Need some help getting through EMT-B

[Brandonf18]

Hello,
I am a new member here, i must say this looks like a great site and I hope I learn alot here. I am 18 years old and currently in the last two weeks of my EMTB class. I have some questions and concerns i'd like to get some answers or insight on, it would be much appreciated.

Ill be completely honest. I have NOT been the best studier during this class. Finishing up high school and taking this has been quite a challenge. My uncle is a Paramedic captain at the station I am taking my class at which helps alot, but living an hour and a half away hurts me. I just completed my NREMT skills today, and failed two for silly mistakes. Retested, and passed. my only concern is the written section, which comes really hard for me. I know EMTB is really, really simple for most but im having a hard time getting it to come naturally to me.

If I do pass the NREMT, I think my biggest worry is that I will start working somewhere, more than likely a transport service just to get my feet in the door, and get a critical patient and not have the right knowledge and ultimately kill or harm a patient. Is it normal to feel this way? I really want to be an EMT, but this is constantly in my mind. I will continue to study and do my best, is the best way to learn just to get a job and work and gain experiance?

Any help is welcome.
Thank you,
Brandon

 

[beandip4all]

If I do pass the NREMT, I think my biggest worry is that I will start working somewhere, more than likely a transport service just to get my feet in the door, and get a critical patient and not have the right knowledge and ultimately kill or harm a patient. Is it normal to feel this way? I really want to be an EMT, but this is constantly in my mind. I will continue to study and do my best, is the best way to learn just to get a job and work and gain experiance?

Do you think you're slacking off in the class because your uncle is one of the people teaching it?

How much longer in the program do you have? Time to turn it around and amp up your study habits? Is high school over at this point- could you focus just on this?

For the 3 hours a day you spend driving- maybe try to utilize that time. Put some podcasts on in your car so you're at least listening to something educational for an hour or two while you're driving.

Biggest way to increase your performance on the written tests is twofold attack:
1.) take practice tests (AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON). Order these online from the NREMT website or look for questions in your EMT book. Try to get SEVERAL different tests and work through them.
2.) flashcards. Make flashcards of questions you get wrong on the above tests and drive yourself on them. It's old school but it works.

Take it one step at a time. Worry about salvaging your performance in this class, doing your best from here on out, and then passing the NREMT. You've got a lot of steps before you get out in the field, so deal with what's in front of you now.

Good luck!