Nameless
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I'm in EMT-B training right now, and we are set to take our state tests come early December. I've got one more 8-hour hospital clinical to do (24 hours for hospitals, 48 hours for ambulance rides, 4 hours for nursing home) and I've already learned quite a bit so far with hands-on experience.
However, with my clinicals, I've mostly felt like there wasn't a whole lot I could do. In the hospital, we mostly had nurses. There were "techs" (as they called them) that were equivalent to an EMT-B, but they were trained to do things that I would not be (i.e. blood draws, start IVs, 12-lead ECGs, etc.) through the state EMT-B certification. The most I've done out of my level was attach a 3-lead ECG (not even the pads, just the probes to the pads) to transfer a patient in-hospital, and I attached them incorrectly.
The feeling that there wasn't a lot I could do mostly stemmed from my perception that I didn't know exactly what I would be allowed to do and the fact that I am extremely new to a lot of this. I feel as though I'm fumbling with everything and that I am going to mess up. I once had the opportunity to place a combitube into a real patient, but that did not go well, as my medic said I was close to puncturing his trachea. That was honestly not my intention, but I had only ever placed the tube in a mannequin twice, and only managed to do so correctly in the mannequin once.
I've been told that experience will come in time and with more practice, but the fear is still there. I have anxiety as is, so I am probably blowing my fear and worries out of proportion. I'd like to know, though, if anyone has any tips for an upcoming EMT, let me know. Do you have any advice after reading this? Any practice tips? How to inspire self-confidence? I know you guys can't see my skills in action through reading an online forum, but still.
However, with my clinicals, I've mostly felt like there wasn't a whole lot I could do. In the hospital, we mostly had nurses. There were "techs" (as they called them) that were equivalent to an EMT-B, but they were trained to do things that I would not be (i.e. blood draws, start IVs, 12-lead ECGs, etc.) through the state EMT-B certification. The most I've done out of my level was attach a 3-lead ECG (not even the pads, just the probes to the pads) to transfer a patient in-hospital, and I attached them incorrectly.
The feeling that there wasn't a lot I could do mostly stemmed from my perception that I didn't know exactly what I would be allowed to do and the fact that I am extremely new to a lot of this. I feel as though I'm fumbling with everything and that I am going to mess up. I once had the opportunity to place a combitube into a real patient, but that did not go well, as my medic said I was close to puncturing his trachea. That was honestly not my intention, but I had only ever placed the tube in a mannequin twice, and only managed to do so correctly in the mannequin once.
I've been told that experience will come in time and with more practice, but the fear is still there. I have anxiety as is, so I am probably blowing my fear and worries out of proportion. I'd like to know, though, if anyone has any tips for an upcoming EMT, let me know. Do you have any advice after reading this? Any practice tips? How to inspire self-confidence? I know you guys can't see my skills in action through reading an online forum, but still.