Bad Partner Experience/Advice

RanchoEMT

RanchoEMT

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So I've been issued a new partner and It has proven to be one of the most stressful work related situations I've ever had to face. Being Nice vs. Being a D---! She is a Book Smart, Life Dumb kind of being, and I find myself having to work double time to compensate for her incompetence. All in all I can see myself getting in trouble very soon having to work and rely on her as a partner and I don't know what to do.

Example: The other day i happened to look up while writing down some call information on the way to a No Lights/No siren call and I notice we're going opposing to make a left turn with oncoming traffic approaching. She was unaware that the lane she was in was not a dedicated turn lane, until I asked her what she was doing...

I can actually understand the first time around minor screw ups like this, maybe even looking past the second or third, but there have been many more close calls and screw-ups like that and I am starting to wonder what i as a partner and EMT should do.

Please Consider: She has already been written up twice for driving infractions, she calls the Sup. for EVERY minor difficulty on a call, making the team(MYSELF) look incompetent, is overly confident in an obviously idiotic way(I personally feel like an idiot riding shotgun with her), is afraid of the job in general, a Horrible Driver, and uninterested in my attempts at helping her out(taking time at a post to practice ambulance backing etc.)
 
Isn't this an interview question "tell me how you have resolved a problem with a coworker"

But seriously, either you work with her to address the problems, let your supervisors know so they can address it, or take the easy way out and switch shifts.

I don't think you needed an internet forum for that answer.
 
You known what... Your absolutely right. Beginner stuff right here.
 
RanchoEMT said:
So I've been issued a new partner and It has proven to be one of the most stressful work related situations I've ever had to face. Being Nice vs. Being a D---! She is a Book Smart, Life Dumb kind of being, and I find myself having to work double time to compensate for her incompetence. All in all I can see myself getting in trouble very soon having to work and rely on her as a partner and I don't know what to do.

Example: The other day i happened to look up while writing down some call information on the way to a No Lights/No siren call and I notice we're going opposing to make a left turn with oncoming traffic approaching. She was unaware that the lane she was in was not a dedicated turn lane, until I asked her what she was doing...

I can actually understand the first time around minor screw ups like this, maybe even looking past the second or third, but there have been many more close calls and screw-ups like that and I am starting to wonder what i as a partner and EMT should do.

Please Consider: She has already been written up twice for driving infractions, she calls the Sup. for EVERY minor difficulty on a call, making the team(MYSELF) look incompetent, is overly confident in an obviously idiotic way(I personally feel like an idiot riding shotgun with her), is afraid of the job in general, a Horrible Driver, and uninterested in my attempts at helping her out(taking time at a post to practice ambulance backing etc.)
Click to expand...

I have worked with her before too...

A few times as these people would often be sent to me for "fixing."

I have noticed in my travels that providers like this are usually because of a failure of the organization. They usually do not have an effective training/mentorship period or program.

Short of sitting down with a supervisor and planning out a development process, maybe offer to take some load off of her.

For example, driving an emergency vehicle is a skill in its own. It is very stressful to learn, especially if you are going to be the lead care provider when you get there and you are already unsure of yourself there.

Don't let her drive, have her focus on patient care. When she gets that to a reasonable level, then let her drive. But don't do other things, make sure you are watching and calmly coaching her the entire time.

New employees aren't instant experts. That is why reputable outfits have a considerable FTO period with defined objectives at various points. Places without them usually just dump the employee on a senior guy they think they can trust and accept the learning curve.
 
I second the suggestion to try to not let her drive. Have her observe you. Either she's new to the city or she just doesn't care to pay enough attention - either can be resolved by having her not driving.

Very, very, very clearly tell her to NOT call a supervisor for advice before calling you. Don't be mean about it, but tell her that you have experience, that you guys are supposed to be an unit, and that she's making you look bad, as well as destroying unity, by going to someone else for help first.
 
This might have been mentioned already and I missed it, but a big variable here is who is the senior provider on the truck. Is there a difference in provider levels? If not, who is designated as senior provider? If the other person is a new medic and the senior provider, then the actions on the call are her problems. Make a suggestion and if its not listened to, not you prob.
If you are the senior provider, then it is your head on the line with things that happen on the truck, so do what you need to do to provide for your patients and safety.
 
Something like talking to a Supervisor and asking him/her to schedule a shift with your new partner because you're not sure if it's a chemistry thing or she really IS marginal.

(That's taking into consideration that sometimes partner chemistry IS so off, neither can establish a rhythm with each other. Sometimes, this works out with time. Other times, all it takes is one call with each other to work well and presto-chango, you get in synch.)
 
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