CityGirl

Thanks to everyone for their input!! I have taken mental notes of how the negative people act, and its something that I think will stick with me forever....what kind of EMT I don't ever want to turn into. I remember in my very first criminal justice class in college, over 10 years ago, my teacher telling us the story of his first day on duty. He pulled someone over for speeding, and had what he called "new and jerky" mentality, and after giving the guy he pulled over a lecture about speeding he saw a piece of paper in the guy's passenger seat. It was a death certificate; the guys wife had just passed away. My teacher said that moment in his life changed his entire outlook on his job, and how he lived his life in general. That has also stuck with me. I grew up in a huge city....a dirty city, a crime filled city, and no matter what that is home. That's what's shaped me. While I don't set out every day with a bad attitude and the feeling that the world owes me because I grew up in a rough area....I'm no small town farm girl. I don't fit in here for that reason, and people have made that fact known. That part doesn't bother me....it just bothers me that these people have been given the opportunity of a lifetime in this county, by working full time for this county, and they take advantage of it. There aren't many jobs to speak of in this county, and these people just blatantly take advantage of it. Its sickening. This area also has the 'good ol' boy' mentality to an extreme. The fields I'm trained in, excell in, and want to continue working in around here are very....male dominated jobs. To the point where the men don't feel women deserve a place in these fields. Things like that are pretty well non-existant back home, so it really came as a shock to me when it was all thrown in my face (and continues to be thrown in my face 2 years later.) At this point I'm thinking I not only need a different crew to run with....I might just need to pick a new state and start over again. Again, thanks to everyone for your advice. I appreciate it. I don't want to overthink this decision, but at the same time I am so drained by the negativity at the station and in the ambulances that it's time to build a bridge and get over it lol.

Thanks for that advice. I've been thinking that's about the only solution at this point for a while now, but its just so hard to walk away from something I love to do. Another reason I think its so hard is because I can see how great all the public service agencies in our county could be if they'd just cut the crap (I work for more than one here) but these people just let their childish, petty ways rule their lives....and let it all carry over to work. The people that are going to suffer the most are the people of our county, and that's a hard pill for me to swallow. I came from a really big city, and I guess I had a big misconception about small towns. Its such a hard decision to make. I cut down my availability for next month, and I think I'll do the same thing for the month of June....just keep cutting it down and give my mind a break. When you're on a 12 hour shift with someone negative, and don't have any runs that shift to break up the day, by the time I get home I truly feel as if I've been running non-stop on major calls for 3 days straight....that's just no way to be.

Hi everyone. I'm new on here, and just wanted to get some different opinions on a few things. I'm a volunteer for our large and very rural (meaning sparsely populated) county. We've got a few full time EMTs, but the majority of our service is comprised of volunteers. I'm originally from a very big city where the emergency services are run on pride and teamwork....and I'm learning the services in small town America aren't run the same way. It's not the easiest to be an "outsider" here trying to find a full time job that you'd love to do. I've seen with EMS here that I would love to be able to do it full time. Problem is there isn't the funding here for any more full time staff....and there are a few full timers here that complain constantly about the job, and are so negative they've made it clear they hate their job, and hate our director (who is a wonderful, fair person by the way.) The negative ones pick and choose when/if they want to be on the schedule, and when they're on call, in between runs they make it known they're above the rest of us, and therefore will NOT do a damn thing. No truck checks, no washing/cleaning of anything, no restocking....nothing. When on a run, they will not do anything more than drive for the most part. That way, they don't have to do anything, and definitely don't have to write a report. And these negative people make a 12 hour shift seem like 36 hours of straight running. I am not embellishing any of this. My frustrations are felt by others on our service, but the powers-that-be (the people who could actually do something about all this) turn a blind eye to the facts because they don't want to make waves. Waves of change. I am in the midst of another class to raise my certification level, and I'm really starting to regret that decision. Any education is a good thing, this I know. But I'm getting burned out of doing something I love, and its not due to the actual job itself. Its the negativity that's around. I've got the ability to put any personal bs aside in the workplace. I can and will work with anyone. There are 3-4 other volunteers that I absolutely LOVE to work with, because those people have a true sense of what it's like to work as a team. But, when faced with being on the schedule with one of the negative few, my stomach starts to churn and ache. Everything they say is negative, and I am not a person who likes to be around people who want to suck the very life out of you. Now I'm presented with this dilemma. I will be testing out in June. I've got a wonderfully awesome director/boss behind me with EMS here. But I've absolutely had it with the negative people taking full advantage of a full time paycheck and benefits here. I've had it with them, especially when they say to me (and its not just me, they do this to as many people as they can) "You will be the one doing everything, because that's just how it is." NO!! That's not how it is!! That's not how it should be!! EMS, or any emergency service (fire, rescue, police, etc.) CANNOT work if their people don't work as a team towards a common goal. And the powers-that-be, the people who have all the authority and reasons in front of them to make a change, just won't do it. Its going to end up costing the people of our county....and thats just not acceptable to me. Nor is being cast in a bad light due to the negative words and actions of the negative full timers and volunteers. I'm learning in small town America, words travel faster than light. And when word is getting out, broadcast all over the county about what so and so said about their job....sounds like time for a massive change. My questions are these. Are my feelings/emotions about all this valid? Granted, I know I didn't go into much detail here (it would end up being a super long post.) If you'd like any details, just let me know. I will not disclose names, what service I work for, what state I live in or any of that, but I will explain certain things a little more in depth. Yes, I've gone to everyone I could go to with my thoughts. I've stood up at monthly meetings and voiced my opinions. And I've done all that with others at my side, showing that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Its all fallen on deaf ears. What should my next step be? I love EMS. I don't do it for the money, but getting full time pay would be a huge bonus. I'm burned out on the negative people I run with. Do I cut ties and walk away? I don't want to walk away from something that I love. Has anyone else gone through things like this, or have the same frustrations? Any words of advice? Thanks in advance.