Epi-do
I see dead people
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I have been cleared and working as a medic now for about a month. In that time, I have already had 2 overdoses, 3 cardiac arrests, 2 burn patients from house fires, 2 COPD/CHF'ers that I almost had to intubate, and a pedestrian struck by an SUV and thrown through the air.
Of course, there have been your everyday, "run of the mill" ALS runs too - chest pain, difficulty breathing, diabetic, etc. So much for easing into this new role. I guess, on the bright side, I have been "fortunate" to get several "oh crap" runs right off the bat while all that information is still fresh, rather than wondering when the first "big one" is going to come along.
So far, I have managed to make it through each run, learning along the way. All through class, respiratory runs were the hardest for me to feel comfortable with, and I feel as if I am gaining confidence with them. With each one, I feel a little bit more certain with my working/field diagnosis and treatment decisions. Not only is that good for me, I am positive it is good for my patients as well.
I have been told by several people that your first year as a medic is the biggest part of the learning curve, and I am finding alot of truth to that. Even though I had been a basic for almost 10 years when I finally got my medic cert, I feel as if I have a different perspective on patient care now. I am sure a part of that is due to the increased knowledge obtained during class, and some of it is due to the realization that I have to ability to do something for my patients, besides give them a taxi ride - and that whatever "something" I chose to do will have consequences, good or bad, for the patient. Not only am I learning how to provide better patient care, I am also learning "how to be a medic."
I hope the rest of our baby medics here are having good experiences. I know there were a few of us that all finished class around the same time and I would love to hear how you think things are going. As for me, it seems to be a trial by fire, but I am surviving!
Of course, there have been your everyday, "run of the mill" ALS runs too - chest pain, difficulty breathing, diabetic, etc. So much for easing into this new role. I guess, on the bright side, I have been "fortunate" to get several "oh crap" runs right off the bat while all that information is still fresh, rather than wondering when the first "big one" is going to come along.
So far, I have managed to make it through each run, learning along the way. All through class, respiratory runs were the hardest for me to feel comfortable with, and I feel as if I am gaining confidence with them. With each one, I feel a little bit more certain with my working/field diagnosis and treatment decisions. Not only is that good for me, I am positive it is good for my patients as well.
I have been told by several people that your first year as a medic is the biggest part of the learning curve, and I am finding alot of truth to that. Even though I had been a basic for almost 10 years when I finally got my medic cert, I feel as if I have a different perspective on patient care now. I am sure a part of that is due to the increased knowledge obtained during class, and some of it is due to the realization that I have to ability to do something for my patients, besides give them a taxi ride - and that whatever "something" I chose to do will have consequences, good or bad, for the patient. Not only am I learning how to provide better patient care, I am also learning "how to be a medic."
I hope the rest of our baby medics here are having good experiences. I know there were a few of us that all finished class around the same time and I would love to hear how you think things are going. As for me, it seems to be a trial by fire, but I am surviving!
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wacko:?). I was past my 3 month probationary period with the company last week and have been running as a medic on my own with an EMT partner for 2 1/2 months. The first bit was extremely difficult. At my low point, I seriously reconsidered, if not my career choice, the place I was working at. I am getting comfortable in the field. I have found my own rhythm (ha ha... medic joke) and am really starting to enjoy my job. By the same token, I am extremely grateful that the first 2 months my calls were either cardiac which I am very comfortable with or BS. The first flash pulmonary edema patient I ran on died. That call will be with me forever. The multi casualty MVA where I am the first and only response has so far eluded me. I thank God that it has worked out the way it has. I am doing good work, and while I fully expect to make mistakes, I am more confident each day in myself and my abilities to do the job well. I love this job.
