Paramedic Field Guide

E

ebemt

Forum Ride Along
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I'm in my first semester of my paramedic class and I'm looking for a good paramedic field guide. Even my class instructors can't agree on which one they like. I would like to get some opinions on what some of the medics are using in the field. It would be nice to have a good guide with me when we start our clinicals.

Thanks
Ed
 
Pocket Guide

This is the one we use over here the most. The Military has it as well. I like it and have had several copies over the last 5 years.

0a33024128a0a247ff32f010.L.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Cri.../189049528X/ref=pd_cp_b_0/189-5860691-5870831
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That Emergency/Critical Care guide has a TON of info, but it's mostly geared toward the ED/Critical Care RN type of position. Now that being said, I think it's an excellent resource for the street medic that needs to occasionally review stuff that isn't seen very much. I have one from several years back and I personally found it to be at least as useful as the ALS version from the same company. This one is also a little bit thicker than the ALS vesion.

If I had to choose one... I'd choose this one. If I had to choose two... I'd choose the EMTB/I and this one... because they cover different info that is useful to review from time to time while en-route to calls.
 
a few

That is an excellent book....also check out the Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook. It's pricey, but if you're working remote or find yourself in a sticky situation, it can be an amazing tool....although it's a little bulky. Also available in PDA version for you techno-gurus (i've never been able to work one of those)
 
The ones I found most useful (i think its the one in the picture) had a good amount of routine meds listed. most of the other stuff while useful you'l,l probably have drilled into your head or posted elsewhere i.e protocol books etc. the common med info is very helpful in getting history info from the large number of patients that cant tell you why they take a handfull of meds every day.
 
arsenicbassist said:
That is an excellent book....also check out the Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook. It's pricey, but if you're working remote or find yourself in a sticky situation, it can be an amazing tool....although it's a little bulky. Also available in PDA version for you techno-gurus (i've never been able to work one of those)
Click to expand...

Have it, used it a lot over the course of the last 5 years here in the Big Litterbox. We are practicing in a very expanded scope over here and it comes in quite handy. It is an awesome reference, but yes it is a bit bulky, the Cookbook stays on me all the time. :)

Marc
 
Definitely makes field appendectomies a little easier, haha. Yeah, we're not all put in that situation, but there's always a chance!
 
This is the one I've been using. I like it as it's surprisingly thorough and concise.
41NMCKNX1JL._SS500_.jpg
 
ebemt said:
I'm in my first semester of my paramedic class and I'm looking for a good paramedic field guide. Even my class instructors can't agree on which one they like. I would like to get some opinions on what some of the medics are using in the field. It would be nice to have a good guide with me when we start our clinicals.

Thanks
Ed
Click to expand...

Our instructors don't want us using guides because it might become habit and its good to know it yourself.
 
rhan101277 said:
Our instructors don't want us using guides because it might become habit and its good to know it yourself.
Click to expand...

I bet the patient would prefer you double check a medication you may not often use before giving them a lethal dose. There is nothing wrong with having a reference guide as long as you aren't whipping that thing out in a cardiac arrest because you can't remember when to check a pulse.

I don't know one doctor that doesn't have at least one reference book with him at work, and many have several. It doesn't make them bad doctors, it makes them careful doctors.

Anyway, Infomed's Critical Care guide is one of the better ones. I usually make my own guide and change pages as treatment modalities change or medications get added or dropped. If you're a paramedic student, it might not be a bad idea to create your own guide.
 
EMS49393 said:
I bet the patient would prefer you double check a medication you may not often use before giving them a lethal dose. There is nothing wrong with having a reference guide as long as you aren't whipping that thing out in a cardiac arrest because you can't remember when to check a pulse.

I don't know one doctor that doesn't have at least one reference book with him at work, and many have several. It doesn't make them bad doctors, it makes them careful doctors.

Anyway, Infomed's Critical Care guide is one of the better ones. I usually make my own guide and change pages as treatment modalities change or medications get added or dropped. If you're a paramedic student, it might not be a bad idea to create your own guide.
Click to expand...

Yeah pharamacology/drug dose books are good. But whipping out a book to remember how to score for GCS or cincinnati stroke scale or do a arm drift test etc. That would make a patient not have much confidence in you. Not saying you whip any out.

I do agree w/ drug book.
 
Funny. We had the ALS version of the Informed guide issued as part of our books for class.
 
rhan101277 said:
Our instructors don't want us using guides because it might become habit and its good to know it yourself.
Click to expand...

While I agree that you should know your job and not be dependant upon them, that is crazy. There is stuff that you run into that is not routine by any stretch but you still need to get it right. This is just a additional tool to assist you in being the very best Provider you can be. That is where these guides come in handy.

I can understand (sort of) where your instructors may be trying to come from, wanting you to know as much as you possibly can, but there is no way for you to know everything. To expect you to, is just setting you up for failure.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
rhan101277 said:
Yeah pharamacology/drug dose books are good. But whipping out a book to remember how to score for GCS or cincinnati stroke scale or do a arm drift test etc. That would make a patient not have much confidence in you. Not saying you whip any out.

I do agree w/ drug book.
Click to expand...

I have a drug guide that I carry. I also have my own field guide that has information on the drugs in my system, unusual 12 lead information (such as the v-tach criteria), and assorted phone numbers and facility door codes. There is no ACLS or GCS type stuff in my guide. I take myself for granted that I'm pretty tight with those and shouldn't need a reminder. But hey, you carry want you waant or don't want.
 
Well they can be useful in those uncommon situations. Maybe the instructors want you to know the common things and not have to use books for run of the mill stuff.

We are supposed to develop a field diagnosis except in the most complicated situations. But some things are going to be way beyond our scope and we can just try to keep the basic stuff working. I guess I watch to much mystery diagnosis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top