Newbie, Hello all...help..

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dulci

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Hello everyone. I am an EMTI, and recently started my first "real" EMS job. I'm currently employed as a Basic, and only had clinical ride alongs prior to my first day at work. I love EMS, and am scheduled to start Paramedic School in Oct.

My mentor/training is very strict and belittling. I have only worked 4, 12 hour shifts so far. I have been taking a pounding since day one about 10 codes, speed, multi-tasking while driving emergency traffic, etc. Now, I'm not complaining, just stressed from the demand for perfection while I try to figure out how to not be "all thumbs" feeling all the time.

My problem is confidence, and "take charge" attitude. I seem to lack in that area a bit. I am competent at my skills, just on the job is slightly different then in a classroom. Is this something I should be concerned with? anything I can do within to help? is this normal and experience will help? Any feedback would be much appreciated. :)

Go easy all!
 
It's ok to complain, but keep your ears and eyes open.

If this gets out of hand, complain to your boss, with a letter, with incidents listed by date time and name of the person doing it, and in writing. If this is a job, you have protections under the law...but if they are actually bullies and numbnuts, not just trying to get something across to you, why do you want to work there? Also, maybe the boss can explain things to you and lend another point of view if this is not an exceptional instance for them).
 
im willing to bet most of the belittling etc is in your head. there is a high expectation with a rather sharp learning curve in this business. theres a very short window of time while you are precepting to determine whether you are of the type of person that will make it or the type that will curl up into a ball and cry on your first "real bad one".

my advice is to be absolutely clear what your preceptor expects out of you and work your hardest to achieve those goals. ask questions, take notes, whatever it takes.

as far as personnel issues, nobody wants to work with people they dislike or who dislike them. at the same time, you cant go running from company to company trying to find a crew that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. this business employees all sorts of personality types and you have to get used to working with people you dont like. you also cant go running to the boss every time somebody is rude to you.

in massachusetts, most of the ambulance on the road are privately owned. the joke around here si that every year, everybody takes a step to the left and puts on a new shirt(meaning changes companies). pull into any of the er bays in boston and you'll see 5 diff companies represented. we all stand around talking. as often as not, ive had advanced warning about people going from another company to mine. friends i have in other companies(and total strangers for that matter) trade information on whos who. if you get labeled as a crybaby, a loudmouth, a tattletale or any other less than favorable label(not saying you are, just in general) that reputation could not only follow you around, it could beat you there. tread lightly...

oh, and welcome to the nut house.....
 
oh, i'm not complaining about the training, although tough, I know I will be all set when he is done with me.

i'm jus trying to figure out how to meet the expectations he has set on me. i've done well with memorizing the 10-codes, driving techniques, etc, considering how much of this they DONT teach in school. :)

On my last shift, he informed me that I needed more confidence, and i need to be more aggressive and take charge. Finding this within myself is where I am having problems. Trying to be this while having the tough training, is where i was wondering all the questions in my last post. Is feeling inadequate, and all thumbs normal? How do i seize the "take charge" confidence within myself again? Or is it simply normal in the beginning and only time will allow this to manifest itself within me?

TY for the posts :)
 
It comes with time. Your company needs to step up to 2008. They should be NIMS compliant by now. This means drop the rescue randy 10-codes. They are not to be used any longer.

Training does take time and you will get a lot of constructive criticism. But, that is what it is. Learn from it and move on. If it is more then that, then report it. There are training officers out there that do the job for the ego trip and that's all.
 
Confidence I don't think can be taught. It comes from inside when you feel you know what you are doing. Repetition will help. Faking confidence will get you through until its genuine. Listen to how you talk. Use declarative sentences... I'm going to... You must... We will.... Avoid asking questions too much on scene... you can state the question in a more declarative way... Make lots of eye contact, direct face to face with the patients. Speak clearly and avoid 'upspeak' you know.. that way? Where you go up? on the end of a sentence? so it sounds like you are asking a question????

With time you won't need to sound confident, because you will be.
 
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