paramedicmike

More money, and I don't want to get away from the medical field.

So it's not because you really want to be a nurse and provide good nursing care to your patients? It's because you want more money?

Please carefully consider what you're thinking/saying here. Please also consider your motivations for wanting to do what you're describing. Would you want a nurse taking care of you or your family member who was there simply because it was a job that paid more money? Or would you want a nurse taking care of you or your family member who is there because s/he is dedicated to the nursing profession and strives every day to be the best damn nurse possible because s/he loves it? There is a difference between the two.

There are plenty of nurses out there who are nurses simply because it pays well and they have nothing else to fall back on. These nurses are pretty easy to spot. The tells are generally not flattering or positive. These nurses are burned out and many times really shouldn't be providing nursing care.

There are many career considerations to be made. Money is one of those considerations. It is not the only one. In the end, however, it is your decision. All that can be asked by those with whom you'll be working, and especially by those for whom you'll be caring, is that you're making your career choices for the right reason.

Agreed with the above.

The "medic minute" really equals the "medic eight and a third minutes".

The intro was annoying and about 30 seconds too long. The pic with the guys in the truck all decked out in turnout gear is, indeed, irksome. (Yes, I know. It's Florida where for some insane reason you guys think fire has to be involved in EMS. However, you're talking about medicine here. Is it too much to ask that you stick with medical images?) So is the girl with the two huge hickeys on her neck. The music, as has been noted, is annoying.

There are several points during the video where there is a footer added to the bottom of the screen with text that is so similar in colour to the background that it can't be read.

Systemet made a lot of good points about the content. I don't see the need to rehash what's been said.

Sorry to switch gears , But I am considering going to Puerto Rico and am having a hard time finding out if they accept national registry , their " head EMS office" ( Lord forbid I call it a state EMS office ) or any information for that matter. will be there in spring but would love to get a head start by getting some information.

Can any of you guys help me with any websites , numbers , or information.

Welcome.

I have to ask, how much energy did you put into looking?

Link one

Link two

Link three: this might not be the best resource but at least it offers an address, a phone number and a contact name of someone who may be able to help direct you.

I found a lot more information, too. But you're going to have to do some of the legwork here.

Act 1. Scene II.

Soothsayer: Caesar!

CAESAR: Ha! who calls?

CASCA: Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!

CAESAR: Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR: What man is that?

BRUTUS: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

CAESAR: Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS: Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.

CAESAR: What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR: He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Sometimes I wonder about you, Richard.

Regular NC.

One of my former employers is now mandating high flow nasal cannula (15lpm) as oxygenation prior to, and during, intubation attempts. Seems they've started this, in part, based on this study. While I'm not privy to the numbers my former coworkers tell me that using this has not resulted in a single desat during intubation no matter how sick the patient.

Anybody else doing this yet? I'm finding it pretty fascinating.

I've used the Glide Scope and CMAC in the field. My old service uses the Glide Scope. My ER has the CMAC (but the OR as the Glide Scope... go figure).

My old service now mandates that all first attempts be made with video laryngoscopy.

My ER mandates that the CMAC be used but residents need to use it as a traditional laryngoscope first before becoming reliant on the video feed (attendings monitor the video during the attempt).

Intubations I've done in the ER have been with the old fashioned laryngoscope.

The Glide Scope take some getting used to and changing of some muscle memory. Overall, though, it was an easy device to learn. Both have a learning curve in terms of handle/blade placement. If the tip of either device is inserted too close to the pharynx it'll deflect the tube downward and you won't be able to intubate the trachea. As you have no depth perception on the monitor determining whether or not you're too close can be tricky.

Despite the "no fog" claims there is still the chance of fogging. And it'll always happen at the worst possible time.

One advantage to the CMAC was that you could capture images of your tube placement to verify it was in the correct location and then attach them to your chart. That's a nice feature to have.

Ultimately, I do like video laryngoscopy. I would like to see more widespread use of the devices. They are expensive, though. We'll see how that works out.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

Honest question.

I worked during my undergrad years. I worked in grad school. It's doable. You really need to manage your time well, though.

I found the busier I was the more efficient I became and the better I studied. Your mileage may vary.

I can't say I'd advocate taking action on my patients just to spite my partner. Evidence based medicine along with operating within the bounds of one's treatment guidelines hardly takes a backseat to interpersonal conflicts between partners. It isn't the patient's fault that the two providers in question don't get along. No sense in punishing the patient for it.

Reasonable, adult measures are certainly in order. Honest attempts at open communication, understanding the other person and teaching can go a long way. As with other potential personnel issues document everything. If it comes down to it at least then you'd have a record of your attempts and reactions received.

Sometimes, however, despite the best efforts of those involved people just don't get along. Failing the above just do your thing and let your partner do his/her thing. Unless it's blatantly dangerous and could cause potential harm to either the patient, you or others on the street, be professional with your differences. If it really is that bad you're going to need something documented in order to go to the boss to request a change in assignment.

If the partner in question is as bad as described in the OP, there are certainly safety, workplace environment and HR issues that should provide plenty of evidence that a change needs to be made.

MTA: Sometimes making huge destructive waves is the best way to go about things. Choose your battles, and waves, carefully.

I wonder if Anheuser Busch still provides free alcohol to the university...

Thank you :] , and I don't know I feel as if I were to jump into paramedic then, I would lose everything I've learned for EMT. I don't plan on going now anyway, I want to see how much I can handle in two years, plus I've been thinking about going back to college for nursing. Thanks for the advice !

EMS, like healthcare in general, is compounding education. Everything you learn will build upon and use knowledge that you've gained previously. Paramedic school will build on what you've learned in EMT training. If you lose anything it's because you're doing something wrong.

With regards to nursing school, or paramedic school, or any future career education you plan to pursue, please do your research accordingly. Know what the job market is like in the area you want to live. Research compensation for the profession you've chosen. Can you afford to live off of what you'd make? Will you need to move for a job? There are many other possibilities to consider.

When you've found something you like and want to do, and you're satisfied through your research that the job market for that particular profession is sustainable professionally, financially and personally, then get it done.

And have fun doing it!

Welcome. Congratulations on passing your class. The learning has only just started. Don't get complacent.

You will get a wide variety of opinions on the wisdom of jumping straight into paramedic school. Mine is that if you want to go to paramedic school go now. Jump in, both feet. Get it done. Don't wait.

Be prepared to work hard.

If you choose to do this find a good school that is heavy on both classroom work and clinical time. This isn't the time or place for a 600 hour paramedic training program. This is health care and the program you choose should adequately prepare you to be a health care provider.

I don't know, mate. Give this patient a few more minutes and you just might have a crash airway on your hands. You wouldn't have to worry about sux at that point.

I, too, would not use sux in this patient. Given what you've presented I would go with a sedative only attempt.

The above noted concerns about intubating this patient given the pressure are valid. However, I think in the scenario you've presented you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Much of the decision to intubate would be made after a thorough airway assessment and evaluating just how confident I would be getting a quick tube and not having to muck around in his airway.

And come on. I've been good lately. I'm mellowing a bit in my old age.

I bet the Florida Office of EMS can help answer that question for you. You may need to call them for additional information about transferring in from PA.

MTA: Coincidentally, the page I linked answers both of your questions. It was also pretty easy to find.

All the best on your move.

Is that the same course that resulted in your suspension? Sounds like it has been a while since you've taken it. Is that correct?

Forgery, eh?

Well, good luck with that.

So in this thread (quoted above and dated Sept 2013) you say you're an I-99. Here you say you're a paramedic. Which is it? Are you a state certified paramedic but a NR I-99? Or are you an I-99 calling yourself a paramedic?

What kind of trouble got you kicked out of your class?

I don't know. You're 0/4. You may want to just bite the bullet, take the class again and don't get yourself kicked out this time around. If you're having this much trouble with the test it sounds like it'll be worth your while.

I cant speak for anyone else but to add in my 2 cents for what its worth between high school and college to get into AEMT school and medic school afterwards I've taken physical science, biology, algebra I and II, geometry, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and composition and rhetoric. I'm not sure there is much difference in Canada but you will need at least a similar array of courses. Although I didn't take chemistry that's a hardship I'll endure when I advance to medic school and take my pharmacology course. Also being certified as an EMR before EMT and AEMT school didn't hurt either.

Composition and rhetoric, eh? How'd those classes work out for you?

I've been good lately. This time I just couldn't help it.

I believe our friend is a state certified paramedic and is trying to become certified as a paramedic by NREMT. He's had a couple other posts related to testing.

This article touches on some of that evidence.

Too many questions. Not enough answers.

Not to be overly harsh here but that few questions usually means you either aced your questions or you bombed it so badly there was little point in letting you dig your hole any deeper. In your case we know which one it was.

I think at this point you need some additional help that may be beyond what can be offered here. You need a comprehensive evaluation of your results to determine what sections are proving to be difficult for you. You need training in test taking skills. You may need a more comprehensive review course. It's hard to accurately evaluate what you need without a lot more information.

You still get a sectional breakdown of the results, correct? A breakdown that lists the different subject sections and the percentage of questions you got right in each section? What is that showing you?

I know you guys know a lot more then I do. And I am listening to what your saying but no one here knows my situation. Therefore no one here can really understand. But thank you all for your input

You're right. Nobody here knows your situation. However, we all have our personal challenges that we have either faced in the past or currently face every day. We have all found a way to achieve goals that we have set for ourselves despite these challenges. I have not seen anyone here use their challenges as a crutch to either limit themselves or excuse any lack of success.

So, no. We might not understand your exact situation. We can understand, however, overcoming obstacles that face us every day. Don't think you're alone in that struggle or that it is something nobody else has ever had to deal with before.

And don't use it as a crutch.

Aut viam inveniam, aut faciam.