Recent content by Mellowdnb

I worked as an ED Tech in a busy 30 bed Chicago ED. I've come just about as close as one can get to seeing what an RN endures without attending school. It's a real gut check. It's also full of the most wonderful, kind hearted spirits one can meet. It was busy. It was nothing compared to Mt...

The hospitals get charged for each blanket they use. Some store them in "vending machines", which weighs the blanket & sheet. The hospital I worked at threatened to not give RNs their year end bonus if they kept using all the blankets. The hospital paid a fee for the laundry service they...

I've worked in a variety of EMS settings. From urban high rise housing projects of Chicago, to the deserts of Arizona, the fields of OKC. I've been in EMS for 8 years but I've always referred to myself as a lifelong student. I worked in a busy Chicago ED while attending Paramedic school. I am...

Howdy stranger You should talk to some of the Paramedic schools around OKC. Try to find a program that gives the students more clinical experiences. The more time you have to spend in the ED & OR, the better chances you will have to perform the necessary skills. More clinical experiences will...

I have always been around dogs in the EMS & Fire Service. Many good memories! My favorite was 2 puppies who thought we had been there to play with them. I wish I could have taken them with. I have a 8 month old female golden retriever. Post your stories & dog pics.

I was watching a documentary about Trauma Docs in Iraq. One of the docs would calmly say "This is the Pt's emergency, not yours" Has anyone tried an approach that works?

Some on scene stressful situations are unavoidable but a situation involving a co-worker loosing her/his cool can be best prevented by constant training for practical situations. Throwing various stresses in training, such as low light, should be added to bring a more realistic training...

I'm not sure what the pay is but most Private Ambulance Services pay EMT B around 10-12 bucks an hour. Look to see if they will sponsor you & pay for the EMT course & Paramedic School. You do have to sign a contract with most companies that do this. Be careful with those contracts. Many will...

The pay isn't good. When I worked Tough Mudder (when AM still had the contract) I got 75 bucks for the day. I liked working the runs, you do get to meet some great athletes and runners! I'm not sure about the construction gigs but I imagine the pay is worse than a janitors pay in a strip club.

My experience was not so good as I would have hoped. The academy can be challenging if one is out of state. That's a good thing because it keeps you striving to do well. Any questions I had everyone answered and they helped out. On the streets was a different story. I noticed a resentment that...