EMS knowledge "burnout" after getting first job?

AnonymousEMT

AnonymousEMT

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I'll try to be as descriptive as possible in what I mean here... I guess the better word I'm looking for is inadequate... Allow me to explain:I was born to do filmmaking, I've been writing scripts since I was 13 (i'm 23 now). I started my pursuit seriously in January 2007, why am I not in the business yet? Well quite simply: It's a pain in the butt, especially NOW. 20 years I'd probably get a little more slack. Why don't do I it myself? Well truth is I am but its a waiting game. Why? One word: M-O-N-E-Y!!!! Money for LIGHTS, CAMERA, and all that good stuff. I have half my equipment and am currently saving for the rest from my job and some online writing gigs im doing. I hate when people say get off your high horse and make it, why are you working where you are now, make the movie! Don't they understand I'm trying to save to get the rest of the crap I need? It can't be done over night. And NOBODY can get into this business overnight. Its not like you could just walk into a film studio, apply to be a director, actor, writer, fill out an application and be interviewed. It's not like that at all, yet people think it is. It's not a typical job, its bigger than that. That's why its taking me long (and others too).

So in the meantime, I was stuck doing office and call center jobs which sucked and paid $10-$12 an hour. I couldn't stand being under someone's supervision all day long, every second, I just wanted something where I could relax and think a SINGLE THOUGHT for once. There's plenty of vacancies in Health field, plus my girl is in health and so was my mom. I decided to do EMT. It's much more relaxed yes, its not too much work either, I get like 3-5 patients a day, that's it. I work 40 hours, 3 days a week. I love it. The bosses are not always breathing down your back, they just call you on a radio once in a while, that's it. That's all. Very relaxing. Mind you I had to study HARD to get this damn thing. I passed it in May this year. I've been working at this company for 4 months and have a great record as being a good employee here.

My only gripe is... well... me. I don't feel like I know enough even though I passed the exam. I don't know what every medicine does, I don't know every disease and how/where it comes from, I can't just look at a patient and ALWAYS tell what he has and what's wrong with him, just things like that ya know. Don't get me wrong, I know how to do my vitals, lifting, customer service, I know how to work oxygen, and I'm familiar with SOME diseases and medicines, but that's it. Everyone else though seems to know more than me, like this new guy for instance knew what G.I. Bleed is, I don't really know I never really dug that deep into it. Do I deserve this job if its only a side track career for me to support myself until I get to where I should be? I mean the only way I can see myself knowing all this mumbo jumbo by heart is if I was a buff EMT who plans on being in health FOREVER and becoming paramedic, etc. I don't though. This is only temporary. And in case you're wondering, I haven't killed any patients and done anything wrong since I started working in this business, and I always ask questions too.

I just feel inadequate as an EMT. I could study my butt off 24/7 but then I'll have no time to focus on film and the movie I'm making myself, see what I mean? And every time I come across something I don't know and someone in health looks at me like I SHOULD know it, I just get so angry deep down inside and feel like screaming out loud at everyone LEAVE ME ALONE I JUST WANNA MAKE MOVIES LEAVE ME ALONE ALL OF YOU!!! PLEASE GOD!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing right now, but i wouldn't do it forever, filmmaking is my true calling. If something came along (like City Sanitation) that pays more than this, I would certainly do it, but this is all I can get right now.
 
Anonymous, You're in this for the wrong reasons. If you feel inadequate, then study more. Study stuff that isn't just aimed at EMTs. That is, if you want to be a good EMT. Personally, an EMT that doesn't know what a GI bleed is inadequate. If what you really want to do is make movies, then, time to leave EMT and make your movies. There is organizations, such as Project Greenlight that helps out small independent filmmakers. If you really just want to make movies, time to get serious about it, and do your research on movies. And, it's time to leave health care. Sorry dude, sounds like you're already burnt out.
 
Sapphyre

I've done all my movie research since I was 16, I've been serious about it. I've tried everything thats why this time I'm making it myself. Sure I'll just quit EMT and go to Project Greenlight, I could probably just walk in there fill out an application and get interviewed and hired within the routine 2 week job time frame like every other job, yeah sure. It's quite that simple isn't it. I am already serious about it, it just takes time and money, that's all, it's coming together regardless. I'm done with organizations, agents, producers, it doesn't matter how good your stuff is, because in the 21st century, competition is at its highest in this business. It's not like it was 20 years ago, it was much easier to get into then than it is now.

See what you're telling me is what everyone else has told me but most people dont really know what it takes to make movies and to get into the business, its not like applying for a regular job here. I can't just quit what I'm doing and do the movie thing, what am I gonna do about my family? Sure, my girl is a CNA who makes more than I do, but still...

Do you really think that all of those famous people filled out an application and got hired like at a regular job? Do you know what Director James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator 1&2, True Lies, etc.) was doing before he was even in the business??? He was driving trucks in order to SUPPORT his dream. Well I guess it was wrong for him to drive trucks because that's really not what he wanted to do right. I guess he should have quit that job and starved financially and pray to God that someone would notice him in the film business.
 
I think everyone has that feeling of inadequacy when they are a rookie. You will not know everything now, or ever, but it comes with time. The best advice one of my EMS instructors from the Fire Academy gave me was to go into practicals (ride alongs) "with your eyes open and your mouth shut." I'll admit I was the only one out of 3 in my class who was pursiing a college education and the only one that was at an internationally recognized research institution, but when it came to EMS, those that had been in the field longer knew more, even with me scoring in the high 90%s on my exams for the class.

The fact is, in medicine, you need to know the basics of the book material in order to do well, but most of the training comes from field work. Medical School is usually 4 years in the US, but residency following can be upwards of 5 years. Pediatric Emergency Medicine requires 3 years of residency plus 3 years of fellowship. There is a reason for that.

Don't get too discouraged, but do keep the attitude that you can become better and take criticism constructively and try not to get mad at yourself or others.

Others on this forum may disagree and it's long been a contentious issue around here, but my belief is that using EMS as a stepping stone to somewhere else is fine as long as you put your heart into your job and you truly care about what you are doing.

The attitude of, this will help me get experience or money toward my end is fine, as long as you really are making an effort to do your best.

The attitude of "LEAVE ME ALONE I JUST WANNA MAKE MOVIES LEAVE ME ALONE ALL OF YOU!!! PLEASE GOD!!!" might require some introspective self-examination about whether this is the right stepping stone for you.
 
WuLabs,

What I mean by the "LEAVE ME ALONE" bit is that I feel so micro-sized in their eyes. Like oh you're an emt and you don't know this and that. And I feel like screaming to them to let them know that there's a great filmmaker person within me with a grand vision as opposed to the "little emt" they see and are picking on. Something to that effect.

If that is the case though, WuLabs, then I guess no stepping stone is the right stepping stone, now is it? I've been through customer serivce/office/call center and here I am now in health.
 
AnonymousEMT said:
Do you really think that all of those famous people filled out an application and got hired like at a regular job? Do you know what Director James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator 1&2, True Lies, etc.) was doing before he was even in the business??? He was driving trucks in order to SUPPORT his dream. Well I guess it was wrong for him to drive trucks because that's really not what he wanted to do right. I guess he should have quit that job and starved financially and pray to God that someone would notice him in the film business.
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And Harrison Ford was a carpenter. What's your point? EMS takes a certain amount of passion about the job. You apparently don't have it. I have no sympathy for your predicament if you're not trying to excel and make the most of what you are doing now.

BTW, I'm not sure how you're managing to save up for all the money it'll take to make whatever movie you're trying to make, I don't even make enough to support myself here, let alone buy the equipment to make a movie. And, last I heard, the independent filmmaker assistance programs weren't jobs, they were assistance in funding. Sorry, dude, but seriously, no sympathy.
 
OKAY, You have me upset in more then one way!!!! You have no idea how I feel after reading your thread! So, before I start writing any more, I am gonna tell you this: Shape up NOW or get the **** out of this profession!



I couldn't stand being under someone's supervision all day long, every second, I just wanted something where I could relax and think a SINGLE THOUGHT for once.

- Sorry to tell you this, there still is "someone" supervising you while you do your job... its called a Medical Director, I don't know if you know what/who that person is/does... so just google it.

There's plenty of vacancies in Health field, plus my girl is in health and so was my mom. I decided to do EMT.

- Now, that just makes me mad. This is not just "any job"! You have peoples lives in your hands and they are depending on you!

It's much more relaxed yes, its not too much work either, I get like 3-5 patients a day, that's it. I work 40 hours, 3 days a week. I love it. The bosses are not always breathing down your back, they just call you on a radio once in a while, that's it.

- Wow, just wow... I have no words.

Everyone else though seems to know more than me, like this new guy for instance knew what G.I. Bleed is, I don't really know I never really dug that deep into it.

- Ok, I wonder why everyone else seems to know more the you?!?! Hmmm, gotta think hard on that one, NOT! Maybe because they are in this profession for the right reasons and not just "for the money" and because mommy did it.

As for not knowing what a GI bleed is... once again no words.

I mean the only way I can see myself knowing all this mumbo jumbo by heart is if I was a buff EMT who plans on being in health FOREVER and becoming paramedic

- You don't have to be a "buff EMT" to know all this mumbo jumbo stuff. This is the job! You have to be able to treat every patient you have, its not like you get to chose who/what your next patient is... you get what you are delt, and you MUST know how to act.

And in case you're wondering, I haven't killed any patients and done anything wrong since I started working in this business

- HAHAHAHAHA.... Will see how long that will last! And I hope to god you resign before "that" happens!

And every time I come across something I don't know and someone in health looks at me like I SHOULD know it, I just get so angry deep down inside and feel like screaming out loud at everyone LEAVE ME ALONE I JUST WANNA MAKE MOVIES LEAVE ME ALONE ALL OF YOU!!! PLEASE GOD!!!

- Hmmmmm.... I wonder why they are looking at you like that???? Maybe because you should know it! I mean common, anyone who is an EMT and does not know what a GI Bleed is deserves "those looks"

"I just wanna make movies" - Then go do it and get the heck outa this profession... no one is forcing you to be in it!


Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing right now, but i wouldn't do it forever, filmmaking is my true calling. If something came along (like City Sanitation) that pays more than this, I would certainly do it, but this is all I can get right now.

- I think it may be best for you to start looking for that "City Sanitation" position!



Now, you know how I feel about you.... I hope. I am sorry to be rude, but you need to leave this profession if you are not willing to be a competent EMT. I mean come on... there are peoples live you are dealing with here! Human Beings!!!!

Oh, and also remeber this... the person that looks at you, will judge all of us on how you act! So not only are you making yourself look stupid... but you are making all of us look stupid too.

Take Care,
 
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Now, if you were in this profession for the right reasons... not just for the money and everything, I would have a totally different attitude toward you. I would attempt to help you and get you going on the right track. But you make it sound like you are are totally not interested in making yourself better, so why should I bother?
 
Man, you get angry at other people when you do not know something that you should know? You want to tell them to leave you alone because you want to be a filmaker? What if a doctor caring for your mother got angry with you for telling him that you want him to help her? What if he told you to leave him alone because he would rather be a high profile celebrity and he is above all this medical crap.

If you do not care to be spending most of your free time bettering yourself by researching medicine, than leave.
 
AnonymousEMT said:
Sapphyre

Do you really think that all of those famous people filled out an application and got hired like at a regular job? Do you know what Director James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator 1&2, True Lies, etc.) was doing before he was even in the business??? He was driving trucks in order to SUPPORT his dream. Well I guess it was wrong for him to drive trucks because that's really not what he wanted to do right. I guess he should have quit that job and starved financially and pray to God that someone would notice him in the film business.
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Driving trucks and having peoples lives in your hands are two totally different things and by you trying to compare them shows your ignorance. You *ARE* inadequate as an EMT and need to leave now before you kill someone. Go work at Walmart and leave this job to people who *ACTUALLY* care.
 
AnonymousEMT said:
WuLabs,

What I mean by the "LEAVE ME ALONE" bit is that I feel so micro-sized in their eyes. Like oh you're an emt and you don't know this and that. And I feel like screaming to them to let them know that there's a great filmmaker person within me with a grand vision as opposed to the "little emt" they see and are picking on. Something to that effect.

If that is the case though, WuLabs, then I guess no stepping stone is the right stepping stone, now is it? I've been through customer serivce/office/call center and here I am now in health.
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this may be a bit harsh, but it doesn't matter that there's a great filmmaker inside of you. I hope that I will be a good biomedical engineer one day and a great physician. but right now, as an EMT, no one cares and neither do I. As an EMT, I am judged only on my merits of being an EMT.

Sure, you may feel that you will be the next Spielberg, and props to you for that, but when you are, if you keep up what you are doings, your partners aren't going to tell people, "Wow! I knew that guy when he was just a kid. He was my partner for a few months." But instead they will say, "Yeah, I knew that guy back when we were partners at Acme Ambulance. He was such an idiot! I can't believe he didn't know what G.I. Bleed was! Its a good thing he's good at filmmaking because he didn't have a prayer in EMS!"

Unlike the others, I don't think its necessary for you to leave for another job right away, but if you don't, you need a serious attitude change.

And as for the right stepping stone, it sure is for me! I am currently a Research Associate in a Childrens ED and I feel that working EMS last summer helps me understand a lot more about what goes on. And I feel it will help me with the same when I go to Medical School 3 years from now and throughout my career as a physician, even if I end up deciding not to go into Emergency Medicine.

Finally, I will note that I said, "The attitude of, this will help me get experience or money toward my end is fine, as long as you really are making an effort to do your best." But its not really ideal. Sure, I know I will not be in prehospital care forever, but right here and right now, that is what I'm doing, and I would like to think that I pour myself into my duties when I'm working and on duty.
 
Reality Check

Anon, I think part of the problem is the way you are presenting your positions. The first three threads I have read of yours are all very negative and quite whiny. "Woe is me" is not going to get a lot of positive play here.

The other part of your problem seems to be your view of EMS. If you space out and 'think a single thought' at the office job, no biggie. On duty as an EMT you have a responsibility to the patient, and your crew mates. A very serious responsibility.

I won't comment on the drivers lic issue from your other thread.

If you want to make films, cool. Go make films. In the mean time, if you aren't interested in being the best EMT you can be, and providing the best care possible, GET OFF THE TRUCK.

Grown up rules apply in the real world. At 23 you no longer have the excuse of being a 'kid'. Decide what you are going to commit to, and then commit. If you need a 'just to pay the bills until I can make my movie job', get one that doesn't put other people at risk.
 
AnonymousEMT said:
Allow me to explain:I was born to do filmmaking (snip) I don't feel like I know enough even though I passed the exam. I don't know what every medicine does, I don't know every disease and how/where it comes from, I can't just look at a patient and ALWAYS tell what he has and what's wrong with him, just things like that ya know
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No, allow me to explain. You want a job that will allow you time to dream of being the New-Age Cecil B. DeMille while doing as little as possible in the here and now. Whatever that job is, is sure isn't any flavor of emergency care. You say you've been doing this job for four months and don't know all the things you've listed above. Guess what, I've been doing this job in one form or another for nearly thirty years and still don't know all the answers, and I doubt you could find anyone who honestly does. The desire to continually increase your knowledge as it relates to patient care is fundamental to this job, and your priorites are elsewhere. Get out of EMS before you hurt someone, please...
 
Do something....anything.....but not this.

....The desire to continually increase your knowledge as it relates to patient care is fundamental to this job said:
Took the words right outta my mouth.

Congrats you earned the oscar for hitting all top 5 wrong reasons to get into EMS.

1) My mom did it. (If I did what my mom did....I'd be an accountant)
2) I need money (EMT's don't make money and it's not why we do the job)
3) My girlfriend is a CNA (um....ok....and?)
4) A stepping stone into Film making???????? (Go work at a movie theatre it's better experience and you get to see free movies.)
5) There is no supervisor breathing down my neck (oh CRAP. Please GOD don't let this guy respond if I have an emergency)

No sympathy from me either...sorry dude...your attitude is VERY harmful to your patients. You have no business being an EMT and you have pissed off pretty much everyone here who actually read your BS post.

Oh and BTW good one on using "GI Bleed" as an example. I knew what that was when I was in High school and had a far away dream of becoming a paramedic or flight nurse.

Someone please forward this thread to this guy's supervisor.
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Well Everyone else just took the words right out of my mouth. Im not even in EMT school yet and I know what a GI Bleed is. I can't believe that you even went through the class to be an EMT especially as a "stepping stone". What the heck are you thinking? I would never just get into this because my mom did it.. I want to do it because I care and not just because it's another job... I cant wait to be on a truck and be able to help someone in need. I care about people and know that this is something I want to do for life not just temporarily.. why waste your time and money if its not what you want to do.. Get out of this before you kill someone.. please.....
 
I've seen this before

AnonymousEMT


This is a very interesting thread, and you are a very peculiar individual. There is nothing inherently wrong with being "peculiar", and your particular problem(s) is not unique.

I have worked with individuals (in hospital) such as yourself before, who were in a similar state of mind, and I can tell you this... apathy and patient care are rarely ever a good mixture. It doesn't matter what you "eventually want to be" in life, you should not be half-assing this job... PERIOD. As has been stated by others numerous times in this thread, odds are good that you will wind up doing someone more harm than good with your apparent cavalier attitude.

If you don't want to take the time to learn from those around you, and do some research on your free time to enhance your skills/knowledge... maybe try applying at Best Buy, Target, Sam's Club, Regal Theaters, etc. Not giving a flying **** seems to be an employment prerequisite with these companies anyway. You will be much happier, and so will your patients.
 
AnonymousEMT said:
Sapphyre

Do you really think that all of those famous people filled out an application and got hired like at a regular job? Do you know what Director James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator 1&2, True Lies, etc.) was doing before he was even in the business??? He was driving trucks in order to SUPPORT his dream. Well I guess it was wrong for him to drive trucks because that's really not what he wanted to do right. I guess he should have quit that job and starved financially and pray to God that someone would notice him in the film business.
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I am a comedian and a writer. I also do EMS. One has nothing to do with the other. You need to do EMS 100% wile on duty and filmmaking is what you work on while not working at EMS. I write jokes when there are no calls but thats it.
 
Geez oh pete's! .. Maybe you ought to go on the other side of the camera, man there is so much drama!...

Seriously, want to be a filmmaker then DO IT! Do like the other has done .. work as a production intern and assistant. Work three jobs until they were able to do so. Finished your education yet? ..

Where is it written everyone will get what they want? As well do I want someone that does not want to be doing what they are doing at the time taking care of my child or myself? .. Hell NO! You say you have not caused harm, the only reason is due to your license level or are you really sure. While your daydreaming of being a filmmaker did you miss something?

The reason they look at you micro sized is because you are. Really. What qualities do you bring to them except that you attended a mere more than a first aid course? Hmm.. a 16 week nighttime course and now your special? Yeah.. CUT! Time for a reality check!

As well, have you really explored the requirements and availabilities of being a filmmaker? Obviously you didn't as a EMT, I question the later. Ever worked on a production set?

Your 23. Chances are you will change careers at least three more times before finding your real nick. Alike everyone else, time to get out. You are really not putting anything in the profession and you are not receiving anything from EMS, time to exit, it will do both a favor.

R/r 911
 
AnonymousEMT said:
Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing right now, but i wouldn't do it forever, filmmaking is my true calling. If something came along (like City Sanitation) that pays more than this, I would certainly do it, but this is all I can get right now.
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There's your answer. Time for a different job.
 
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I thought you were supposed to work in a video store to prepare for being a filmmaker.
Though my EMT-B instructor did one of the first ever infomercials for the SAM splint.
Odd post.
You'd have more time to study filmmaking at a video store.
 
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