EMS the career of Pessimism or Optimism?

[ExpatMedic0]

Debbie Downer or turn that smile upside down?

I have been in EMS for 10 years now, I like it. I think its an exciting field to see grow and evolve, plus the work its self is awesome. Maybe I am just an optimist, or perhaps one of the lucky few EMS has treated fairly well. However, I recognize the need to further the career and advance EMS education, salary's ect.

I am curious, with so many people on this EMS board complaining about it, or changing careers, why always the pessimistic remarks? Why do these people continue to visit an EMS forum or work in EMS at all if its so sucky? Why not take all that energy and become an advocate for EMS or leave EMS completely behind and change careers?

Any other thoughts or opinions?

 

[DrankTheKoolaid]

Thats a good question. Ive been in 911 EMS / ED for 20 years now and though it has had its ups and downs, those that know me have never heard me complain and there is nothing else I would rather do.

Maybe they find this to be a good sound board to vent their frustrations in a way that does not directly effect their employment or perceived status within their perspective EMS communities

 

[ExpatMedic0]

Thats a good question. Ive been in 911 EMS / ED for 20 years now and though it has had its ups and downs, those that know me have never heard me complain and there is nothing else I would rather do.

Ya I agree, it definitely has its ups and downs, and by no means is it perfect. I can not imagine doing anything else either. I also think we all have concerns and complaints that are normal from time to time. In addition to that, I think most of us that have been in the business for a few years realize the need to move things forward in EMS. Its also good to vent to others who may understand your frustrations.

What I do not get is, people who absolutely hate EMS, frequenting an EMS community.
Or people who change careers who frequent an EMS community and belittle EMS and EMS providers.

 

[errey]

I have noticed it to and coming from someone who is fairly new to EMS it kinda gets me down and has me questioning my career choice. Sometimes I just turn off my computer because I don't want to hear it. That being said I know this is what I want to do and no ones opinion will make me change it. I want to experience it for my own. Also I have noticed a big status issue which goes along with big egos

 

[firetender]

Are we talking profession here?

EMS has been around for 40+ years and it's still not a profession. Most people do and have come into the field thinking that it's a real profession and then, in any number of areas -- job stability, independent thought and action, career track opportunities, educational support, safety nets when it comes to the emotional, psychological, moral and spiritual traumas typically experienced, pay, benefits and incompetent management -- they realize they are quite alone.

IMHO EMS is still and will continue to be a set-up for burnout until the medics themselves stop complaining and do things to make it a professional enterprise in each of their areas. Unfortunately, that takes a lot of motivation and work and even more unfortunately, few of the systems that provide the service supply incentive.

Look around you and you'll see the 20 year veterans like yourself are in the vast minority. Perhaps by disposition, drive, good luck in landing in systems/service areas or dedication you have made it work for you and that is what is sorely needed. EMS is a Transient Occupation for most and that shows in the vast numbers of people who try it on for size until they get burnt, and then don't have the wherewithal to change things.

My position is and continues to be until EMS faces, deals with and learns to minimize the effects of burnout, you'll still get the proportions of satisfied and dissatisfied participants that you see here.

To make that switch, each of you will need to take personal responsibility for change and FIRST comes your attitude.

Spend a little less time listening to the complainers and seek out people here, like Expat (from where to where?) and Corky who are making a far from perfect system work for themselves and their patients.

 

[Medic Tim]

I was really starting to get down on EMS. I really did not like my job at all for a variety of reasons. Don't get me wrong I love being a medic. It was the politics and drama . with the provincial ambulance service running everything it would be a minimum 6 hour drive to work for another service. I made the decision to work industrial oil sands ( Alberta) and absolutely love it. My pay has more than doubled, I run a clinic, and I get to spend more time at home. I work 2 weeks in 2 weeks out. The flying days suck but besides that I have no complaints.

It is giving me more time to finish my bachelors and I am looking into masters programs as well as possibly doing the 2 year CCP course.

It was a gamble to do this. I could have been stuck in a truck all day at an oil rig. I am lucky that there are more lets say non traditional roles or roles other than 911 and ift. One of y friends was having a similar issue and they took an Er medic position. They run triage and love it.

 

[firetender]

I think Medic Tim makes a great point here and that is because of the lack of standardization throughout the country. Every service area and providor has its own attitude and there is the lack of a cohesive culture to move things forward for everyone.

Finding any position in EMS means you have to search through a huge haystack to find that needle, which is what you did Tim, Good Job!!

There just ain't many systems out there designed to really use the talents of the good people that begin in EMS with their full hearts behind it and it's a shame.

 

[46Young]

I think that forum members like to vent their frustrations with EMS on the boards, since they're interacting with other like-minded individuals in the same field. It may be the case that their significant others and friends can't relate to their issues.

Edit: Also, EMS has a way of trapping people into it. If you work a lot of OT, the money can be just enough that you indefinitely delay college education or pursuing another career. The real trap is when your cost of living (bills, revolving debt, etc) reflects your extra OT and/or part time earnings. It's at this point that you're stuck.

 

[Trashtruck]

Where I work, pessimism reigns supreme. If I were to do a quantitative study of negative remarks v. positive remarks throughout the course of a shift, I'd bet the former would outweigh the latter three-fold. I *try* not to get sucked in, but I'm human, and do. Plus, anybody who says EMS is all joyous and bubbly and warm, tingling feelings is very disillusioned. I, for one, like EMS. It suits me very, very well. I honestly have no idea what I would do otherwise. There are many things I like about EMS, and many I don't. However, no matter what job you do or where you go, there WILL be things you do not like. I talk to tons of people and no matter how, from an outsiders perspective, awesome their job seems to be, they have problems like everybody else. I believe this is just human nature, not just and EMS thing. You could go to Sheetmetalworkersforums.whatever and find Debbie Downer's too.

People get sucked into the the money where I work. I've said it, and everybody else I work with has said it. If we didn't get paid what we get paid, we'd leave. For what/where? Another EMS system-less money? College degree(ha! on our schedule?)? IFT-less money? Hospita-less money? Flight-less money?
And the benefits are worse. It's like you come in with stars in your eyes, then see it for what it is, and either accept it, or become disgruntled that you're not single-handedly paragoding everybody back to life.

I like to come here to see how things are elsewhere in the country and world. I also like to keep up on new ideas, equipment, studies, etc. since we have zero standards here. I learn a lot from you guys and gals.

 

[hogwiley]

The crappy pay is a legitimate gripe, but I dont understand people who continually complain about the work itself. My guess is these are people who've never worked a significant length of time in other fields.

Go stand on a factory floor for 10 hours a day 5 days a week, or bust your knuckles wrenching on cars for a few years, or work in some customer service job where you have to stand on your feet all day kissing peoples butt for a non living wage while they treat like you crap, and you'll be missing EMS. You have people who do this basically for free for a reason. You get to do and see interesting things most people never experience, and while there is obviously some heavy lifting involved, its not exactly a labor intensive job.

As for the lack of sleep or not being able to take a leak or eat your lunch whenever you want, or the occasional violent patient, try spending a few years in the Army or Marine Corps and people would realize this is nothing by comparison. Think a 24 hour shift sucks, try spending months on duty pretty much 24/7 with no chance to relax or let off steam, no privacy, and having to put up with being borderline hypothermic on a regular basis or roasting in 110 degree heat.