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TheKatalyst

TheKatalyst

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hey guys. I'm starting my EMT volunteer work soon, on the path to becoming a full time EMT, just to test the waters and see if I can really handle it. I guess just like any other new job I'm excited and nervous about it. I know it's not like ANY job I've ever had . I find myself doing great under pressure, I love to help people, I'm awesome at thinking on my feet and I'm very precise when it comes down to medical emergencies, which is why I'm going for it . The thing I'm MOST nervous about is the kids/babies that I may not be able to save sometimes :( that's really the only thing that gets me down in the dumps PLUS I'm a new mother to a 5 month old. I was just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom, tips and/or encouragement?
 
Regarding being "precise" at medical emergencies, don't disregard your instincts as a mother and an adult when you're caring for patients. The protocols and procedures you've learned are meant to guide you, not dictate each step on every call.
 
Honest advice-you don't sound (mentally) ready as a new mother of a 5 month old.

Could I be wrong, and might you be? Sure, but worrying about not being able to "save" a baby from an unfortunate event because you can "relate" with a baby of your own is not the way to make this career work.

Sound insensitive? Maybe, and that's ok. I'm a father of two girls, and have been going at this long enough to remember them being the same age as some of the kiddos I would pick up. What I don't remember was worrying I couldn't "save a life" because of it. If, or when I saw a sick kid similar to my girls' age it more than anything put things into perspective for me.

That is what this job should teach you: perspective...and humility amongst other things.

Be grateful for what you have, don't wish to "save lives" because you're awesome at something in your own mind. Go in humble, flexible, and listen to providers you seek to emulate (hopefully not the wrong crowd). There is value in detachment, and at the end of the day these aren't "your babies".

Also, try being a bit more humble in your posts. At 21 to say you're "awesome" at thinking on your feet, and "precise" at medical emergencies without any real experience behind you will not foster growth in your career, nor will it yield the most honest answers from a respectable crowd. I still don't find myself "precise" with every medical emergency (a term left up to one's own interpretation).

I skipped encouragement in lieu of wisdom, and honesty. BTW, we do not save lives, we prolong them; sometimes for all the wrong reasons.
 
I would take everything @VentMonkey said into consideration. I agree whole heartedly. As an EMT/Medic/CCRN or whoever you are responding to calls(EMS), your not looking to save lives, or be a hero(at least i'm not). To be honest, if the city of Albany had 0 medical/trauma calls i'd be thrilled, is that unrealistic. Absolutely, it's not that i'm lazy it's just i dont necessarily want to see people hurt.
 
NysEms2117 said:
To be honest, if the city of Albany had 0 medical/trauma calls i'd be thrilled, is that unrealistic. Absolutely, it's not that i'm lazy it's just i dont necessarily want to see people hurt.
Click to expand...

While i sort of understand what you're saying, you do realize that if there were no medical or trauma calls, the majority of us would be out of work....
 
hometownmedic5 said:
While i sort of understand what you're saying, you do realize that if there were no medical or trauma calls, the majority of us would be out of work....
Click to expand...
understood, however i'm sure you folks can still have jobs, ER tech scope could be bumped up ect. Many other ways to get around that.
I was just relating to what fire has done, Educated people on how to stop fires before they get big, putting fire extinguishers around every corner ect ect. And now rates of fires have dropped, significantly.
 
NysEms2117 said:
understood, however i'm sure you folks can still have jobs, ER tech scope could be bumped up ect. Many other ways to get around that.
I was just relating to what fire has done, Educated people on how to stop fires before they get big, putting fire extinguishers around every corner ect ect. And now rates of fires have dropped, significantly.
Click to expand...

And yet fire service manning hasn't declined significantly; they just repurposed the fire trucks to be oversized, improperly equipped first response fly cars...
 
hometownmedic5 said:
And yet fire service manning hasn't declined significantly; they just repurposed the fire trucks to be oversized, improperly equipped first response fly cars...
Click to expand...

Never said the whole system was better ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
If there were no medical or trauma emergencies most ERs would be out of business too....

I'm with Vent.

My best advice would be to listen more than you talk, and when you do talk don't talk about how awesome you are.

Kid calls suck, there's no way around it but if you can't find a way to separate yourself from the emotional aspect of it, both during and after the call you will never survive in this industry.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Handsome Robb said:
My best advice would be to listen more than you talk, and when you do talk don't talk about how awesome you are.
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1,000 x this^^^, OP.
IMG_0293.JPG

Also, if I looked back on my 21 year old parent-self now and saw I posted a "selfie" rather than say, a pic of the munchkin? Well that too speaks volumes about my level of mental maturity without saying a word.

Something about actions vs. (verbal) words, but hey again, BOL:).
 
VentMonkey said:
Honest advice-you don't sound (mentally) ready as a new mother of a 5 month old.

Could I be wrong, and might you be? Sure, but worrying about not being able to "save" a baby from an unfortunate event because you can "relate" with a baby of your own is not the way to make this career work.

Sound insensitive? Maybe, and that's ok. I'm a father of two girls, and have been going at this long enough to remember them being the same age as some of the kiddos I would pick up. What I don't remember was worrying I couldn't "save a life" because of it. If, or when I saw a sick kid similar to my girls' age it more than anything put things into perspective for me.

That is what this job should teach you: perspective...and humility amongst other things.

Be grateful for what you have, don't wish to "save lives" because you're awesome at something in your own mind. Go in humble, flexible, and listen to providers you seek to emulate (hopefully not the wrong crowd). There is value in detachment, and at the end of the day these aren't "your babies".

Also, try being a bit more humble in your posts. At 21 to say you're "awesome" at thinking on your feet, and "precise" at medical emergencies without any real experience behind you will not foster growth in your career, nor will it yield the most honest answers from a respectable crowd. I still don't find myself "precise" with every medical emergency (a term left up to one's own interpretation).

I skipped encouragement in lieu of wisdom, and honesty. BTW, we do not save lives, we prolong them; sometimes for all the wrong reasons.
Click to expand...
Thank you . I appreciate the honesty wholeheartedly.
 
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