retired_medic61

I have used this a number of times. For example, I had a CHF patient with a known hypersensitivity to Anectine (causes severe hyperkalemia in him) plus he had no easy IV access to boot. I would make a call on him every two to three months and everytime he waited to the last minute to call for EMS where his breathing became so labored as to warrent a tube. In this situation nasotracheal intubation worked like a charm.

:shock: Sorry, I meant never instead of ever on my last post.

I met never instead of ever on my last post. Sorry, I guess I had my head where the sun does not shine.

I beat up on myself all of the time on and off the truck. I am my own greatest critic. I know some medics who never beat up on themselves and think they are perfect...pretty freakin scary. A good medic is compelled to evaluate his/herself and the call and take what is learned and apply it to the future.

I worked in a system at one time that had Paramedic and Lead Paramedic. I liked it. Generally after about six months, a Paramedic would advance to a Lead Paramedic position after both written and skills testing, observance by the clinical coordinator and approval from the medical director. That particular service ran fulltime dual Paramedic units but occasionally I worked with a EMT. I would have to say that is my favorite system. We had pretty progressive protocols there. Another system I ran with part time was basically the same except it was Paramedic I, II, III and it was based on experience, testing and recommendation from the medical director. It is excellent because it matches new Paramedics to the experienced ones and was a great learning experience for me. My least preferred system is one where it doesn't matter. I have seen new Paramedics partnered with brand new EMT's and I have seen some problems with that. There was one new Paramedic that used to yell at his new EMT partner because he was nervous because he was a new Paramedic and he had to deal with a new EMT who really did not know the area well at that time and was a inexperienced driver and so on. The management team had to split those two. IMO, thay should have never been partnered with. The management team at that time did not have any emergency driving training for the new EMT's. I got in trouble one day because they wanted to put a brand new EMT with me that had never driven an ambulance before. I strongly objected. We had a torrential downpour that day and it had been incredibly busy with several transports to the level I trauma center in our area. It was about 20 miles to the trauma center and heavy traffic. I just did not feel safe with her. Fortunately, another EMT called in and took the shift so she went back to dispatch and I avoided getting sent home. After that the emergency vehicle driving course was mandatory for all new EMT and Paramedics entering the system.

I have been off the ambulance for over a year now. If I stepped back on today I am sure my confidence is not where it was two years ago.

Is she a new medic? Many times people especially females have not developed their upper body strength. I could not lift worth a flip when I started; however, as time passed my lifting improved and there were really no complaints about my lifting. Make sure she is lifting properly so she can avoid a back injury.

I have a problem with stress: pediatric call, 15 years in the field, took a cut in pay to get off the truck, 10k damage to the house from a hurricane and fighting with the insurance company, illness & death in the family, bills. The doctor ended up putting me on 4 blood pressure medications...still had a problem...prescribed xanax. Checked the BP a few minutes ago 172/114...oh well, one call thats all......

After 15 years in EMS, my back is terrible with all of the scars from being stabbed in the back. I had a few pulled muscles here and there but the stab wounds have been the worst.

Yes, had a pedi code in 2004. The other paramedic "got scared" because the baby did not make it and started an incident investigation finger pointing me as that I did not do all I could. I have subsequently retired from Paramedicine after 15 years in the field. During my years I have had many people "saved" and were able to be discharged. Some patients just don't make it despite what you do. His patient did make it? FIRE THE MORON!!!!!!!! <sarcasm>

I have had both PALS and PEPP. They are both ok. PEPP seemed to focus more on prehospital pediatric assessments and PALS on protocols after the pedi has crashed. Neither of them hit hard on pediatric patients with special needs that you will encounter in the field.

I believe strongly in a good preceptor program. I also believe in a peer review as long as the organization has mature professionals with a spirit of quality improvement otherwise it will become a backstabbing session. Unfortunately, most of the services that I have been a part of have those individuals that do not look at things with quality assurance and improvement in mind but as "John missed 2 IV's last week...what a f****** moron".

We used to call the HFD Paramedics "eight week wonders"

Most are treated before they get to the late late sign of tracheal deviation. Your instructor no doubt has ever seen a tracheal deviation.

I agree, I would rather have someone de-bone or de-vein me than to have to go through a humiliating process. I worked 15 years in EMS, 10 of those as a Paramedic and also worked as a FTO and a supervisor. I have a daytime job now at a major university with a decent salary and excellent benefits. The reason I say that I would rather be deboned or deveined or even shot for that matter is that the Paramedic that was taken off protocol and subsequently terminated was also an experienced medic with no prior disciplinary action. In addition, that particular medic was tried, convicted and hung in the court of popular gossip and did not find another job until months after that occurred. As an experienced medic myself, I feel for them because I know that I had worked too hard to earn my Paramedic licensure just to have people after all of those years toss me out like yesterday's garbage. LET'S FIRE THE MORON!!! He is a moron because he made a mistake, isn't he? This medic had been working in 911 for at least 8 years. Usually, most crappy medics I know have washed out within a year or so. Are you perfect yourself? Will you ever make a mistake on a call or have a call turn out not like you had hoped???? If you do make a mistake, do you want to be laughed at and tossed out in the trash and called an idiot or moron? Would you like to lose your home or car as a result? OR would you rather be counseled, retrained and have your medical director and clinical coordinator work with you and learn from your mistake. Have a nice day.

One of the Paramedics that I worked with was "de-protocoled" by the medical director after investigation of a particular call. The reason was "loss of confidence in the medic". Would you take it as he thinks the medic is incompetent?? I have seen him perform exceptionally well when I worked with him.