Severe Burnout

[Just Plain Ruff]

WOW there's nothing else I can provide except that I've been in your situation before, I took a 4 week vacation to Australia and travelled the OUtback. Did a lot of thinking and came back with a new perspective.

I think you need to get some counseling or EAP assistance. If your agency doesnt have one then you might be able to use the local hospitals EAP if they have one. You might need to pay for it but right now you sound at your end and that is not a good place to be.

Be safe and good luck.

[FireMedic_1979]

First of all, WOW....I never expected such a huge reply and concern from everybody....thanks a bunch for that ! You all have good points, and what your saying makes sense. A few of you mentioned a career change.....I dont think that is necessary. All I'm looking for is more balance, just the edge off the sword. A few of you mentioned a few things, and I'll kind of respond to it....

Scaramedic --- You asked if it was possible to switch only to only being a firefighter. The answer is no...all guys hired after a certain date a few years back are required to maintain their paramedic cert, no questions. You mentioned a career change....and I dont feel that is necessary. A rotation onto the engine, or even an ALS engine would be nice...key word...BALANCE. Last year before our HUGE manpower crunch, we rotated off the ambulance, and onto the engine. Things were great then.....but.....not like that anymore. We still fight fires, but dont physically have any more days off of the ambulance.

HammerPcp--- When you say that I've violated "do no harm", well I think maybe I worded my original post wrong. My skills and patient care havent declined to the point where the patient is in jeapordy. I still maintain a positive attitude, and actually recieve many letters from patients saying that my treatment towards them is very warm and caring. When I say declining....I mean more along the lines of...running the borderline calls Basic....to pass it off to an EMT, or to shorten the length of the report. Good example would be.....flu like symptoms, feeling ill....probably should and could go ALS....but I'll run it basic to make the paperwork shorter or pass it to an EMT. I would never mistreat a patient....I took an oath and that means a lot to me. Now, I do admit....when its 3 AM and we are called out for somebody with a cut toe

( last shift lol ), yes maybe the person will notice that I'm not the most happy or awake camper in the world...but we'll make it work !

Medik8-----Thanks for the kind words, that was really sweet of you.

RogueMedic--- You mentioned that my department needed couch time....well your not lying !! My situation is not nearly as bad as some of the others. Like I said, we had one guy go out on psych. I've seen guys yell, scream, even throw things. It is pretty ugly, and we are all for the most part pretty tired of it. As far as me needing skills training, naw.....skills are fine here ! See above.......I kinda worded my original post wrong. And...we do routine skills training anyways....in house, and with the EMS center.

HFDFF422---- You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I went to medic school to strengthen my resume for a career fire dept. I was always told, that is what you need to get hired somewhere. Well....it worked very well. My main career goal since I was small was to be a firefighter....and I made it. Being a paramedic...well....that kinda just came with the package deal. But now that I made it, I'm realizing....wow we hold the title of "firefighter"......but we RARELY see a fire....you know how it is. You mentioned relief when we hear tones....well....we do....we feel relief when the FIRE tones go off...the general attitude is......finally a break from the norm...finally a call where we get to do what we want to be doing....and we are reminded why we are there.

Well...thanks again for all the replies. I'm sure this reply will spark off some good discussion.....talk soon !

[Michael]

First of all, WOW....I never expected such a huge reply and concern from everybody....thanks a bunch for that ! You all have good points, and what your saying makes sense.

Scaramedic ---

HammerPcp---

Medik8-----

RogueMedic---

HFDFF422----

And what am I, chopped liver?

[FireMedic_1979]

lol...no micheal your not chopped liver.....there was just a few things out of each reply that i wanted to hit on

[Michael]

lol...no micheal your not chopped liver.....there was just a few things out of each reply that i wanted to hit on

But do you realize how hard I studied to prepare my response? Do you think http://www.cozy.org/yes.html was easy?

[itku2er]

Look me up in Chat again now that I have read your post I have a better grasp on your situtaion so please look me up again

tomorrow/today.

later

Terri

[FireMedic_1979]

But do you realize how hard I studied to prepare my response? Do you think http://www.cozy.org/yes.html was easy?

Michael.....believe me I know how hard you studied, and how much time you put into it.....that was absolutely incredible.....I mean......it's everything I was looking for. Where did you learn to do that ????

[Michael]

Aw, shucks, 'twarn't nothin'.

[hammerpcp]

Don't I get any credit? He was "yesing" my response, in all fairness. :wink:

[MedicNorth]

AH - typical woman - taking all the credit again!