Medics: Do you ever feel... under-educated?

I agree with everything you've said, including the systematic oppression of the profession for political gains and reasons.

The only way I can see something like this happening would be to partner with a major medial association that can bring to bear a level of authority (validity that people listen to) that can compete with the PR machine.

Some unbiased research produced by an organization not beholden to any group that has a stake at keeping costs/training low.

It's not wonder people abscond into other professions.
 
Jambi said:
The only way I can see something like this happening would be to partner with a major medial association that can bring to bear a level of authority (validity that people listen to) that can compete with the PR machine
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The only organization that I can think of that could do this is the nursing association.
 
NYMedic828 said:
Just a few miles away :rolleyes:
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I am a global player, there are many demands on my time.

I can't afford to pay well, but I really need a personal assistant and a secretary.
 
Veneficus said:
I am a global player, there are many demands on my time.

I can't afford to pay well, but I really need a personal assistant and a secretary.
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I'm sure you can outpay the standard EMS salary.

$7.25 an hour isn't that much for you.
 
NYMedic828 said:
I'm sure you can outpay the standard EMS salary.

$7.25 an hour isn't that much for you.
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Throw a free patch and all you can use trauma shears and he'd have people beating down his door for a job.

:rofl:
 
Jambi said:
Throw a free patch and all you can use trauma shears and he'd have people beating down his door for a job.

:rofl:
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I probably shouldn't make this joke, but here it is:

You could call yourself a "physician's assistant" on your resume, but there will be no clinical duties. :P
 
Veneficus said:
I probably shouldn't make this joke, but here it is:

You could call yourself a "physician's assistant" on your resume, but there will be no clinical duties. :P
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I just spit water out of my nose. I managed to keep it off the key board though :rofl:
 
Veneficus said:
The only organization that I can think of that could do this is the nursing association.
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yep could is the key word. We all know politics plays way too much of a role in health care education.

I'm going to stay optimistic. I think the system will drastically change, but it will likely come in 20 years. Health care outcomes have demonstrated the value in preventive and community based practice, but has faced many political/financial obstacles. I think once we start seeing a greater change there, we will see a change in starting in EMS like 5 years later.
 
Yes. Very under educated. My paramedic program was a joke(it really, really was.) It doesn't even exist anymore. I am type-A and take it upon myself to stay abreast on EMS topics, education, etc. I'm only required to have a valid CPR card and my state EMT-P card for employment, but I maintain my NREMT-P, ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS for my own edification.

And as far as working in the field, well, it's been my experience that after you get your 'fill' of the guts and gore and 'cool' stuff, you'll become bored because there really is only so much to do. It becomes monotonous. You'll dig deeper into what is going on and why to stay stimulated.

If you want to know the how's and why's behind what you're doing, you'll leave the field, or educate yourself on your own volition. I look shiz up all the time because I want to know.

I let out a big YAAAAAAWN and roll my eyes enroute to yet another(fill in any of the automatic drop-down options dispatch decides to put in)
 
I have a question for you all, I haven't been a medic all that long (less than 1 year) and I do a lot of self study on my spare time to broaden my knowledge behind my skills. For all of you who do the same how do you treat pts without stepping outside your scope of practice? And by that I mean if a pt is asking you about a condition and you have answers but are answers you learned on your own and not by a formal study program how do you, or how would you proceed? would you step over that line or no. I guess I'm asking would you use information and knowledge you have learned on your own in your practice? Is that considered outside our scope? (training dependent of course)
 
errey said:
I have a question for you all, I haven't been a medic all that long (less than 1 year) and I do a lot of self study on my spare time to broaden my knowledge behind my skills. For all of you who do the same how do you treat pts without stepping outside your scope of practice? And by that I mean if a pt is asking you about a condition and you have answers but are answers you learned on your own and not by a formal study program how do you, or how would you proceed? would you step over that line or no. I guess I'm asking would you use information and knowledge you have learned on your own in your practice? Is that considered outside our scope? (training dependent of course)
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And i don't mean performing procedures if your not trained to do so just general knowledge :)
 
errey said:
I have a question for you all, I haven't been a medic all that long (less than 1 year) and I do a lot of self study on my spare time to broaden my knowledge behind my skills. For all of you who do the same how do you treat pts without stepping outside your scope of practice? And by that I mean if a pt is asking you about a condition and you have answers but are answers you learned on your own and not by a formal study program how do you, or how would you proceed? would you step over that line or no. I guess I'm asking would you use information and knowledge you have learned on your own in your practice? Is that considered outside our scope? (training dependent of course)
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1. Medicine is defined, in part, by life long learning. Not everything outside a class is always wrong, not everything inside a class is always right.

2. There is no scope of practice when it comes to knowledge.
 
errey said:
I have a question for you all, I haven't been a medic all that long (less than 1 year) and I do a lot of self study on my spare time to broaden my knowledge behind my skills. For all of you who do the same how do you treat pts without stepping outside your scope of practice? And by that I mean if a pt is asking you about a condition and you have answers but are answers you learned on your own and not by a formal study program how do you, or how would you proceed? would you step over that line or no. I guess I'm asking would you use information and knowledge you have learned on your own in your practice? Is that considered outside our scope? (training dependent of course)
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I am constantly reading, taking courses, picking the brain of every doc I can, and anything really that I find interesting and pertains to what I do. If you only use your training/education from school and feel it is sufficient you have no business imo of being in charge of pt care. we are in an ever evolving field where you are always a student.Time permitting I always ask my pts if they have any questions about anything. I am constantly explaining what each of their medications do, how certain disease processes progress, what will probably happen at the er, why they had the test they just had, etc. I don't always have the answers but I do my best to explain what I do know . It also gives you something to talk about for those long transports.
 
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errey said:
I have a question for you all, I haven't been a medic all that long (less than 1 year) and I do a lot of self study on my spare time to broaden my knowledge behind my skills. For all of you who do the same how do you treat pts without stepping outside your scope of practice? And by that I mean if a pt is asking you about a condition and you have answers but are answers you learned on your own and not by a formal study program how do you, or how would you proceed? would you step over that line or no. I guess I'm asking would you use information and knowledge you have learned on your own in your practice? Is that considered outside our scope? (training dependent of course)
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You're basically talking about offering medical advice. I go along with continuing to educate yourself but, in the patient situation you have to be really really carefull about how you advise and what you suggest.

If, for example it's on a call where the patient refuses treatment and you say something like "From what I've read you don't have anything to worry about." then that could come back to bite you in the butt.

I say don't act OR advise above your training.
 
firetender said:
I say don't act OR advise above your training.
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However, who sets your training? Does training have to only be in a formal classroom setting? Does only the initial training count? How many tips and tricks do you use to treat patients that you picked up through informal routes?
 
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