Is it normal that the closer you are to becoming a Paramedic the more

Hockey

Hockey

Quackers
Messages
1,222
Reaction score
6
Points
38
you start to REALLY doubt yourself and your knowledge and abilities?

I have 3 more rides left before I am off to take the practical and written. Had lots of clinical+externship and feel comfortable on calls. But when I start thinking that this time, 2 months from now, I may be in the back with no "extra" partner to have (Well I'm sure I will have one till I get cleared), but either way...

Please tell me this is normal...
 
Absolutely normal, at least it was for me. I was terrified when I got out of school and even more so when I first got cleared as an "independent" medic. I nearly had an MI everytime the pager went off knowing that there was no one else but me, no one I could turn to if the crap hit the fan. It'll pass but I don't think it ever goes away completely. That can be a good thing though, it can keep you motivated to stay on top of your education/ proctocols etc...Good Luck!
 
Ugh, that reminds me, it scared me the other day seeing a guy with a pacemaker and it looked almost like Vtach. Kind of. Its like I want to take 3 more 12 lead classes because I'm scared that I'll miss something on a 12 lead. I dunno...
 
I AM a medic and I still doubt my knowledge and abilities.

You will for a while. It's normal. You're still getting used to your responsibility and what it entails, and the unknown always breads insecurity.
 
Hockey said:
you start to REALLY doubt yourself and your knowledge and abilities?

I have 3 more rides left before I am off to take the practical and written. Had lots of clinical+externship and feel comfortable on calls. But when I start thinking that this time, 2 months from now, I may be in the back with no "extra" partner to have (Well I'm sure I will have one till I get cleared), but either way...

Please tell me this is normal...
Click to expand...

this is very normal.
 
In fact, this is very good, because it means you're not going to be a know-it-all. Whether it's your partner, the patient or the staff at the hospital, you'll be open to the idea that they might know better than you.

The real trick is identifying when they don't.
 
abckidsmom said:
In fact, this is very good, because it means you're not going to be a know-it-all. Whether it's your partner, the patient or the staff at the hospital, you'll be open to the idea that they might know better than you.

The real trick is identifying when they don't.
Click to expand...

+1

Keeping that doubt (to an extent, not overly unsure) helps me improve myself. Just like you mentioned with the 12-leads, I'm constantly reading/researching all different areas just so I'll be less likely to miss something.
 
I read stuff on here and some other sites and I just get confused with some of the things people talk about. Maybe because my medical "terminology" isn't the greatest. Just terrified getting out there and then going oh :censored::censored::censored::censored:!
 
One of the biggest things you have to overcome as a new paramedic is picking and choosing what advice you take to heart.

Online forums and preceptors can be great resources, but you have to be able to discern between the blow hards, know it alls, experienced people, and the trolls.

EMS is also full of strong personalities. People compensate in different ways to not knowing what is going on. As you progress, you will be able to decide which bits of advice you take to heart, and which bits of advice you take with a grain of salt.

There will be good days and bad, and some days where you will likely throw your hands up and want to quit right then and there. Find a healthy way to rationalize all of this with yourself, never stop learning, always have a touch of humility, and you will be fine.

Treat the treatable, take away the patient's pain, and above all else, do no harm. My first medical director (whom I quote in my signature) always grounded us with those three principle goals, and it has never steered me wrong.

TE
 
Hockey said:
I read stuff on here and some other sites and I just get confused with some of the things people talk about. Maybe because my medical "terminology" isn't the greatest. Just terrified getting out there and then going oh :censored::censored::censored::censored:!
Click to expand...

I guarantee that will happen. I don't think I can still call myself a "new medic" since I have been doing this at that level for a little over a couple years now, but I am certainly not comfortable calling myself "experienced" yet either. I still have runs where I walk in and say "Oh :censored::censored::censored::censored:!!!!!" I am sure that the longer I do this at the medic level, the less often it will happen, but I doubt there will ever be a day where I don't think it can't happen.

Maintaining that feeling, to a small degree, no matter how long you have been at it is a good thing. It will help keep you on your toes & drive you to continue to always learn & strive to be your best.
 
Paramedic school ruined me....

Hockey said:
you start to REALLY doubt yourself and your knowledge and abilities?
Click to expand...

Prior to going to Paramedic school, I was a decent EMT-I. By the time I was done, I was a lousy EMT and a inexperienced Paramedic.
 
abckidsmom said:
In fact, this is very good, because it means you're not going to be a know-it-all. Whether it's your partner, the patient or the staff at the hospital, you'll be open to the idea that they might know better than you.

The real trick is identifying when they don't.
Click to expand...

This is a very good point. While it is important to be receptive to input from other health care providers, it is also important to be confident in your own skills/knowledge. there will be health care providers out there who do not understand our scope of care and try to imply you dont know what you are doing despite completely appropriate care.

i have been a cleared medic for about 2 months now(after a whopping 3-weeks of precepting). the first few weeks were pretty nerve wracking. KNOW YOUR PROTOCOLS. got some down time? read thru them again...

when all else fails...you cant go wrong with an IV, O2, and a monitor. and remember, its their emergency, not yours.

-Jeff
 
I went through a very extensive program which was about 18 months long. When I was about to get out, I felt very confident in my skills and assessment abilities...then I had my first call - I haven't felt the same since.
 
Yes. I felt the same way as both a nurse and a paramedic. It will pass in a way, but in some respects, it is something that will stick with you in one way or another. It goes away, mostly.. but it never completely goes away.
 
I've been doing some form of medicine for most of the past 20 years. While I feel that I've long since mastered "BLS" stuff, beyond that, there is always something to learn. I've never felt entirely comfortable. I have always been wondering if I missed something and could I learn something from that call I just did. I have no doubts about the skills portion of things. I would imagine that I could teach someone how to do 80% of the skills I know to a reasonable proficiency within a few weeks, a Semester at most. Knowing when to apply those skills is the key thing. I have always been striving to improve my diagnostic abilities. Some of those skills I have are great diagnostic tests. Some of those skills are great therapies. Some of those kick the can down the road (so to speak) so that someone else can look at the problem and more properly fix it. What I want to know is whether or not I selected the right tests, provided the right therapies, to the right patient at the right time, to stabilize or improve my patient's status. If I didn't, what could I have done better?

That's what I've done for a LONG time.

I've also been a huge advocate of learn it, do it, teach it. Teaching while being an active provider made me a far better provider than just simply doing the job.
 
Akulahawk said:
I've also been a huge advocate of learn it, do it, teach it. Teaching while being an active provider made me a far better provider than just simply doing the job.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this. Those who can't do, teach- pshaw!
 
Linuss said:
I AM a medic and I still doubt my knowledge and abilities.

You will for a while. It's normal. You're still getting used to your responsibility and what it entails, and the unknown always breads insecurity.
Click to expand...

x2 for me. Im lucky in that on occasion, I get to have another medic ride with me, and they all push me to be better. (Our service sometimes schedules M/M trucks, esp on the overnights or weekends)
 
lsetzer said:
I went through a very extensive program which was about 18 months long. When I was about to get out, I felt very confident in my skills and assessment abilities...then I had my first call - I haven't felt the same since.
Click to expand...

I completely understand this. I did somewhat forget it at one point, then I quit working in EMS for almost a year. When I came back, I remembered it all over again.
 
Hockey said:
you start to REALLY doubt yourself and your knowledge and abilities?

I have 3 more rides left before I am off to take the practical and written. Had lots of clinical+externship and feel comfortable on calls. But when I start thinking that this time, 2 months from now, I may be in the back with no "extra" partner to have (Well I'm sure I will have one till I get cleared), but either way...

Please tell me this is normal...
Click to expand...

Yes it is normal. I felt this way when I first started,and no one told me it was normal,in fact I was told the exact opposite by a lot of negative influences which made me feel even worse. Just know that with time you will become more comfortable with yourself and develop your own style,but remember that one never gets to a point where they know everything. One never stops learning,especially in this profession.
 
abckidsmom said:
I totally agree with this. Those who can't do, teach- pshaw!
Click to expand...

As a teaching assistant of Nursing/Pre-Med Anatomy & Physiology, I feel that through teaching the material, I myself get a better grasp of it. Teaching can certainly be used as a valuable learning tool, especially if utilized correctly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top