I hate my partner

[gastro18]

I understand you Monkey Squasher. I have this once a week partner who seems to have an itch to use our lights and sirens. We pull out of our base at the beginning of shift to got to post, and he hits the lights just to merge with a pile of cars stopped for a red light. It's embarrassing because I'm seated next to him.

He also seems to have bad hygiene. He picks his fingernails with a knife instead of using nail clippers. It's disgusting. He's quite a joke. One time I spotted him smoking outside his rig, while his rookie partner struggles in the back with a patient with 4 tubes sticking out. He was delaying transport so he could have a smoke.

Another partner takes forever. Afraid to take vitals during transport. He prefers doing it when we arrive at destination, and he tells me to hit the engine off. I stand outside for the next 10 minutes while I view him inside, checking BP, then peripheral pulses, resps. He can't seem to multitask coz I prefer doing them all while transporting, or quickly inflate the BP cuff while on a red light or slow moving traffic. At the same time, I count the resps and heart rate. Then, he takes forever finishing his narrative at the facility. You look at his PCR and it's almost blank by the time we drop off a patient. So I ponder: "What was this guy doing the whole 20 minutes he's in the back with the patient?". THIS GUY HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR 2 YEARS.

I still have to correct him, like not to take BP on an AV graft or paralyzed limb. He appears shy talking over the radio like the mic has some bad odor or something. He disappears during emergency calls. I had to explain what a PICC line was. I mean, we've seen dozens of those in our careers. We were at a senior home, a 500lb guy was in pain and while waiting for lift assist, he tells me he's just gonna wait in the rig. I had to do everything on scene. Vitals, assessments, Hx, med questions, etc. Some of my driver partners take vitals while I talk to the HCP or family member/patient. This guy, no. He just vanishes.

The first guy, argued one time with a nurse that the asymptomatic, acyanotic patient was hypoxic coz the pulse Ox was at 93%, and that they should have called ALS. I had to convince him that the hospital was only 3 minutes away. Another incident was when an MD at an ER was asking the pt if he had a tetanus shot. My partner said "yes" because he saw PPD test on the med record.

Another partner would actually lay down on the bench, while the patient is in the gurney, because he was drinking the night before and had a hangover.

I have categorized partners through the years: based on skill and personality

a) clinically competent - constantly strives to better oneself - humble
b) clinically competent - talks a lot - slacker
c) clinically competent - constantly strives to better oneself - boastful
d) incompetent - but thinks he's super EMT
e) incompetent - shy and withdrawn - humble and tries to be better
f) incompetent - shy and withdrawn - hopeless

 

[gastro18]

oh and another partner who wrote DM on the patient's Hx because the patient's nurse told him that the patient has Dementia.

 

[Sasha]

Yes and no. Maybe they need O2 and local wheelchair vans can't do that. Maybe they have a bag of NS hanging. Maybe it's policy from the sending facility, or maybe they just have an agreement with the IFT company. At my company, whether or not they're ambulatory, we're supposed to use the stretcher, because if they fall it's our butt on the grille for it.

But are you calling them bed confined? That was my point. If they are ambulatory but you call them bed confined in your report, that's lying. Maybe they need it for O2, but medicare wont pay (Per our billing department, don't quote me on that ) if they're not bed confined. Oxygen does not meet medical necessity in medicare's guidelines and many wheelchair vans in the area do provide O2. Just because they are being transported by ambulance, like 911, does not mean they necessarily need it. It's possible to assist a patient to make sure they don't fall, while still ambulating them.

I'm amazed at how many perfect partners are attracted to EMTLife. I always wonder if someone has sooooo many bad partners if the problem is with the company's employees in general or with the partners who have an onslaught of "bad"partners.

 

[medic417]

I'm amazed at how many perfect partners are attracted to EMTLife. I always wonder if someone has sooooo many bad partners if the problem is with the company's employees in general or with the partners who have an onslaught of "bad"partners.

I am to the good partner not my fault everyone else is worthless.

 

[Sasha]

I am to the good partner not my fault everyone else is worthless.

Shush you. I know you're perfect. It's every other person in your company who is bad.

 

[reaper]

I just mold perfect partners!

 

[Sasha]

Theres nothing wrong with listening to hip hop. But subjecting coworkers to it who dont like it is just wrong, and should be illegal. Some of us have developed an allergic reaction to it, and may experience feelings of nausea and a rise in blood pressure when subjected to it for long periods, so its also a health issue.

I feel the same way about jazz, and certain kinds of rock and screamo. If I had a problem with it, I ask them if I can change the radio if they're driving, if not, guess what, we're all adults and we can deal and compromise. Not crucify them on a forum.

 

[medic417]

Shush you. I know you're perfect. It's every other person in your company who is bad.

:blush: Oh shucks.

 

[JPINFV]

I'm amazed at how many perfect partners are attracted to EMTLife. I always wonder if someone has sooooo many bad partners if the problem is with the company's employees in general or with the partners who have an onslaught of "bad"partners.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4PrnxcM2A[/YOUTUBE]

 

[MonkeySquasher]

But are you calling them bed confined? That was my point. If they are ambulatory but you call them bed confined in your report, that's lying. Maybe they need it for O2, but medicare wont pay (Per our billing department, don't quote me on that ) if they're not bed confined. Oxygen does not meet medical necessity in medicare's guidelines and many wheelchair vans in the area do provide O2. Just because they are being transported by ambulance, like 911, does not mean they necessarily need it. It's possible to assist a patient to make sure they don't fall, while still ambulating them.

I'm amazed at how many perfect partners are attracted to EMTLife. I always wonder if someone has sooooo many bad partners if the problem is with the company's employees in general or with the partners who have an onslaught of "bad"partners.

Yes, but they said

"How can one be cool walking the patient to the dialysis center?"

They never said that they were documenting the person as bed-confined, or anything. All they stated was that the person came by ambulance and walked into the dialysis facility, and that their partner wants to be Joe Cool 24/7.

Like I said, it doesn't even have to be Medicare/Medicaid pay. It may be a private pay, or a nursing home pay. Maybe even a VA pay voucher. Maybe it's a family member of an employee and the company allow free transports for ill family. There's a ton of reasons why a non-bed-confined dialysis patient could be transported by ambulance.

But I agree, just because they have an ambulance doesn't mean it's needed. =D

 

[MonkeySquasher]

I understand you Monkey Squasher. I have this once a week partner who seems to have an itch to use our lights and sirens. We pull out of our base at the beginning of shift to got to post, and he hits the lights just to merge with a pile of cars stopped for a red light. It's embarrassing because I'm seated next to him.

He also seems to have bad hygiene. He picks his fingernails with a knife instead of using nail clippers. It's disgusting. He's quite a joke. One time I spotted him smoking outside his rig, while his rookie partner struggles in the back with a patient with 4 tubes sticking out. He was delaying transport so he could have a smoke.

Another partner takes forever. Afraid to take vitals during transport. He prefers doing it when we arrive at destination, and he tells me to hit the engine off. I stand outside for the next 10 minutes while I view him inside, checking BP, then peripheral pulses, resps. He can't seem to multitask coz I prefer doing them all while transporting, or quickly inflate the BP cuff while on a red light or slow moving traffic. At the same time, I count the resps and heart rate. Then, he takes forever finishing his narrative at the facility. You look at his PCR and it's almost blank by the time we drop off a patient. So I ponder: "What was this guy doing the whole 20 minutes he's in the back with the patient?". THIS GUY HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR 2 YEARS.

I still have to correct him, like not to take BP on an AV graft or paralyzed limb. He appears shy talking over the radio like the mic has some bad odor or something. He disappears during emergency calls. I had to explain what a PICC line was. I mean, we've seen dozens of those in our careers. We were at a senior home, a 500lb guy was in pain and while waiting for lift assist, he tells me he's just gonna wait in the rig. I had to do everything on scene. Vitals, assessments, Hx, med questions, etc. Some of my driver partners take vitals while I talk to the HCP or family member/patient. This guy, no. He just vanishes.

The first guy, argued one time with a nurse that the asymptomatic, acyanotic patient was hypoxic coz the pulse Ox was at 93%, and that they should have called ALS. I had to convince him that the hospital was only 3 minutes away. Another incident was when an MD at an ER was asking the pt if he had a tetanus shot. My partner said "yes" because he saw PPD test on the med record.

Another partner would actually lay down on the bench, while the patient is in the gurney, because he was drinking the night before and had a hangover.

oh and another partner who wrote DM on the patient's Hx because the patient's nurse told him that the patient has Dementia.

It seems to me your first guy cares more about having a cool job than doing a good job. Maybe he's new, as I find most newbies love the lights and don't know much. Some things, like delaying transport or using the lights liberally.. That needs to be curbed, more for safety than sanity. As for his lack of information, correct him in private and show him what he needs to know. Maybe he WANTS to learn and no one teaches him. But if he just rebuffs your attempts to teach him, then the next time, use his inaccuracy to correct him in public, and watch him turn red in the face. Doesn't take many of those instances before he starts shutting up.

Your second guy seems to have a confidence problem. Especially with patients. I don't see any problem with taking a quick BP/Pulse before you unload, but it shouldn't take too long. As long as they take vitals at the scene before you roll, it isn't hard to monitor pulse during the trip, then take a BP at the facility.

When I have a patient I like talking to, or a lot of patient paperwork, I frequently get to a hospital with nothing on my PCR except the name/SSN/DOB. But I can give the facility a decent verbal patient report. Most PCRs are easy to fill out, except the narrative. Which I must admit, I write long narratives. I also occasionally clean my nails with a knife. h34r:

 

[gastro18]

It seems to me your first guy cares more about having a cool job than doing a good job. Maybe he's new, as I find most newbies love the lights and don't know much. Some things, like delaying transport or using the lights liberally.. That needs to be curbed, more for safety than sanity. As for his lack of information, correct him in private and show him what he needs to know. Maybe he WANTS to learn and no one teaches him. But if he just rebuffs your attempts to teach him, then the next time, use his inaccuracy to correct him in public, and watch him turn red in the face. Doesn't take many of those instances before he starts shutting up.

Your second guy seems to have a confidence problem. Especially with patients. I don't see any problem with taking a quick BP/Pulse before you unload, but it shouldn't take too long. As long as they take vitals at the scene before you roll, it isn't hard to monitor pulse during the trip, then take a BP at the facility.

When I have a patient I like talking to, or a lot of patient paperwork, I frequently get to a hospital with nothing on my PCR except the name/SSN/DOB. But I can give the facility a decent verbal patient report. Most PCRs are easy to fill out, except the narrative. Which I must admit, I write long narratives. I also occasionally clean my nails with a knife. h34r:

haha! disgusting. man, this guy's nails are like wolverine's. It's gross especially when he touches babies without gloves feeling a brachial pulse. I just try not to look at the parents who probably freak out at the ghastly sight. i bought him clippers at the 99cent store coz they were 50 cents each. And a week later, I ask him where those clippers were and he said he lost it. hopeless. One time he took off his boots and his socks were brown. They were sold white at Walmart but this guy's socks, they're choco brown! And he's clumsy too. He drops everything -- clipboard, pens, stethoscope, trash, and I count around 5 "dropped item" incidents in a shift.

Thank God we haven't dropped a patient. Oh wait... WE DID! He escorted a blind patient inside a house while I was having the wife sign the paperwork at the front porch. He left the guy STANDING in front of the living room couch coz he felt the immediate need to go outside to retrieve the patient's bag. Next thing you know, the guy ambulates and trips over the coffee table. I rush inside the house and find the poor guy with family photos all over him. It kinda looked funny, but it looked very terrible. I really thought he was gonna get fired. But he's still working.

I know what ur saying about PCRs not getting filled out. But this other partner (the shy one), man he doesn't even chit chat w/ the patient. And these are routine calls with a low acuity level. We drop off the patient, I roll the gurney to the rig, dress it up, go to the cab, start the engine and have to play with myself for like 15 minutes coz this guy takes forever. Then we roll and this guy goes, "oh wait, I forgot a signature". 2 years on the job man. can u believe it?

And when it's an ER call, and he's the attendant, I end up giving a report coz this guy... yeah he's got a confidence problem. He goes, "this is, uh, 89 yr old pt, allergic to, uh, PCN, penicillin, yah, he's allergic to penicillin...was found, supine, oh no, semi-fowlers, duh" So the nurses go scratch their heads and ask me instead what's going on.

And this guy dreams of becoming a cop. yeah, right.

 

[medic417]

Speaking from experience some boots turn your white socks brown black etc. Actually not a bad ideal to wear black boot socks.

 

[mycrofft]

Sasha...I can HEAR you. I'm right here...

...with my four year nursing degree.

If this co-worker keeps discussing sexual matters with you and you either have told him you are uncomfortable, or you are afraid to tell him, then you are being sexually harassed and need to go talk to you boss using that exact phrase. If the co-worker is intentionally doing things to get your goat which he has been told about and they are not a valid job duty, the phrase to use is hostile work environment.

In my experience, if co-workers' musical tastes don't agree, leave the g'danged thing off. I had two good partners, as opposed to co-workers, in ambulances and none of us could get along musically.

 

[irish_handgrenade]

Without jumping on the bandwagon here it kind of sounds like you just don't mesh well with him, and it seems like it burns you that he is taking the lead on the calls. If he is ordering you around it may be do to the fact that he is taking the initiative and leading the call for whatever reason.... Someone has to do it. I run a double medic truck for one of my services and a standard medic/lower patch truck at the other and honestly I have only had one person that would step on my toes, and after I told him not to interrupt my assessment or whatever I never had that problem with him again. I think there is nothing wrong here that a simple conversation wouldn't fix you just need to get the stones up to start the conversation, your partner might not even know anything is bothering you.

 

[Aidey]

Thank God we haven't dropped a patient. Oh wait... WE DID! He escorted a blind patient inside a house while I was having the wife sign the paperwork at the front porch. He left the guy STANDING in front of the living room couch coz he felt the immediate need to go outside to retrieve the patient's bag. Next thing you know, the guy ambulates and trips over the coffee table.

Not defending your partner here, but if you transport an ambulatory pt in a wheelchair or on a gurney they are going to get off of it eventually. If you leave a normally ambulatory patient in an ambulatory position and they fall after that, it isn't exactly your fault. Not good, but not exactly your fault. They are ambulatory, sooner or later they are going to ambulate.

If the pt is non ambulatory and you make them stand and they fall, or the gurney tips over because you aren't paying attention THAT is a big deal.


To the OP, if your partner has worked for the company or as an EMT for longer than you have he may be trying to exert his seniority over you, kind of an 'alpha dog' thing. My last partner was like that in the beginning (including the rap) and once I finally stood up to him and yelled at him we got along great. We weren't best friends, but we worked well together, and I even got to change the radio once in awhile.