Green partner

[MarrKr]

I have a very green partner. Previously this person did tax assessment and then worked in a convenience store. A really great personality and tons of compassion are her best attributes. She however can't keep the truck between the lines, is scared to "get in the way" on scene, and can't remeber any of the daily tasks, and has to be talked through even the simplest of 911 calls. She has been with the service for over 2 months at this point. I don't want to send her the wrong message by being overly aggressive in giving her tasks, but my patience is wearing thin. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Veneficus]

I have a very green partner. Previously this person did tax assessment and then worked in a convenience store. A really great personality and tons of compassion are her best attributes. She however can't keep the truck between the lines, is scared to "get in the way" on scene, and can't remeber any of the daily tasks, and has to be talked through even the simplest of 911 calls. She has been with the service for over 2 months at this point. I don't want to send her the wrong message by being overly aggressive in giving her tasks, but my patience is wearing thin. Anyone have any suggestions?

How do you think every FTO or person who has felt that position feels every time they get a new person?

Best thing to do is restrict her tasks. Don't let her drive. Coach her to become proficent on scene, once that happens, then teach her to drive. Too much info too fast just leads to lots of nothing.

If she does 10 things wrong tell her what she did right and only one or 2 things wrong.

Have patience, take time.

 

[Shishkabob]

Have patients, take time.

While patients work, so does patience.



Like Vene stated, praise a lot more than you punish.




Heck, going through my FTO right now, and I've been a medic for 9 months, and even though he praises my knowledge / ability to talk to patients, etc etc, he criticizes my scene control. Very example of praise more than punish. One step at a time.

 

[lightsandsirens5]

Well, being in a training position, I can only agree with Linuss and Vene. Praise, praise, praise. Don't criticize in public. Correction in public is ok, just don't do it in a critical manner. Of course always intervene if something dangerous will happen or if protocol will be breached, but still, that can be done in a non critical manner.

And when you are giving criticism, give it sandwiched between praise. My instructor instructor gave us this example, which I never forgot. "I like your new haircut. It has a lot of gray in it, but that style looks good on you." Praise-criticism-praise.

 

[JPINFV]

A few other pointers.

Use constructive criticism.

Even better yet, use the Socratic method. "Why did you do ____?" is better than, "Don't do that." This let's you know whether it is a systemic problem or a situational analysis problem. Similarly, "Why didn't you chose [right intervention]?" Guide them to the answer, don't tell them the answer.

Similarly, remember. Just as there are plenty of wrong ways to do things, there are also more than one right way to do something. Sometimes the difference is nothing more than personal preference. You're building a provider, not a clone.

 

[MarrKr]

Thanks for all the advice. I have never really had to work with a brand new EMT since becoming a paramedic. I feel like I'm expecting too much somehow, but also feel as though I shouldn't have to babysit someone who is in the process of going through paramedic school.

Once again thank you all.

 

[jjesusfreak01]

Thanks for all the advice. I have never really had to work with a brand new EMT since becoming a paramedic. I feel like I'm expecting too much somehow, but also feel as though I shouldn't have to babysit someone who is in the process of going through paramedic school.

Once again thank you all.

You aren't there to babysit, you're there to educate. Someone has to teach the new guys, why not you? You need to help them learn the skills that they need to be valuable to you in the field, because ultimately, paramedic assist skills and driving are going to be the most important things they do.

 

[johnrsemt]

I always like working with new EMT's. As a medic I always started with the basic things to do:
IV setup, Vitals, Monitor, O2; what ever I was doing pick another one of the 4 and do it till it is done, and then start another one.

after each run I would ask for questions and go through the run with them: always starting with what they did right, and what went right. I very seldom ever have to mention what someone did wrong, usually they bring it up themselves.

 

[reaper]

Exactly. Do not treat this job as you only and not worried about the rest.

You are the medic. Take the time to pass on knowledge and teach them. They me be the person showing up at your house one day!

Every medic has a moral obligation to teach the new and make sure that the up and coming providers, will be the best they can be. Complaining about them and not wanting to teach, will just stall out any advancment.

 

[wyoskibum]

Let'em know what your expect....

I have a very green partner. Previously this person did tax assessment and then worked in a convenience store. A really great personality and tons of compassion are her best attributes. She however can't keep the truck between the lines, is scared to "get in the way" on scene, and can't remeber any of the daily tasks, and has to be talked through even the simplest of 911 calls. She has been with the service for over 2 months at this point. I don't want to send her the wrong message by being overly aggressive in giving her tasks, but my patience is wearing thin. Anyone have any suggestions?

In addition to what everyone else has said, make sure your partner know what you expect from her. Encourage her to speak up if she is uncomfortable with the situation or if she doesn't know what to do next. She should learn something from each case and after X number of times, she should be able to do it on her own.

 

[Handsome Robb]

Old thread but ill revive it. Any other tips besides what's already been voiced?

My partner is very new and very young. Not to say I'm not both of those as well but she's newer and younger

She's extremely intelligent, motivated and looking to improve so I can't ask for much more, I'm wondering how I can help her improve, I've found it difficult to step back and let her run the show because after the usual run of the mill questions I can tell she starts to run out of things and as soon as I interject she "disappears" so to speak and even if its a patient that is hers will never take back over the assessment even if I prompt her with something like "I'm going to start an IV and my partner my have some more questions for you." I feel like I've been a bit overbearing but at the same time I'm not sure how to fix the problem. I want to help this girl learn rather than be the medic that just takes everything and all they use their partner for is skills and driving.

 

[DesertMedic66]

Old thread but ill revive it. Any other tips besides what's already been voiced?

My partner is very new and very young. Not to say I'm not both of those as well but she's newer and younger

She's extremely intelligent, motivated and looking to improve so I can't ask for much more, I'm wondering how I can help her improve, I've found it difficult to step back and let her run the show because after the usual run of the mill questions I can tell she starts to run out of things and as soon as I interject she "disappears" so to speak and even if its a patient that is hers will never take back over the assessment even if I prompt her with something like "I'm going to start an IV and my partner my have some more questions for you." I feel like I've been a bit overbearing but at the same time I'm not sure how to fix the problem. I want to help this girl learn rather than be the medic that just takes everything and all they use their partner for is skills and driving.

Start by giving her scenarios. Help her with her assessment verbally and then slowly start to introduce it into the field.

Give her training wheels and then slowly move on to taking them off so to speak.

EDIT: and holy thread resurrection batman!

 

[Sublime]

"I'm going to start an IV and my partner my have some more questions for you."

How come she isn't starting the IVs?

Also, I don't think putting her on the spot is the best way to go about things. If she has already run out of questions to ask, what do you think putting her on the spot like that is going to do? Perhaps when she runs out of things to ask, and you still feel more information is needed, I would ask them myself and then discuss with her afterward the reasons for asking those questions.

 

[Handsome Robb]

How come she isn't starting the IVs?

Also, I don't think putting her on the spot is the best way to go about things. If she has already run out of questions to ask, what do you think putting her on the spot like that is going to do? Perhaps when she runs out of things to ask, and you still feel more information is needed, I would ask them myself and then discuss with her afterward the reasons for asking those questions.

Good question, I'm used to working with experienced intermediates so when it's their call I do all the skills while they do the assessment and visa versa.

My issue is getting her to ask any questions at all, I pretty much have to prompt her on every call to start doing a basic assessment. She's a smart girl, you can tell the wheels are turning but you can also tell she's very uncomfortable asking direct questions.

 

[Tigger]

Good question, I'm used to working with experienced intermediates so when it's their call I do all the skills while they do the assessment and visa versa.

My issue is getting her to ask any questions at all, I pretty much have to prompt her on every call to start doing a basic assessment. She's a smart girl, you can tell the wheels are turning but you can also tell she's very uncomfortable asking direct questions.

I think it's important to establish whose call it is before you even get there. If the dispatch info sounds like a call that she should be attending, perhaps remind her before you're on scene to take the lead on the assessment. If it becomes evident that you as the medic needs to handle it, you can step in and it should be quite obvious that a turnover is happening.

This really works for me since I have a bunch of partners. If we don't clarify we just end up stepping on each other for the whole assessment. Obviously if she is forgetting something chime in, but make sure she knows that most calls should start as hers (if that's how you want to run it).

 

[Sublime]

Good question, I'm used to working with experienced intermediates so when it's their call I do all the skills while they do the assessment and visa versa.

My issue is getting her to ask any questions at all, I pretty much have to prompt her on every call to start doing a basic assessment. She's a smart girl, you can tell the wheels are turning but you can also tell she's very uncomfortable asking direct questions.

I think not asking any questions at all comes from two things

1. Nervousness from lack of experience with patients
2. Not knowing what questions to ask

Perhaps the best way to approach the situation is to do the "Ok you're the medic, pretend I'm your EMT and you do everything but I am here to help if you really need me" type of thing. This will force her to ask questions, control the scene, and do what she would without you...but she has the security of knowing you're there if she needs you. Also will allow you to see what she knows and needs work on.