melmedic06

i am an RN and a medic and find the nurse to nurse power struggle to be much more vindictive and downright nasty than the medic to nurse battles- since i am also a woman it is not easy to admit that we tend to be incredibly petty and in a constant state of wanting to be in control- i think most nurses are intimidated by medics and show that in their attitude- and even though nurses are considered to be "the higher level of care" we all want a medic there when someone needs to be intubated- we can't do it!!! i feel much more respected by my co-workers when i am functioning as a medic than i ever do when i am on the floor as a nurse- that is sad to admit- but very true-

[/font:ca7e6a5520] [/font:ca7e6a5520]i enjoy everything about being a medic because it is all so new to me- i have been an RN for 12 years now and got my medic license last october- i am thrilled everytime i get to say "i am a Paramedic" - it is exciting to have the patient- the EMT and myself and to be doing the assessment- asking questions - trying to get a sense of what is going on- starting to form a first impression of what might be needed and at the same time trying to calm my nerves telling myself over and over again I CAN DO THIS!! i know it sounds crazy but i get such a kick out of putting on O2- doing a 12 lead and starting an IV- this is my patient and i am making the decisions- i feel i am actually helping someone and using my knowledge instead of reading off a page of orders and following them step by step -day after day-i am so looking forward to as many patients as possible and learning as much as i can and getting to say "i am a Paramedic" as many times as i can in 2008- great thread!!

a very petite woman who had given blood earlier in the day and decided to attend the local theatre that night and instead of eating dinner had a glass of wine instead- passed out in her seat- my first night as "the medic" and everyone said go for it- O2-IVF's-EKG-transport- very happy to get that first call done!!!

[/font:1115068d12] i also support a two year degree- i could not believe the way assignments were presented to the instructor in EMT class but even more so in Medic school- i realize the education standards are a bit lower here in Florida but some of the spelling for our on-line discussion assignments were shocking!! and we even had spellcheck how did they make it through A & P and still spell like 3rd graders? oops- sorry- i am off topic here- EMT/B diploma Paramedic certificate AS nursing