Clinical uniform question

[burnsmh]

I was at a meeting with some EMT's and one person brought up something I did during my clinicals and I don't wanna say I was insulted but without going into too much detail the person called me out without getting the facts or asking me first.

I was doing my clinicals for school over the summer...I had to purchase school shirts stating my status as an EMT student. I was going through changes in weight due to having weight loss surgery (165 Lb down so far!). So these shirts took 2 weeks to come in and I ordered a few in different sizes since I was changing shirt sizes so quickly and my clincials were spread out over a wide period of time.

Well during my clinicals I found out that when there was bad weather (which is pretty often around here) that the ambulance service I was with issued me a temporary raincoat. The shirt I had was a polo type shirt and the ones they had were button up, very different material on the shirts. A side effect was that when I wore the jacket it left this white sticky junk all over my shirt that was unprofessional and off putting to the PT. So, the guys working at the ambulance station told me to go change, when I explained I only had one fitting shirt and explained my problem, they were cool about it but said to invest in a loose fitting or stretchable undershirt that said EMT on it incase it happened again. Which it did, and I had heeded their advice.

Fast forward a week or two later I just got off a clinical and was tired and hungry I stopped at Subway to get some food, it was sunny in my town, but my clinical station for that week was over 45 minutes away from my home town, and there were scattered showers in that area. I ended up having to use that vest. So this person sees me at the Subway dressed in a blue EMT shirt with my school shirt in the truck covered in junk.

So, I am at this meeting introducing myself and this person brings it up in front of everyone and gets this really...Smug and rude look on their face and obviously talks about me to the person next to them. I was very off put by this. So much so, that I went to explain to the person the situation. They told me oh, Im not offended but you should know you wont get certified if anyone see's you dressed like that, its impersonation of an EMT. The teacher and proctor shouldn't of let you dress that way. You will get in a lot of trouble, don't do it again. Almost implying I walk around on a normal basis wearing an EMT uniform before I am certified on a normal basis...When the reality was it was just for clinicals and I had a set of circumstances that needed to be met. I haven't worn that shirt since clinicals and I didn't wear it before clincals.

It just rubbed me the wrong way and was off putting...Is it offensive to you guys that I did that? Is this person right, will I get in trouble since I wore it during clinicals? It just...I normally have a thick skin, but the way that person phrased things and the look on their face and the fact they were pretty obviously talking about me in a negative manner to the person next to them really got to me. Acting that way and calling me out infront of everyone like that without the facts first.

I'm being a bit vague as to location and persons involved for a reason...I don't want to insult them if they didn't mean to come off the way they did or talk bad about someone.

 

[medicaltransient]

It is very unprofessional to reprimanded someone in front of his peers. You need to say something to this person before it affects their career or pt care. If you want to be an EMS professional you need a firm understanding of what cohesive teamwork means. If you are to reprimand someone you do it discreetly and privately. Tell this person in a discreet and and private manner that they displayed poor professionalism.
Congratulations on your weight loss, and good luck with school.

 

[Whitney Cadena]

I will first say, "Congratulations on your weight loss achievement"!

I just completed my EMT course and there were a ton of smart-alics and jerks. I learned people jump to conclusions all the time. What happened was not your fault. Maybe you should check the inside on the shirts the people give you, but then again the company providing you with the temporary jacket should have washed it prior. I mean whatever that white substance was should not have been there. That's telling me that the company doesn't believe in cleanliness themselves.

Next, Those people being rude should be reprimanded by a superior. Bullying is never tolerated. It never looks cool. If what happened to you happened to them they would be pissed themselves. Like you said, "It was for clinicals". Nobody is going to look down upon you for what happened in clinicals. The EMS profession is about helping people who cannot help themselves. It's not about who looks like a Calvin Klein model. Nobody shows up to call looking like they just left a business meeting & nobody leaves an urgent call looking like a model. If you do well then you were hardly working. Just wash your uniform daily, and make sure there are no soiled substances present on your next call from your last call. Always bring extras though. Expect the unexpected.

Last thing. The person next to you talking smack obviously isn't brave enough to tell you in private their concern. That alone says a lot about this individual. I wouldn't hire someone who couldn't tell me their problem to my face.

Honestly in my class we had EMT hats before we were even CPR certified and had to look like an EMT (the pants, shirt, stethoscope, bp cuff, penlight, shears, we even had an I.D.) My school builds itself off of professionalism. When the cops ask us why are we dressed like that we just flash them our I.D.'s. Obviously we are students even our polo said EMT and our school name. Also, we are the first school to have mandated uniform in NY.

Impersonating an EMT is just walking around in the uniform, not certified, or not in the pursuit of certification. You are entitled to that shirt if you want because you are pursuing that title. I had a guy in my class come in with the glasses, knee pads, and etc on the first day. People made fun of him, and they also failed state board yesterday while he passed. He worried about his books, not his looks. He was prepared.

Congratulations! on your weight loss, and I wish you the best of luck in school. Study hard. I know you got this.

 

[Tigger]

Can you just wash your school shirt?

As an aside, it is my goal to look extra fresh at the end of a good call, da hunnies luv it.

 

[MkVity]

Can you just wash your school shirt?

As an aside, it is my goal to look extra fresh at the end of a good call, da hunnies luv it.

I agree, do you leave the top button undone

 

[CALEMT]

Yeah calling you out and reprimanding you in front of peers is kinda of an *** move. On the other hand I can see why he or she had the concern to you wanting to look more professional/ presentable. Now I read this twice so I can fully understand that you got off a clinical and you went to a subway to grab a bite to eat wearing your EMT school shirt with that raincoat. Have you ever considered putting a regular civilian shirt in your vehicle so you can stop to eat without wearing a EMT shirt or even wearing a plain undershirt so you can shed any school/ department shirt? Just a suggestion but thats what I do/ did. I worked 5 1/2 hours away form where I lived and I commuted for a 72hr shift. During my commute I had to stop for gas and the occasional gas station breakfast. I just wore a regular shirt so no one could distinguish me with a department. Did I have to do this? Nope, but you never know who is inside where ever you go, someone is always watching. Also congrats on the weight loss! Hope this helps.

 

[Ewok Jerky]

That guy was jerk, but to save yourself the hassle just change shirts when off shift. I hate the idea of someone judging me or paying to much attention to me when I'm off duty so I never where my blue shirt to/from work.

Pretty much what calemt says. You never know who is watching.

 

[burnsmh]

Can you just wash your school shirt?

As an aside, it is my goal to look extra fresh at the end of a good call, da hunnies luv it.

I can but not while out in the field.

 

[Angel]

seems like a series of unfortunate events. it isnt professional to wear visible dirty clothes, nor is it professional to call you out (especially AFTER the fact) in public.
I believe you understand the shirt incident and it wont happen again. Me personally, I dont like to have any parts of my work uniform on off duty because theres to whole perception/duty for me to act in case something happens to or from work. But thats kind of off topic.
Just learn from it, I think you handled it well by pulling the person aside and explaining yourself, though his comments to you afterward were unnecessary.
I dont know about the impersonating an EMT bit but someone else answered that question, though I am not offended or bothered by you wearing the clothes while youre still a student.
You dont seem like a screw up so it doesnt seem all that crucial (to me)

 

[DrParasite]

I USUALLY have a button down shirt in my car. if I don't, than I have a polo shirt. If I go anywhere between my work and my home, I put a non-ems related shirt on. If I go for food, an adult beverage, anywhere else but my front door, I try to be as incognito as possible.

That being said, if it's cold or raining, I try to grab a non-ems jacket. if i I don't have one, than I will wear my EMS jacket.

To be technical, you aren't impersonating an EMT. did you claim to be an EMT? did say you were an EMT on a scene of a medical emergency? you were dressed like an EMT. to be further technical, anyone who goes as a paramedic for halloween should be charged with impersonating an EMT. ditto every cop and fireman.

lastly, who was this person who called you out? an instructor? the course director? a fellow student? If it was no one important, don't lose sleep over it. I won't be.

 

[SeeNoMore]

Burnsmh, I think there is a larger lesson here that might prove valuable to you as you progress in EMS. Or at least I will tell you how I view this situation based on my personal experiences.

Many people you meet in EMS will be unwelcoming at first and others will be downright hostile. They will gossip. They will talk about you in a negative manner to your face, behind your back, on facebook hell I have literally seen comments written on bathroom walls like you would find in a middle school.

Does this mean that there are no decent folks in EMS? Of course not. But I do think that the culture lends itself to a fair amount of rude behavior. Sometimes it is overlooked as "hazing the probie" or similar nonsense. It may be overlooked simply because others don't want to deal with a provider who is known to be difficult to deal with.

In addition , most EMS providers (whether or not they are unkind or rude people) have little tolerance for excuses. Or what they regard as excuses. I understand that you are frustrated and wish to vent. It sounds like you handled the situation in a reasonable manner. But this is unlikely to be your last encounter with difficult personalities in EMS.

Take this as an opportunity to grow a thick skin. This does not mean you have to become a miserable curmudgeon. Learn to admit your mistakes if you have in fact made them and do your best to improve. Take responsibility when appropriate. If you have done nothing wrong you might well consider turning the other cheek a bit (without compromising your self respect or integrity) while you are a student. I have seen more than one student on the losing side of a battle with a preceptor or instructor even if they have done nothing wrong. Often who you know is a powerful force in 911/Fire/EMS and the truth of things may well be worthless in comparison.


Best of Luck