Scorpy_CFS

I think the term burnout is used fairly loosely to cover the dwindle in interest in a job over time, but I think when use correctly it has a more severe nature. I used to be involved in a service that I was very into, I would clock up hundreds of hours of administration hours on top of the hundreds of duty hours, I was the training officer, but over the period of a year, my interest dwindled, my work quality deteriorated (not patient contact) and I took an early break on top of the standard break. I thought that this would have revitalised me but on my return I was even less interested than when I'd went on break, I started missing mulitple training sessions, my duty hours dropped below 100 for the year, I eventually resigned my rank and trainer status and have not been to anything related to the service in months. To me, that is a simple burnout. I'd imagine severe burnout as beginning to have negative reactions to work, beyond disinterest but hate, nausea when thinking about having to do duties, increasing arguements with co-workers, family and friends, especially when the topic of your job is brought up, etc. I'm not so sure what you have sounds like burnout but rather severe frustration at the lack of firefighting related work you end up doing. If you were fighting a good blaze every week, I doubt the EMS stuff would bother you as much. I may be wrong though. Only you know that.

I think one of the most concering things I heard was the fact that you're bottling up your stress. This is a sure way to achieve burnout. Having said that, you also pointed out that the last guy who tried to take personal time was berrated etc, and I know how this feels personally. When I worked as a crowd controller I had to poop beaten out of me by five blokes. When the fight was over, I left five minutes early to go to the ED to see if I'd had anything broken which was a big sign of weakness apparently and I was outcasted by the people that I'd been there to back up and keep safe for the previous three years. So, career change. I'm not suggesting that you change careers if it is not something you don't wish to do, and from your responses and hence I end up making a point then offering advice, but what really annoys me is the 'keep it in or else you're weak' crap that a lot of brigades/departments/stations adopt is a breeding ground for psychological disaster. When you ask any of the firies around here what they love about the job (Firefighting only, no EMS, granted) they say the mateship, comradiere, and that nobody feels afraid to speak of their personal issues as everyone is there to support each other. I've been in a fire brigade that did this. You could talk about anything that was upsetting you and there'd be an informal think-tank as to how to solve the problem. We also had Critical Incident Stress Debrief teams who would be called in whether people wanted them or not because although 9 in 10 didn't need it, 1 did, or at least wanted it. I moved from the country, to the city where there was a 'bottle it' mentality and after trying two brigades with the same rubbish, I quit all together and went across to concentrate on health and EMS. To sum up, I think the biggest problem here is the department you're in but you recognised that yourself. You're sick of EMS calls and I can empathise with that too as there's no greater buzz than firefighting and of course, the 'big fire.' Hell, I can recount every single detail of the building supplies factory and yard that went up. Awsome stuff. I can also empathise with the stress of not being able to do what you want to do. Just last night while working as an orderly, I was helping the ICU intensivist and ICU nurse return a patient from CT to the ward when halfway along the respirator started beeping madly like it had been doing for a fair bit of the trip. The doc and nurse both look closely at the monitor and try to fix it again, before halfway through a yawn I said that I think they'll find the patient has stopped breathing which might be the problem. Then I was pushed out of the way so that the doc could start manual respirations with the bag/mask, etc etc. I couldn't sleep when I got home because I am already starting to recognise the signs of burnout (From being an orderly no less) for the same 'can't do what I want' reasons. The other big thing is to have a crew that you can feel completely comfortable with because they're supposed to be there for your emotional support as much as your physical support. A firie screwed in the head is no benefit to anyone and hence it is the entire crew's job to keep everyone sane. 'bottling' is far too dangerous for emergency service work.

Also, I apologise for how that last post sounded Timmy, especially seeing that you brought up something that I forgot I'd gotten rid of in that massive post I deleted which was that I generally do not care unless I'm forced to discuss it. So I apologise for offending. I have an annoying habit of biting back hard which is why I caught the hook from Bushy. It is devistating to be passed over for employment in an industry that you love, are passionate about, when all you want to do is turn a love of helping people into a career and then have your motives and problems splashed back in your face as if they're trivial. As I edited in my last post, I've moved on, I really don't care on the surface and I'll care even less when I'm out of the orderly system and back into a clinical field to keep my mind busy, even if it's not on the road. So lets just let it rest.

The thing about 17 year old 'legends' is they do not know what it is like to have a family, a partner with full time professional work, mortgages and car repayments which make upping and moving around willy nilly damn near impossible. It's easy to contemplate racing all over the country after work when mum and dad pay for you to live with them, and the biggest expenses you have is you mothly trip to the music shop. Besides, I brought it up intially in jest as the 'paramedic version of hell' Bushy was the one that had a sook that I was using the term 'paramedic' in ironical reference to myself which got the whole thing started. I've already said I couldn't give a toss anymore, hence I'm doing my transition nursing degree next year. ie, I'm not interested in ambulance services anymore, at least in this country for the time being. Of course I'm pissed off and passionate about what happened but I'm moving on and making me discuss it is going to cause me to do nothing but bitch, you would too if you're in my position so for chirst sake let it rest

Bushy, if you are legitimately interested in what has turned me from being 'a little helper' into a contender for 'Australian Cynic of the Year' then feel free to email me personally and I will hook you up. It's not all that interesting to read the lives of other people which is why I took my post down but if you are truely keen to hear reason after reason why: I dislike SAAS so much, I can't get in, what I went through to get to this place, the other stuff I've done, and above all, why I feel my comments are necessary then you may contact me. But if not, then that's cool. I just don't think judging a few lines of my written beliefs qualify you to discuss my overall attitude. Nor do I feel that a current student should judge the perceptions on what a qualifies an Australian 'Paramedic' until you finish your course because I said the same thing as you until I left the course and realised I had nothing and had to fight to keep my pride. My catch phrase at the hospital now, "If I'd done a degree in underwater basket weaving, at least I could have gotten a job as an underwater basket weaver."

[EDITED] ...ya know what Bushy... I had this whole massive essay written out defending my position, and I even posted it for ten minutes. But then I thought to myself, "Why do I need to explain myself to you?" And then I realised I didn't. I, and everyone who knows my situation is aware that my views on the matter are justisfied and you Bushy just do not know me nor my circumstances enough to merit the right to comment. So I'll save you the read and leave it there. I don't care if you believe me when I say how off base you are, and that's why I edited my post and why I don't have a stomache ulser. Because I know when to say that I just don't give a toss.

Bushy, I would stop digging that grave with your mouth before you fall in because you do not know me, regardless of the fact that you think you may. I have seven years of experience as a volunteer medic including eighteen months runnning, yes running, a volunteer ambulance service down here (Not St John for your information, an actual ambulance service). A further three years of training and experience in firefighting, leadership, hazmat operations and some road crash rescue training. I have the highest of references from patients, intensive care paramedics, nurses and a couple of doctors, I worked as a trainer of emergency medical response and fire awareness training (I know this doesn't sound like a lot but this job required a paramedical or nursing degree because of the clientelle). I am a friend of the president of the SA ACAP branch who is continuously trying to get me to give SAAS another try and apply again. The time I did get thorugh to interview, I was knocked back but when I went through for the feedback interview, I astounded them so much that after the interview, the head escorted me out and highly encouraged me to reapply. I thought this was a little odd until the SA ACAP president told me that they were so impressed with the feedback interview that should I get through again, I was practically guaranteed a job. The reason I haven't gotten back to interview is because I'm overweight by their standards and after two years making myself absolutely sick trying to get within the appropriate weight range, I gave up because having seen hundreds of completely obese ambos on our cars, I did not believe that with all of the above, being too f*(&^ng heavy was a good enough reason not to employ me and hence stopped applying. So before you go shooting your mouth off and criticisng me, recognise that I have done as much as I possibly can to get into SAAS short of f*&%(ng liposuction, so back off.

Resheathed and I've definitely got a brew on. Don't insult me, my country or my countrymen(women) and you won't have a problem with me. Peace Out

Becsdad, I like where you're going with your questions but with the benefit of google, even someone as conceeded as somedic could answer them. When I was reading through the response, I realised that once again I'd have to jump in to defend myself, and then I finished reading and realised that you Somedic had come across as such a wanker that I really don't have to do a lot more. Then Doctor Death came back to throw the gauntlet on your arse and so my job was lessened once more. So having all these things done for me, I really only need to refer to your comments regarding the country thing and my immediate response is, What on earth does that have to do with a damn thing? I posted not based on the fact that Doctor Death was Australian but that she made a good point which I could add from with a different perspective, and you're responses were just that of a senile twat who is so unbelievably self involved that this thread jumped by two pages overnight because every one realised all at once just what an arrogant fool you are. All I can say is that if you keep that up you'll get repetative stress syndrome in your wrist. Lastly, for someone who doesn't need to give their qualifications, etc, you throw around your time in the military and civilian services quite freely but here's the thing, and I go out on a thin ledge with this one when I think I speak for everyone but... Nobody really gives a shit about you Somedic. You can either shut up and deal with it, or you can, as I predict have another go at me about being Australian and you being a god almighty yank, and that your time dib dib dobbing in other countries where none of the locals want you to be makes you better medics than everyone, and then tell us again why the evolution of medicine is a waste of time now that you're here to save the day and end world suffering because, hell, your you and that should be enough for everyone so break out the kneepads and start grovelling people. I thought the nurse I met tonight was full of shit, then I read your response...

Oh for the love of god, the cynicism of some people. Doctors on ambulances isn't the dumbest thing in the world. What is pissing most people off is that this will step on the toes of a hell of a lot of EMTs and paramedics and make them jealous. If someone has had a bad experience with a doc, get over it, we all have. But like it or not, docs sit on their arses for five to seven years longer than most EMS personnel learning deep physiology so I wouldn't discount them too quickly as being useless. Firstly, the practical side is that it is not cost effective but I'm glad that Doctor Death mentioned his work because I was going to mention the system in South Australia which is similar. There;s only three times one will find a doctor on an ambulance here. That is one, because they're on the medical advisory council and are on FRVs because of major events (new years eve, etc) When we have paramedics doing their intensive care training, you will sometimes find docs from their trainng courses teaching them, and three, most importantly, as a part of hospital retrieval teams. Our main hospital retrieval team called medi-flight is staffed by trauma registrars or intensivists and they carry four cases of extra equipment including surgical kits, units of blood, auto-respirators, etc and are extremely proficient at what they do. Even the intensive care paramedics tend to stand back thinking 'oh my god' with the field proceedures and therapies of these specialists. They are called for Platinum time period patients who are literally circling the toilet, country emergency response for serious patients expecting to require medical intensive care after admittance to hospital or for large incidents. They are extremely well integrated into the system, proficient, treat all other medical and ems staff well, understand the PHC system and above all, are saviours for a hell of a lot of people every year. Having said that, there is the occasional toe stepping but that happens the entire way through the health care system with different personnel and is not isolated to docs in the field. Lastly, to even suggest that just because a doc is in the field that they are egotistical or have a god complex is just retarded and shows severe prejudice based on both a lack of understanding and perhaps a self inflated ego at the same time, hence hypocricy. That's all I'm gonna say on the issue and I'm sorry if I offended anyone but it just pisses me off to see someone like Doctor Death targeted because he happens to be a doc in the field. Facts before arguements people, otherwise it is just whinging.

Nope, I can do one better than all of you. That is being a fully qualified paramedic being employed as a hospital orderly because after three years of failed job applications due to a ridiculous abundance of trained EMS workers and a low amount of jobs, an orderly is the best you can do. You get to watch your peers come through the doors with patients who you're shunned from trying to eves drop on their presenting complaints to keep your mind exercised, your jobs are limited purely to moving patients or pieces of equipment from point A to point B... (25 average between ED and CT? try 75 per 8 hour shift) and the running of bloods back and forwards of course, whilst being extra vigilant not to grimace time upon time again when you could have used clinical skills yet hospital policy strictly forbids you doing or thinking clinical. That my friends, is paramedic hell. Feel free to post me a noose to hang myself from the drip stand.

Apart from my keys, wallet and phone which I feel naked without... I have a pouch that holds a pair of sheers, a stethoscope, sharp/blunts and sharp sharp scissors, a splinter probe and a set of sharp and blunt forceps. Why do I carry all that? Stuffed if I know, how often do I use anything other than shears or stethoscope? Never... well, I spose I use the sharp/sharps to trim my goatee occasionally... hmmm. But it's true the amount of rubbish on one's belt is inversely proportional to their experience or knowledge base. When I first started, I dressed like I was going into combat. Now, simple clip on pouch with the above and I forget that half the time anyways. I know some medics who still dress like they're going into combat after years but I wouldn't trust any of them more than a bystander.

No but it's funny you mention that because I wrote up a 21 page report on ambulance services including both the 'Lizard Drinking Report' which was a third party report on SA Ambulance Service and the Generational Health Review, which will cover the next 20-30 years of health in this state. I pointed out deficiencies such as missing key stake holder expectations, expanding response times (from 12 to 17 minutes) case load increases, work cover statistics of injured or burnt out ambos, deinstitutionalisation of mental health patients, aging population, lack of communication with other emergency services, inability to be responsive to other agencies developments, ideas, etc... and how a first response program utilising the 60 or so paramedics that are trained every year but not employed in SA Ambulance... but alas, after meetings with various politicians etc, everyone believes that there is only one ambulance service, there could never be another because no other service could possibly train their people to the same level as SA Ambulance, nor could it operate to the same level and bla bla bla. Forget the fact it works well in other countries, our health department is far too short sighted. *end rant* Sorry, what was the question?

I don't know at exactly what point I realised that you're pulling our chains but it was a fair way down your list... I'm not usually that gullible Me, I always keep a kit in my car when I travel due to the high accident rates on the roads I traverse. I have a fairly large trauma kit bandages, minor meds (panadol) shears, scissors, tweezers, steth, BP cuff, glucometre, tapes, dressings, disposable masks and gowns, guedel airways... that's about it. (I use my kit at work hence it's reasonably stocked) On my person I very rarely carry gloves but I used to all the time cos I came across a few patients in public.