I've been in the medical field ever since i was in High School. I took LPN in High School but never actually took the NCLEX so i just went to college for nursing... went for a few years, there was a long waiting list so i decided to do EMS in the meantime and then just bridge over... Did EMT school and have been an EMT for 2 years... doing hospital to hospital transports and nothing major... Became a Paramedic December of 2014. Have been working on an ALS truck since April. I am scared Sh******* of getting a call and not knowing what to do... I have yet to get that oh sh*t call yet by myself... but even with the littlest thing I get scared. I've sat there and though that I didn't want to do this anymore... It's too much responsibility, Im going to screw up and kill someone.. is it just me who thinks this way or is it everyone in the first year. Even during clinical I wasn't scared and was excited to do calls, but thats because I was still learning and if something F**ked up it wasn't my fault because I "didn't know". I've been in a real funk the last couple months, where i will try to get out of running ALS calls or I will avoid working cause I just really don't want to go in...
New Paramedic, Feeling like this isn't for me?
- Thread starter Rebbecca
- Start date
Are you doing transfer ALS or 911 ALS. My guess is transfer since you have not had the "oh crap" call yet. Sounds like you just need to relax, you have been doing this for a little while now and passed all the necessary things to be qualified. Hopefully your training was good enough that when stuff does hit the fan, you can fall back on it. Everyone in this field screws up, as do doctors. As long as it was not obviously negligent, all you have to do is learn from your mistakes and move on, and never make the same mistake again. They call is "practicing" medicine for that exact reason. You always need to be learning and studying as long as you are in this field. It does not stop when you pass the NREMT. Every new paramedic has been in over their heads at some point. They got through it, so will you. You really just need to fix your mentality, or that will be what screws you out of this career, or fudging up a call.
Buck up, you'll be OK.
Edit: To add on what to Remi said about diving in. Completely true. When I first started (and still do) my FTO would throw me to the wolves and make me take the crappy call instead of just stepping back and letting him do it while I do ePCR (I am BLS). I would do my assessment, tell fire what they need to be doing, and tell my partner what I think is going on, do interventions. Until they needed an ALS intervention (or while ALS interventions were going on) it was my call. Sucked at first, and I messed up a few times. But, I have not made the same mistake again, and it helped me a ton with being a better provider.
So basically that was a long way of saying what Remi did, find a new job and someone that will make you learn.
Buck up, you'll be OK.
Edit: To add on what to Remi said about diving in. Completely true. When I first started (and still do) my FTO would throw me to the wolves and make me take the crappy call instead of just stepping back and letting him do it while I do ePCR (I am BLS). I would do my assessment, tell fire what they need to be doing, and tell my partner what I think is going on, do interventions. Until they needed an ALS intervention (or while ALS interventions were going on) it was my call. Sucked at first, and I messed up a few times. But, I have not made the same mistake again, and it helped me a ton with being a better provider.
So basically that was a long way of saying what Remi did, find a new job and someone that will make you learn.
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teedubbyaw
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You are certainly not alone. It's a part of being a rookie. If you weren't feeling that way, then you'd be having a false competence.
The only way to overcome is to get the experience. I remember being terrified of getting my first cardiac arrest. I knew it was a simple algorithm, but it still bothered me. So many more later, I find myself wanting one if I haven't had one in awhile.
You will be in a situation at some point where you don't have a clue what's wrong with the pt, and you'll hope that your experience will lead you down the right treatment path.
All that said, it's a part of the job. You'll get to a point in your career where few things bother you, or you'll find this really isn't the right career for you. Have confidence, take a deep breath, and do your best. Two of the biggest pitfalls I've seen where things go bad are a lack of confidence and being too spastic on a critical scene.
The only way to overcome is to get the experience. I remember being terrified of getting my first cardiac arrest. I knew it was a simple algorithm, but it still bothered me. So many more later, I find myself wanting one if I haven't had one in awhile.
You will be in a situation at some point where you don't have a clue what's wrong with the pt, and you'll hope that your experience will lead you down the right treatment path.
All that said, it's a part of the job. You'll get to a point in your career where few things bother you, or you'll find this really isn't the right career for you. Have confidence, take a deep breath, and do your best. Two of the biggest pitfalls I've seen where things go bad are a lack of confidence and being too spastic on a critical scene.
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Chewy is right, relax.
You will make mistakes, that's part of the process.
Find a job where you will get sicker patients and dive in head first......
You will make mistakes, that's part of the process.
Find a job where you will get sicker patients and dive in head first......
I work at a fire department and I just haven't had many calls yet, I'd rather have that oh sh*t call when there are 3 other medics with me to stop me if i do something wrong then to be by myself in the back and not have any hands to help or guide me... I know it comes with experience and it's not like i dont know what i'm doing, because obviously I passed my test (first try) and people ask me questions and I know what im talking about but its the actually doing it part. I have pts that are in pain and I try to do everything to avoid giving morphine because im scared they are going to resp distress on me or something... I know that if i give to large of a dose, yeah that will happen and if it does i can hit them with some narcan to bring them out of it, but idk.... thanks, im just glad i joined this site so now i have other poeple to talk to who are or maybe have felt the same way. thank you guys! this helps
Ok so what tools do you have to monitor their breathing? What are the treatments for respiratory distress? See easy. You think to much.
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Whoa there. If you're scared to provide an indicated treatment you need to have a discussion with your clinical skills manager, supervisor, an FTO, or something. It's normal to be a little apprehensive and appreciate the gravitas of being responsible for someone's medical care for even a brief time, but you have to find the confidence to treat your patient properly when it's needed.
What do you think the hold up is if you were okay in clinicals and internship?
What do you think the hold up is if you were okay in clinicals and internship?
I know what to do, you give me a scenario I'll tell you exactly how to do it... In the clinical setting I did perfect as well... It's just the responsibility all on me now... I'm the one with the knowledge and I'm supposed to know how to answer all the questions and I think maybe that's where I'm getting held up on... I'm one of those people who doesn't like to do things wrong so I feel like I guess I don't want to make mistakes...
You will need to work on accepting mistakes. They will happen, there is nothing you can do to not ever make them, just learn from them and move on. Giving the average sized adult 10mg morphine more than likely is not going to cause them to go into respiratory depression severe enough that giving the patient some oxygen won't keep the O2 sats up. A patient who is having enough pain that it warrants narcotics will most of the time relax after the meds have been given but still be awake and talking to you. Also your company knows you are new and will expect you to make mistakes, it's how we learn in this field by the mistakes that have been made. Above all else take a deep breath when you get a call and remember it's not your emergency.
I think the above is causing your lack of confidence. 2 years as an EMT doing IFTs. You have not worked on a 911 ALS ambulance so you lack that experience. You have not seen another paramedic give a medication in the field in an emergency situation and all of the other small little things you pick up as a 911 EMT. All of your previous pts have been relatively stable. I am not trying to be mean and I am willing to help anyway I can but this is what happens sometimes when people lack the 911 ALS EMT experience. It makes it harder on them.
I think you are smart and I think you can get through this. Somehow, you have to trust yourself. You know what to do. You are just afraid of doing it. Know your policies and protocols inside and out (I am sure you already do). You can always fall back on those. Hell, I have been paramedic for 22 years and on occasion, I lack confidence on a call. Ultimately, I see you gaining that confidence and excelling at being a paramedic.
Clare
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You will be right mate, talk to your Preceptor or Clinical Support Officer if you need extra help, that is what they are there for.
Uclabruin103
Forum Lieutenant
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BLS before ALS. I always make sure I have sll my BLS covered before moving to ALS. That 4mg morphine ain't going to do much to them. Now 5 MG versed, that's a different animal.
Don't think, just do. It's amazing how it'll be reflex after six months or so.
Don't think, just do. It's amazing how it'll be reflex after six months or so.
CALEMT
The Other Guy/ Paramaybe?
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Sounds like a case of the new medic jitters. Give it some time and you'll be fine, it happens to everyone. Chewy hit the nail on the head.
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Rebecca,
It doesn't feel this way now, but I promise you that we've all been there to a certain extent. This too shall pass.
It doesn't feel this way now, but I promise you that we've all been there to a certain extent. This too shall pass.