"The ambulance drivers are here"

EMTMama

EMTMama

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I've been with my IFT company for nearly 9 months now. I'm getting pretty irritated by being called an "ambulance driver" by CNA's/LPN's/RN's. I'm not sure if I'm being referred as that because of the company I work for (I'm wondering if they don't realize I'm an EMT because we're mainly an IFT company). For a long time I didn't let it bother me but it seems to be getting more prevalent. The other day I ran into one that kept using that term, and I politely said "I'm an EMT, not just a driver." to which she laughed and kept using "ambulance driver."

What's the big deal, you ask? Because like everybody else, I went to school and earned my licensure. I have the same skill set and licensure as the 911 company, and it just seems to be getting used as a derrogatory term. I do more than drive an ambulance. I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate me referring to them as a bed pan changer or a butt wiper. <_<
 
I bet that would change quickly if they found themselves in need of your services. For now, since they now know for certain that it bugs you, it's sure to remain that way.
 
its really not that big of a deal. there was a time when the people on the ambulance were nothing but drivers, and some services still employ "drivers". people know we do more than drive, its just the term we're given, from EMT-B up to EMT-P.
 
steveshurtleff said:
I bet that would change quickly if they found themselves in need of your services. For now, since they now know for certain that it bugs you, it's sure to remain that way.
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LOL I bet it would too! :)

If I see her again, maybe I'll just ask her if she has some adult diapers to change. :P (I'm being sarcastic, of course)
 
When I did IFT, every time a nurse called me an ambulance driver, I asked if their official title was "butt wiper". They usually caught on quick.




Floor nurses are the ones that always used the terms in my experience, because ER and ICU nurses actually knew we did MUCH more than driving (IF the medic even drove) I mean really, do they think a patient starts their own IO, gives them 10 different drugs, and intubates themselves before we arrive?


Now, if a patient calls me an ambulance driver, I just ignore it.
 
mct601 said:
its really not that big of a deal. there was a time when the people on the ambulance were nothing but drivers, and some services still employ "drivers". people know we do more than drive, its just the term we're given, from EMT-B up to EMT-P.
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I think it's more the tone that accompanies it. The ones that do it seem pretty put off that we're there needing information....after THEY called US....to come get THEIR patient.
 
Linuss - that's it exactly. I don't expect a patient to know. It doesn't bother me at all if a patient uses that term. But someone in the medical field...ya, they should know. I may get to that point where I ask if they'd prefer to be called a butt wiper too if I'm having a particularly *****y day. :lol:
 
EMTMama said:
I think it's more the tone that accompanies it. The ones that do it seem pretty put off that we're there needing information....after THEY called US....to come get THEIR patient.
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And to the ones that get offended that we open the packet / refuse to give a transfer report, I do 2 things:

First, ask if they'd like me to bring them a patient without telling them a think about them.

And second, if the person is still being an idiot, I go to a doctor and get the info from them. I have doctors, errm... correct... ignorant medical behavior before from people who refused to do a proper transfer of care.
 
EMTMama said:
Linuss - that's it exactly. I don't expect a patient to know. It doesn't bother me at all if a patient uses that term. But someone in the medical field...ya, they should know. I may get to that point where I ask if they'd prefer to be called a butt wiper too if I'm having a particularly *****y day. :lol:
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Or if you don't want to go THAT far, just start calling them CNA/LVNs/Nurses aid. Lowest common demonanitor in your area.

They'll try and correct you, and that's when you correct them.





And yes, I can be an *** at times.
 
Linuss said:
Or if you don't want to go THAT far, just start calling them CNA/LVNs/Nurses aid. Lowest common demonanitor in your area.

They'll try and correct you, and that's when you correct them.





And yes, I can be an *** at times.
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Haha...AWESOME! I may do that. Believe me, I can be an *** at times as well, but try the polite route first.
 
Meh, my view is, if they can get defensive with their correct title, so can we.
 
Linuss said:
Meh, my view is, if they can get defensive with their correct title, so can we.
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EXACTLY!!!!!

And yeah, I know "it's what you do, it's not who you are" blah blah blah...I'm a fairly reasonable person...just treat me with the level of respect you'd want to be treated with because the fact of the matter is, like it or not, IFT IS needed. No way could our 911 system handle doing the amount of IFT's we do (nor could we handle doing 911 too, even if we DID have the contract for it), and I still don't need a doctor standing over my shoulder telling me every move I need to make, unlike them. :P
 
Linuss said:
Meh, my view is, if they can get defensive with their correct title, so can we.
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How many different titles do RNs want to be called by?
How many different titles do EMS providers want to be called by?
See the difference?
 
Lets face it, the patient transport service (IFT) is basically a medi taxi so "ambulance driver" is appropriate.

Here, we have Patient Transfer Officers and Paramedics, see the difference?
 
MrBrown said:
Lets face it, the patient transport service (IFT) is basically a medi taxi so "ambulance driver" is appropriate.

Here, we have Patient Transfer Officers and Paramedics, see the difference?
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Yes and no. Last time I checked taxi drivers didn't start IV's, administer O2 or medications. We still treat patients that the nursing homes neglect. Still not appropriate. Driving is merely one aspect of my job, just like wiping butts is merely one aspect of theirs.
 
It really doesn't bother me. I'm not going to be interacting with the person for more than five minutes so I don't feel any need to make them respect my 120 hours of training.
 
Meh. Driving is ~50% of our job so being referred to as "ambulance driver" is not too terribly inaccurate, though I do agree that it's annoying. Until EMS on the whole gets its act together, I don't really see a reason to expect any more from the people we encounter. In the meantime, politeness can get you a long way as far as respect is concerned.
 
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In Russia there are no ambulance drivers because...........
 
I dont mind being called an ambulance driver by a patient. When a nurse or somebody else in the field does it i take some offence.
 
When I first became an EMT I had a nurse that did the same thing. I never got angry or said anything back. I just always smiled and went on about my duties. About a year later I went to a MVC and guess who was in the drivers seat with multiple fractures and a severe head injury. After that day she referred to me as her EMT angel. Just kill em with kindness mama.
 
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