medic school blues

[bleedblue]

Paramedic school is incredibly tough. I should know, Im currently in medic school myself. I learned something about myself that I would like to share with everyone because it has tremendous merit in this field.

Let me tell you first hand that its very easy to be an EMT and see all the god awful paramedics running around and say "Man I would be such a good paramedic... a better medic than most." Being a paramedic is incredibly hard on so many levels. To take the course alone requires tremendous time, familial support and a natural aversion to stress. My blood pressure went from 118/60 to 144/88 just because of the stress of being in this program. The stress also lowered my immune system and I got the flu.

Furthermore, medics have to do more and know more with every passing year. I actually feel as though it becomes increasingly more difficult every year to pass medic school and obtain licensure. This may, over the next decade, make it so there are very few paramedics in existence, but its just a theory.

Many of your friends will be encouraging telling you that you have what it takes, but thats because they want you to at least give it a try and see if its for you or not.

What I have learned in medic class so far is that the world needs good EMTs and every day it seems like that may be where I will stay... and Im damn good at my job so thats ok.

So when you see a medic make a mistake or break down and cry on the side of the hospital, or do something you would not have done. Show them a little respect. Try an help them instead of cutting them down all the time. Thats my new approach. Thanks for taking the time to listen.

-P.

 

[Amberlamps916]

What has been the most difficult part for you? Where are you going to school? Hang in there!

 

[Handsome Robb]

From one medic student to another:

Please don't take this attitude. Yes we do need good EMTs but we need good medics too. School isn't that hard...I'm not going to brag and throw my grade in your face since your feeling down but c'mon dude.

I have worked between 30 and 48 hours a week thus far through school and am doing just fine. Compared to other healthcare professionals medics aren't required to know nearly as much, which in my opinion is unfortunate.

Maybe it just isn't for you. Personally I love medicine, I think it's fascinating. I think you should suck it up and tough it out, but that's just me. My parents always taught me to never be a quitter, unless your quitting a bad habit

 

[bleedblue]

From one medic student to another:

Please don't take this attitude. Yes we do need good EMTs but we need good medics too. School isn't that hard...I'm not going to brag and throw my grade in your face since your feeling down but c'mon dude.

I have worked between 30 and 48 hours a week thus far through school and am doing just fine. Compared to other healthcare professionals medics aren't required to know nearly as much, which in my opinion is unfortunate.

Maybe it just isn't for you. Personally I love medicine, I think it's fascinating. I think you should suck it up and tough it out, but that's just me. My parents always taught me to never be a quitter, unless your quitting a bad habit

Sounds to me like you have a different medic school than I. Mine is based on subjective multiple choice quiz scores.:glare: I have read hundreds of pages and done hundreds of workbook pages in the past ten days and none of it has made any difference. Its easy for you to look at what Ive got going on and tell me to suck it up, but you really dont know my cirriculum.:lol:

 

[terrible one]

What kind of pre-reqs have you taken? If you have completed college level work in classes such as A&P, chem, micro and biology I can't see any didactic portion of paramedic school giving you much of a challenge. Maybe talk to your instructors and get some after class help?
True we do not know your curriculum and medic school is stressful, however, compared to all other medical professions we have it beyond easy.

 

[Maine iac]

I gotta agree with NVRob. It is a hard course if you want to be good, but by no means a hard course when compared to other medical professions. I am not sure of your education background or what type of learner you are but you just need to go slow and steady (to a certain extent) and have a super solid grasp on the basics that way when more complex "stuff" comes along you will be able to handle it.

I am new to this forum but it seems like there are some really smart people that are willing to help others, so make sure you post up your questions and I am sure the advice will start flowing.

Are you having troubles with the actual test question like not understanding the material, or is the wording/presentation of the question tripping you up? Do you review the questions as a class (or between yourselves after the test), do your profs go over any tricky questions?


My program was based on an 80% pass/fail rate with a three strikes rule. So if you got below an 80% on any major test three times you were out of the program. This was run through a highly regarded med school/university so they demanded the best. Which is how it should be.

 

[STXmedic]

Sounds to me like you have a different medic school than I. Mine is based on subjective multiple choice quiz scores.:glare: I have read hundreds of pages and done hundreds of workbook pages in the past ten days and none of it has made any difference. Its easy for you to look at what Ive got going on and tell me to suck it up, but you really dont know my cirriculum.:lol:

I would assume its like almost every other curriculum in the country. They teach you to pass registry.

What you learn in medic school is just the basics. The learning doesn't (well, shouldn't) stop in class; in fact, it should barely scratch the surface.

We have all been through the questions that have "multiple right answers." That just takes good test taking strategies, because the material is not difficult.

I won't even start on the "medics need good basics" crap.

 

[bleedblue]

you guys are right. I have not had A&P microbiology or biology. I have had chem but Im not good at math. I have had 7+ years of college and thought I would be OK, but it sounds to me like the problem is me... and thats totally fair and probably very true.

 

[Anjel]

I'm working full time, getting married, moving, and looking for a new job while in medical school.

Granted I am not very far in, but you just have to have the mindset that you can do it.

Not that "I'm a good basic. I'm ok with staying a basic"

Hang in there. Don't give up.

 

[Veneficus]

I have read hundreds of pages and done hundreds of workbook pages in the past ten days and none of it has made any difference. Its easy for you to look at what Ive got going on and tell me to suck it up, but you really dont know my cirriculum.:lol:

Not trying to be smart, but did you actually understand any of what you read?

Medicine is not like other course work, you can read it, you may even foolishly attempt to memorize it, but unless you actually understand how it works, you will come up short everytime.

You also have to know the back story. Without solid basic science, you can expect to struggle the entire time.

Some useful advice:

If you read something and any part of it you haven't seen before, like the biochemistry of metabolic pathways, Brønsted–Lowry acid base theory, cellular organelles and their relative functions, regional anatomy, and integrated physiology, look those up instead of rereading the same paramedic text over and over.

Then, when you think you understand it, try to explain it in simpleterms to a nonmedical provider. If you can't make them understand it, you don't yourself.

Paramedic class is all too often presented as a group of unconnected facts. If you don't have a teacher who shows you how they are connected, the responsibility falls on to you to find out.

In many university classes, if you regurgitate what the teacher said, you are good for an A. In medical fields, if you do the same, you won't know enough to even pass.

It sounds like you have a basic science deficit, so you probably have to spend some more time making up for that on your own.

 

[bleedblue]

Not trying to be smart, but did you actually understand any of what you read?

Medicine is not like other course work, you can read it, you may even foolishly attempt to memorize it, but unless you actually understand how it works, you will come up short everytime.

You also have to know the back story. Without solid basic science, you can expect to struggle the entire time.

Some useful advice:

If you read something and any part of it you haven't seen before, like the biochemistry of metabolic pathways, Brønsted–Lowry acid base theory, cellular organelles and their relative functions, regional anatomy, and integrated physiology, look those up instead of rereading the same paramedic text over and over.

Then, when you think you understand it, try to explain it in simpleterms to a nonmedical provider. If you can't make them understand it, you don't yourself.

Paramedic class is all too often presented as a group of unconnected facts. If you don't have a teacher who shows you how they are connected, the responsibility falls on to you to find out.

In many university classes, if you regurgitate what the teacher said, you are good for an A. In medical fields, if you do the same, you won't know enough to even pass.

It sounds like you have a basic science deficit, so you probably have to spend some more time making up for that on your own.

Yes I have a lack of science background... and the logical person in me knows that I probably wont be able to catch up so Im concerned.

You guys are definitely trying to help, and I totally appreciate the faults of mine you have identified, but I think you all are missing the purpose of my post. The purpose of my post was not to ask for help, but to identify that the paramedic deserves more respect than many of us EMTs often give them. I now know better than ever before that the coursework is in-depth and not everybody is cut out to pass medic school and get that P.

Thanks for the advice seriously. I understand and appreciate that I don't have the time to go back and learn 6 science courses worth of material. I do, however, have the time to ask my medic buddies what important concepts are imbedded within the chapters and to make sure I understand those. Thats the approach I will take and I hope it works.

Thanks again.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Don't give up dude. I think of some of the guys in my class who passed and I'm just amazed. Put in the study time. Class doesn't end when you walk out of school. It takes me a while to memorize things so I had to record flash cards on audio and listen in my car just to supplement my studying.

It's a short process, relatively. Just put it the time.

 

[Handsome Robb]

Sounds to me like you have a different medic school than I. Mine is based on subjective multiple choice quiz scores.:glare: I have read hundreds of pages and done hundreds of workbook pages in the past ten days and none of it has made any difference. Its easy for you to look at what Ive got going on and tell me to suck it up, but you really dont know my cirriculum.:lol:

There's a national DOT curriculum...so I have a pretty solid idea of what yours is. Furthermore my school goes above and beyond those standards. Compared to many it's a more difficult program but that's all word of mouth though.

Also we have plenty of "subjective multiple choice tests", sure I do better on short answer or essay questions but I still do just fine on multiple choice too, like 4.0 fine. I wasn't going to throw it out there then you came off condescending so I decided to stop being nice.

Either suck it up and do it or quit that's the two options you have.

I don't know what you want to hear from us?

I've never seen a medic be disrespected by an EMT although we have a good crew and medics rely on their intermediate partner as much as we rely on them.

 

[bleedblue]

I'm sorry if I hurt someones feelings. I hope everyone has a safe week and thanks for listening to what I had to say.

 

[Veneficus]

Yes I have a lack of science background... and the logical person in me knows that I probably wont be able to catch up so Im concerned.

It sounds more like it is attitude holding you back more than ability to me.
(or you are trying to suck up to medics )

Thanks for the advice seriously. I understand and appreciate that I don't have the time to go back and learn 6 science courses worth of material. I do, however, have the time to ask my medic buddies what important concepts are imbedded within the chapters and to make sure I understand those. Thats the approach I will take and I hope it works.

It has worked for others, but in my experience, it requires more time and effort than understanding the background.

Do what you must.

 

[firetender]

Yup, it's a trying time for you, but stick with it and don't fixate on your fears, just do what you're doing which is identify the gaps and fill them in.

And YES, I hear what you're saying about your new-found respect for paramedics, and thank you for that!

 

[sweetpete]

you guys are right. I have not had A&P microbiology or biology. I have had chem but Im not good at math. I have had 7+ years of college and thought I would be OK, but it sounds to me like the problem is me... and thats totally fair and probably very true.

I'll say this.....I just finished up (community college based) medic school and passed my NR. I'm so glad it's over. With that being said, certain areas were tougher than others. In some ways, I struggled, in others, I exceeded. Strange.

However, I LOVE your attitude!! You have the humility/balance that is SEVERELY lacking in this profession. So many will come on here and say they did great or maybe this isn't for you. But, the reality is.....ANYONE can learn to be a medic. Humility and similar qualities CANNOT be taught. You either have them or you don't.

And if someone believes they do have these qualities.......they need to work harder at them.

Take care man!

 

[Veneficus]

However, I LOVE your attitude!! You have the humility/balance that is SEVERELY lacking in this profession.

Greatness and humility...

Quit being so demanding