Hey everyone, I just got my license and NR cert. about a month ago and this week I start as a volunteer EMT at the FD. I was wondering, most of the instructors I had said actual EMS calls are a lot different than the guidelines of National Registry; how do you go about your pt. interview? How did you find a pattern that works for you?
New EMT w/some questions
- Thread starter nate
- Start date
DesertMedic66
Forum Troll
- 11,327
- 3,502
- 113
The NREMT assessment is a good way to start. The more patients you get, mixed with experience, and more education will allow you to create your own assessment process.
As you work with other providers you can take assessment parts that you like and combine them with others.
As you work with other providers you can take assessment parts that you like and combine them with others.
- 246
- 68
- 28
You will focus your patient hx towards the chief complaint/nature of the call. Just get the OPQRST/SAMPLE questions down. Once you get more experience you will know what questions to ask that are relevant to the call.
WuLabsWuTecH
Forum Deputy Chief
- 1,244
- 7
- 38
Start out with what you learned in class, but don't be afraid to adapt and throw what you learned out and make up new things. Especially if your trainer does something and you find it useful.
I used to do SAMPLE/OPQRST on everyone. Now I've gone almost completely away from it and just ask questions based on my clinical impression. I'm sure I still cover everything in SAMPLE/OPQRST that's relevant, I just don't go in that order anymore and found a flow that is a lot smoother.
Generally, I go:
So what's going on today? (gives me CC, sometimes some history)
When did this all start? (gives me timeframe)
Explain what's happened so far. (gives me the course, other associated signs/symptoms)
Do you have any medical conditions I need to be aware of? (gives me PMHx)
From those 4 questions, you can get everything you need about the situation with follow up questions. Obviously to get a complete med history, you'll still need to specifically ask about allergies and meds and such, but those 4 questions, and their derivatives, can get you pretty far!
Good luck this week!
I used to do SAMPLE/OPQRST on everyone. Now I've gone almost completely away from it and just ask questions based on my clinical impression. I'm sure I still cover everything in SAMPLE/OPQRST that's relevant, I just don't go in that order anymore and found a flow that is a lot smoother.
Generally, I go:
So what's going on today? (gives me CC, sometimes some history)
When did this all start? (gives me timeframe)
Explain what's happened so far. (gives me the course, other associated signs/symptoms)
Do you have any medical conditions I need to be aware of? (gives me PMHx)
From those 4 questions, you can get everything you need about the situation with follow up questions. Obviously to get a complete med history, you'll still need to specifically ask about allergies and meds and such, but those 4 questions, and their derivatives, can get you pretty far!
Good luck this week!
avdrummerboy
Forum Lieutenant
- 156
- 20
- 18
The above is a great response. I always get the 'has this ever happened before?' question in as this will give you an idea of if you're dealing with a chronic problem (probably nothing to get crazy about, you'll learn about "regulars" in this line of work very quickly) or if it is some acute and new problem that is probably more of an issue for the pt and us.
The assessments and the questions that go with them just take some time, practice and even some observation. I like the HAM scale, History, allergies, meds. those three are the most important for the given situation and the rest can be gathered at a more leisurely pace in a bit.
It all just takes practice.
The assessments and the questions that go with them just take some time, practice and even some observation. I like the HAM scale, History, allergies, meds. those three are the most important for the given situation and the rest can be gathered at a more leisurely pace in a bit.
It all just takes practice.