Recent content by Chris07

Just as an aside, how deep into the sciences do NP programs go. It seems to me it less science and more taking what you already know and applying it to clinical practice and management of patients. Is it really more of a quick and dirty “here’s what you need to know to function “ type thing or...

Have I worn the steth around my neck? Absolutely. When you use it and the bag isn't in reach to put it away, the neck is the perfect natural temporary storage place. While I can understand the convenience of having it around your neck all the time while on a call, I personally do not like having...

I’ll tell you where I never had my stethoscope....around my neck. Not only is the “around the neck” clichè, but it also gives a combative patient a good handle to grab a hold of and drag you in closer. In the field, I used to have a cheap company issued scope on the back of the stretcher, and...

Correct me if I'm wrong, please. From the inferior leads strip: - Right Axis Deviation. Quick inspection shows a mostly negative lead I, and a positive aVF. - I see the elevated J points (J waves) From the last strip: - a PR interval greater than 200ms (> 5 small boxes), which is a 1st degree...

Yea. In a clinical simulation we had a patient who was a cancer patient with gradually worsening SOB x2 weeks with wheezing. So malignant pericardial effusion is the likely cause. While the pericardium is pretty stiff, I’d imagine that if fluid leakage into the pericardium was gradual enough...

I updated my post. Get the needle out. Time to do a little pericardiocentesis.

Question to all you medics: Has any of you ever seen Electrical Alternans in a patient? The amount of pericardial effusion required to literally allow the heart to swing back and forth within the pericardial sac seems like it would make it a relatively uncommon. Edit: I’d imagine that an...

I was attempting to be a smart ***.

Let's just do the California thing and cater to the lowest common denominator. No RSI for anyone. There, now all is well. People can now be screwed both on the ground and in there air. In the end, it's all about equality, right?

If you already have an unexpired State of California EMT card then you're good to go. California only requires that you obtain NREMT certification to initially certify. You can let your NREMT lapse so long as you maintain your California EMT card. To recertify your California EMT certification...

Did a small group 12-lead lab the other day. My result came out with an Anterior Myocardial Infarction (Leads I, II, III) per the computer interpretation. My reaction? ".....Let's run that again." I made LA County Fire Proud today. I will never forget my roots! (Not sure if that's a good...

Yessir. I was originally going to get a 23 but when I saw the 19 had a Gen 5 out.....I knew for a fact that if I bought a Gen 4 G23...they would release the Gen 5 version of it the next day.

She’s my first and I can’t wait to try her out this weekend.

I’m sure there are ways but they’re not nearly as cost effective. We used to get toned out, the problem with tone outs is that the alert goes to every room, so you’d hear it even if it wasn’t yours to hear, not to mention the tone outs where you’d jump out of bed only to hear that you were an...

Sounds like the responding crew was either complacent and "went through the motions" or they were rough around the edges. Either way it's obviously not right. You've been out of the field for a while, so it may be surprising to hear that what you witnessed isn't an extremely rare occurrence by...