually kinda funny to watch; that I was just sitting there sipping on my coke and writing my report while some crazed guy is screaming at me. I was calm throughout the whole thing too, so there he is screaming at me, and me talking to him in a normal tone of voice...
I once had a partner who refused to do anything but drive. Fine by me since I'm a med student and don't like driving (other people were not ok with this), but he also wanted to control all aspects of patient care and tell me what to do and write. After a particularly complex run, he put us back in service when I had 3 run reports to write (yes, with the way the run went, it was technically 3 run reports. One from the facility to the psychiatric hospital, a second from the hospital back to the facility when the hospital refused to admit, and a third generated as we were leaving and the nurse came out to our truck shouting "He went unresponsive!"). Yes, I had to document the hell out of that one. But somewhere between my first and second report, my partner, "got bored" when he was sitting in the truck (I was still in the hospital writing my reports) and put us back in service and came running in to tell me that we had another run. That's where I put my foot down and just flat out ignored him. I was doing the patient care, and I am in-charge until that run is over. Since I'm still writing, the run is not over and if you decided to put us back in service, you'll have to explain to dispatch that we're not actually ready to go on another run yet. He could yell at me all he wanted to in the hospital, it just made him (and the company) look unprofessional and we didn't actually go anywhere for about another hour while I was crossing my t's and dotting my i's. Of course I had to speak to the boss when we got back to the station, but at least the company finally realized there was a problem with this guy. Thinking back, it was probably actually kinda funny to watch; that I was just sitting there sipping on my coke and writing my report while some crazed guy is screaming at me. I was calm throughout the whole thing too, so there he is screaming at me, and me talking to him in a normal tone of voice...