MariB

I agree with Mike. I believe this thread was actually the last of several he posted in.

Calling certain people not cut out for ems or "little girls' because a call bothered them.

The list goes on and on.

A couple of us found him on other sites with posts you wouldn't believe.

I believe if it is a state needing the nremt, you have to be 18 to take the nremt test

Was my program free? Yes for me it was but not for my squad who paid a sizable amount.

I signed a contract stating I would give them 2 years of service or pay it back. In the mean time I get Fred training every month that goes records free certification also.

Just because I am on a volunteer squad doesn't mean it was a free program. It just means I didn't pay for it myself.

And the paramedic AA programs here have about the same prerequisites as the ADN programs

Snort

I laughed so hard at this thread.

Weird how he now mentions the pt is hep positive

I've had dreams where I took my pants off to sleep and ran out the door, to realize on scene I'm in my underwear

A couple of points could mean the difference in going to a different level of trauma center. Flying a patient as opposed to driving etc.

I think one could lose their job easily

You know what I wear on call to bed?

Scrub pants . No spendier than jammy pants. Have pockets and I don't get frowned on if I show up in pink frog flannels (not allowed)

About 15 bucks a pair . I wear a t shirt with EMT on the back and our logo on the front and throw my vest or parka on and go.

Can you get away with plain blue cargos or blue scrub bottoms?

I'm surprised they didn't give you one.

Our class actually had 2 extra sessions added to it. It was healthcare provider CPR. We were all given pocket masks to keep.

That being said, you can get them at any medical supply store

Bladder infections in the elderly.

$110 ? I live in a small town and took mine at a community college that has a lot of tech programs. We have a pretty good first time pass rate. I got 6 college credits, 150 lecture hours plus additional for skills and test days.

Mine was around $1,000 and that was a pretty economical rate.

Check into it like Mike said. It seems a little low.

The day that disturbing calls do not bother you is the day you should get out of EMS; but with that being said, please keep this in mind:

1. We do not cause the pain or ailment, we respond and do our best for each patient, and often, that will not be enough. It's not fair, it's not right, but it is reality. We see, smell, and remember things that no one should, but who would do it if we didn't. You will never find me running into a burning building for any reason, but I am grateful that there are people who do. You have to do what works for you in these situations, whether that be CISD, talking to whomever, but at the end of the day, we do need you back in the saddle. There are a finite number of people who can do this job, and even a much smaller number that can do it well. Should you choose to leave and take on a job that is less stessfull, who will fill that vaccuum? Yes there are plenty of rookies in the pipeline, but which of them could jump on the truck tomorrow and be as good as you are after 8 years?

2. For every one of these "bad" calls, remember the many good calls where "you" touched a life, even if you did not save it. I imagine there are several folks walking this earth today solely because you were there in their moment of need.

3. The following is probably the dumbest/corniest advice you will ever recieve, but it is applicable in many ways:

http://www.naute.com/stories/worrytree.phtml

This is one of the most well thought out and well written posts I've seen on this thread.

Narcissistic and psychopathic providers are apparently ideal ems providers. I thought compassion was one of the actual traits of an EMT provider in the book.

I'm wondering why they have debriefing , mental health etc available if this is not supposed to be happening

There seems to be some miscommunication.

I am merely saying, that LESS EMOTIONAL is better for "EMERGENCY WORK".

Emergency work demands a person be CALM and CONFIDENT in situations that would make MOST NORMAL PEOPLE break down in tears and cry uncontrollably.

Lol. I just laugh

Welcome.Read and study the book.Pay attention in class.Pay attention on your ride alongs.Learn when it's appropriate to ask questions when you're on your ride alongs. There are some times that are better than others.EMT class, by itself, is not enough. Paramedic school, by itself, is not enough. A wide educational foundation, consisting of a variety of college level coursework, while unfortunately not mandatory is certainly hugely beneficial to longevity in this career field. There are multiple threads on this site that discuss educational coursework relevant to EMS.Don't let this become your life. Balance is important. Yes, it can be fun especially when you're young. But balance is more important than you realize.Don't ever stop learning. Ever.

This ^^^

do it while you are young, the possibilities are endless. You can get your paramedic, you can maybe get flight.. move up and up...

I'm in my 30s , I'm a basic, I will eventually get my medic, I just have a lot going on, the desire to learn is there and I crave it, just have a lot going on with love and an Ill child.

YOU are young, motivated and I can't wait to watch you grow with this!

/> I must say it sucks every time you see it. The difference is you learn ways to deal as time passes.

Until you get a call that blows you out of the water and you have no idea how to deal.

then hopefully you have a great support team in your squad, unfortunately , you are having issues with that and ita horrible. I feel for ya

Why didn't you explain that better? Why on the other site did you say you don't use gloves unless you know the person has a disease?

Nobody is acting like OSHA police, we are saying with body fluids present you should use gloves and some of us states we use gloves on all 911 responses

Then some of us said we don't use them on transfers without body fluids present and apparently that means we are idiots, but oh well lol

How far did ya read? I read most of it, and it did say it was considered an exposure and post exposure treatment should be considered.

It also said in that study. Below that it said something about it could be higher in places where they don't where proper protection.

You are absolutely right. You don't get it at all.

I better just quite ems now since I'll never be as smart as you.

I know a lot more about the pt on the transfer , I know they aren't bleeding or pooping or vomiting.... goodness. You don't get it

As for mrsa, swab was negative so far from the nose as if 2 weeks ago for my daughter who is also on our team.

I don't see anything wrong with using gloves for all initial pt contacts. But then again, I don't know what I'm talking about according to him

Ruff-

As far as fluids then I think we are on the same page. Where we differ is that you have made it sound very much like you should have gloves on for every call, and every time you touch a patient...no matter what. That is what I take issue with because...to be blunt...it's bullshit.

It's just another one of those things that get's beaten (as someone else put it, which is a very accurate term for it) into everyone's head until nobody actually stops and THINKS about it. And then when some heretic dares to <gasp> question the gospel, they are immediately reviled and get the equivalent of being burned at the stake.

No, I'm not. I'm argueing because you very clearly don't understand what you are talking about.

Do you really actually think that every patient knows what is wrong with them and tells the facility they are at? Do you really think that every facility tests every patient for every possible infectious disease? Do you really think that every facility actually knows what is wrong with every patient they send out? Fuckin' A...

no , you don't. You are jumping around all over the place

Listen closely. I wear all ppe for every 911 response, personal choice and also policy. If it wasn't policy, I still would. Because of reasons I gave.

As for transfers. For heart pts, closed fractures, no obvious body fluids and no contact precautions given beforehand, why would I? I will wash my hands after. You have stated yourself you don't need them for every pt. I have a good idea from pt history given if they have a diagnosed condition needing them, however certain transfers do not need them! Why would a heart pt doctoring at this facility need them with no body fluids present?

C diff pts, certain pneumonia pts, mrsa pts etc we have contact precautions.

Not everyone here is an idiot.

Aw shucks...

I'm not trying to win anything though. If someone makes a personal decision that they will wear gloves on every call, or there are extenuating circumstances (like your constantly cracked skin or other damage to their hands) that is one thing. My only point is that there is no legitimate NEED for gloves on EVERY call.

yet you just told me I don't know what I'm talking about because I wear them on 911 responses but not on all transfers with no wounds or bleeding... nice

I would know if my patient on a transfer had mrsa scrapped from their knee yesterday. It would be in their history paperwork.

Not knowing what I walk into is one of several reasons to wear gloves upon first contact with my 911 response. Along with policy.

I would know what I'm transferring my patient for on a transfer. I have the whole history work up. We aren't going from one major hospital to another here, ours are all one networked. So I have all the info on this patient.

You are arguing for the sake of arguing, like usual

It affects Seth's coping mechanisms, that is why it is an issue right now. My suggestion was getting it under control first.