tacmedic991

We've all felt the same things from time to time when inter-facility transports start this way, but it's easy to forget that lab coat or bunker coat, we're all playing for the same team and all need to try to make such interactions as smooth and painless as possible so inter-agency relations can be strong and professional. . . that being said, I think the video was mostly harmless, and firing was extreme. . . I can see a short reprimand suspension and a letter of apology or some such thing. . . I do agree though that using an actual doctor's name is a bad idea, and perhaps a little more tact could have been used. . .

Welcome to the job, MetalMedic You have a great question that nearly every new EMT who wants to be a paramedic struggles with for a while. . . I personally believe that having time to build road skills prior to attaching a -P is not only helpful, but vital. . . Getting into the feel of the job before having the full weight of responsibility for each and every call you're on as a paramedic is very important. . . It's not that the job is necessarily hard, but there are a lot of elements to the job, and if you don't have a solid background in basic skills on the bus and in BLS patient interaction, you will be a woefully lacking ALS practitioner. . . There will be times in your career where no level of advanced skills can save a situation, and having the stability of nerve and mind that comes with time will be your only salvation. . . It is a huge thing to be the paramedic on a call, since as the highest qualified practitioner, you are not only in control, but responsible for the outcome, and having some time under your belt to build the necessary fortitudes before being the one everyone else will depend on is absolutely invaluable. . . I personally spent 2 years as a -B grunt before entering the -P class, and it was the best thing I could have done. . . I feel that not only were my BLS skills second nature, but the essentials of patient interaction were honed and I was a much more patient oriented medic when I graduated with my -P. . . I was also able to develop firm nerves and an ability to calmly remove emotion and control a situation, which came in very helpful when I entered TEMS. . . There are a lot of good medics out there that know their -P skills back and forth but are unable to connect with their patients and use the 6th sense that solid, focused time in BLS can foster, because they have been just skills medics from the get-go. . . As much fun as having advanced skills is, the job is less about the skills, more about the person with the skills, and ultimately about the patient. . . If you are so busy practicing didactic knowledge and lab skills, you're going to miss the information the patient isn't telling you that a little time in BLS will teach you to read and intuitively feel. . . I feel that if your goal is paramedic, the "ladder" approach of going B-I-CC-P could be a waste of time and money, and will likely do little more than frustrate you as you spend years between stages when you could just be where you want to be. I'm not sure where you are, but in Upstate NY where I took my -P course, they offered an advanced paramedic program that was basically between standard -P and PA. . . It takes about 5 months longer, but you're much more skilled on the other side, and it's definitely worth the time, and you'll have more road time to acclimate to the job before operating as a -P. . . If you're aching to get going with the schooling, I might suggest enrolling in an Emergency Services Management course, which is offered by many schools that offer -P courses. That will give you 2 years of school time to run BLS calls while in school, and on the other side you'll have an AAS (some have 2 year BS degrees) and your -P, and should you decide to go into a regional or federal EMA, a degree in ESM will be invaluable. Just a thought. Good luck to you!

I wear a pair of Gargoyles high impact in my RX, and carry M95 masks. . . In the systems I've worked, eye/resp pro hasn't been mandatory, but I make sure to carry it at all times and use them if there is any suspicion of airborne contagions or obvious risk due to fluids flying

Hey Toby, I can totally relate, but in a somewhat different way. . . I have been an EMT-I for 13 years, volunteered as an EMT/Firefighter for several years while working for 6 years in a city system, and did 2 years as a tactical medic and instructor, and entered a MIC-Paramedic course with the intention of advancing to PA school to hopefully end up in a flight or clinical cardiology setting, but was offered a full time national touring gig, so I toured as a drummer with a Christian rock band for 5 years. . . I've been drumming since I was 4, and have always played in local bands, but really wanted to tour. . . the road and studio time were amazing and I miss being out there. . . but now I'm newly married and settling down is on the menu, so it's back to EMS for me. . . anyway, it's not that obvious, but the two careers can be very complimentary in approach and mindset. . . I'll be glad to answer any questions you have and offer any advice or experience I can that might help. . . Feel free to e-mail me at tacmedic991@yahoo.com. . . EMS is an amazing profession, even (especially) if it's volunteer. . . Good luck! Wes (tacmedic991)

You and your family are in my prayers. I'm truly sorry for your loss.