Starting class in August, help!!! =p

firemed17

firemed17

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Hey guys, I have been on the site for a while now, usually reading the posts and such as a guest, it wasn't until today that I signed up. I recently received an e-mail confirming my seat in my soon to start EMT-Basic Course in August. I am so excited and cannot wait until it begins! However, I am a relatively shy person, do you guys think this will be a problem once I start the course? Any feedback will be appreciated, Thanks!
 
Yes, being shy and being in EMS is like oil and water. You will have to touch, prod, gropue and fondle complete strangers while being watched by, in some cases hundreds people (even in a classroom setting you have groups of people watching everything you do). You have to delve into peoples personal lives, some people are rude, mean and nasty and those are the patients.

So...yeah if your shy, I suggest getting over it quick, you cant be shy and do an assesment. Ive seen shy people freeze up, cry (I mean completly break down), ask people to leave, ask the patient to be nicer. Run out of the room because the Instructor yelled at them (Your patient is going to die! dont @#$! worry about the 12 people staring at you hes bleeding to death!) In EMS (especially in the field) everything you do is scrutenized, recorded, taped, and examined. You cant ask 100 people gawking at some guy who cant breathe to kindly go about their business. heck most of the time you have to punch, kick and shove your way through the crowd just to get to a patient.

Good luck, hope it helps.
 
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Thanks for the quick response, Im sure I will get over it quick, once I start to see whos in the class and such, this is something I wont let get in the way of my dream. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are.
 
If you hae a good instructor, it will not be an issue. I think most people are a little shy when they first start for a variety of reasons from not wanting to mess up, not knowing what is appropriate, how to interact with people different from what you are used to, etc.

Even EMT class might not be long or intensive enough to get you into a comfort zone where it is a little easier to be more extroverted. Work hard, study hard, as much as we would like to think we are not some special or infallable beings, if the rest of us can do it, no reason you can't.
 
Just about anyone starting something new will be nervous, You seem pretty eager and mind set on what you want. But you have to step forward and initiate patient contact. If your instructor is good, they usually help you in how to go about doing this on certain calls, how to talk to people and how to be social. Not to everyone else, but you have to be social with your patient. Once you get settled into your class, you and your classmates will click, because you all have something in common...

Good luck. :-)
 
I used to be shy. That problem fixed itself real quick. I'm sure there are some people who can't get over it, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it.
 
LucidResq said:
I used to be shy. That problem fixed itself real quick. I'm sure there are some people who can't get over it, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it.
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Same here. Within six months though I was completely differnet. Before, if I didn't know you, I would hardly say a word. Now I can carry on an actual conversation with a stranger.

You will got over your shyness. You just have to (and I quote my trainer) "Just get out of your comfort zone!" Several of us who were trained by her are planning on getting her a shirt made up that says that on it. :P But it is true. Get youself out of your comfort zone and you will get used to being there. Eventually what was outside of it will be inside, then you can get out of that comfort zone and expand even more.

Let me tell you, I took alot for me to "get out of my comfort zone" and actually do a physical assessment. Class was tough too because I knew all of my classmates and the last thing I wanted to do was plapate someones abd or do lung sounds on a female classmate.

I mean I was raised to not boldly invade peoples personal space. But in EMS and in pt caregiving in general, you have to.

And vene is totally right. A good instructor will really help you get over that.
 
lightsandsirens5 said:
You just have to (and I quote my trainer) "Just get out of your comfort zone!" Several of us who were trained by her are planning on getting her a shirt made up that says that on it. :P
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LOL! My instructor was very strong on pushing scene safety.... We did get t-shirts made. 'How is Butch going to kill us today' with all of my classmates names and our class number.
 
No, you wont have a problem if you're shy and in EMS. The problem lies if you let your shyness inhibit you doing your job.

Ask anyone that knows me and I'm generally a shy person till I get to know someone. However when I'm.working I'm able to adjust that to get my job done. I just remind myself that this patient is my responsibility and what ever happens is on me, so it would behoove me to to do what has to be done.


Don't worry about being shy. You're starting a new job with a decent amount of responsibility... it takes everyone a while to get used to it, but when you do, you'll run a call without even thinking about your shyness because you're running on autopilot doing what has to get done.
 
I am also in your boat as I start EMT-100 class this week. Although I have been in school for 3 years, I also feel very apprehensive about this class. Even though I have a lot of school time, this feels different as I will be going to the same school where the fire and police academy are. At 50 years old, I worry that I will not fit in or be out of place as I am sure many of the students will be young athletic types. I think I worry most that I will be like an outsider and not accepted into the fold. Guess we will see.

I just received my First Responder Course book by Bergeron, and I must say I was rather disappointed by the content. It seemed written at a very simplistic level and the procedures described were no more advanced than anything I had learned in the military. I only hope the follow on class goes into greater detail.

At any rate, good luck with your class, I will let you know how my first few weeks go.
 
I appreciate all of your feedback ladies and gents. I know I will have no problem assessing patients and such, the work I know I can do just fine, what intimidates is the whole being in front of the class with all eyes on me, I know some of you probably think its the same thing, but working and assessing patients and role playing in class are two totally different beasts for me lol.
 
firemed17 said:
I appreciate all of your feedback ladies and gents. I know I will have no problem assessing patients and such, the work I know I can do just fine, what intimidates is the whole being in front of the class with all eyes on me, I know some of you probably think its the same thing, but working and assessing patients and role playing in class are two totally different beasts for me lol.
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yea, your classmates will not sue you if they don't like you.
 
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Sandog said:
I am also in your boat as I start EMT-100 class this week. Although I have been in school for 3 years, I also feel very apprehensive about this class. Even though I have a lot of school time, this feels different as I will be going to the same school where the fire and police academy are. At 50 years old, I worry that I will not fit in or be out of place as I am sure many of the students will be young athletic types. I think I worry most that I will be like an outsider and not accepted into the fold. Guess we will see.

I just received my First Responder Course book by Bergeron, and I must say I was rather disappointed by the content. It seemed written at a very simplistic level and the procedures described were no more advanced than anything I had learned in the military. I only hope the follow on class goes into greater detail.

At any rate, good luck with your class, I will let you know how my first few weeks go.
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Good luck man! looking forward to hear how it goes for you, i'm sure you will fit in just fine, every one will be there for the same purpose so you will have something in common with everyone, dont sweat it.
 
firemed17 said:
I appreciate all of your feedback ladies and gents. I know I will have no problem assessing patients and such, the work I know I can do just fine, what intimidates is the whole being in front of the class with all eyes on me, I know some of you probably think its the same thing, but working and assessing patients and role playing in class are two totally different beasts for me lol.
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I know this feeling as well, in my college algebra class our instructor would make us work out problems on the chalk board. I was never more mortified. Math anxiety and all. Anyways, what helped me get out of my shell was my Oral communications class. Good way to learn about public speaking and overcoming any fears you have with an audience.
 
firemed17 said:
I appreciate all of your feedback ladies and gents. I know I will have no problem assessing patients and such, the work I know I can do just fine, what intimidates is the whole being in front of the class with all eyes on me, I know some of you probably think its the same thing, but working and assessing patients and role playing in class are two totally different beasts for me lol.
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Try to remember that most of them are in the same boat and are starting at zero just like you.

Play patient as much as you can, talk to your instructor and see if you can help out in other classes even. It will help you learn the assessments and skills faster and notice what works well and what doesn't.
 
firemed17 said:
I appreciate all of your feedback ladies and gents. I know I will have no problem assessing patients and such, the work I know I can do just fine, what intimidates is the whole being in front of the class with all eyes on me, I know some of you probably think its the same thing, but working and assessing patients and role playing in class are two totally different beasts for me lol.
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It is my suspicion that as we are probies, you can expect little input or help, as I imagine most probies are like a firefly in the night and by morning we will be gone from sight. Many long timers will avoid us as we have not yet earned the right to their attention. This is understandable and should be expected. As a former serviceman I know this all to well. We will have to trod along, stumble along the way and prove ourselves before the others except us. I have stood the wall with a firearm in foreign lands and I am ready for whatever awaits me.
 
As stated... confidence overcomes shyness. Being meek, humble and modest can be good traits... but... when the excrement hits the fan you will use your skills and knowledge to slow it down and your shyness will never be a part of it.

As far as the class goes, well... it "could" be a problem. If it is a large class, you may need to overcome your shyness sooner then later as you may miss out on limited opportunities to get hands on experiences if you do not push to the front of the line but other than that you are probably just a nice guy. :)
 
I'm generally a shy, quiet person but I survived my class.

As long as you study and understand whats taught you should be fine, this isnt a popularity contest. You'll eventually get over the shyness because of all the hands on close and personal training. When you first start clinicals you'll probably be a bit nervous handling patients if you havent worked in the medical field before and are a shy person.

The best thing to do is fake it til you make it. Always try to project calm and look like you know what you're doing even if you're nervous. Of course the best way to do that IS to know what you're doing. The more you have mastered the material and skills the less nervous and shy you'll be. I would try to schedule a couple ER clinicals before ambulance clinicals, so you can get used to dealing with patients early on, especially pediatrics if you dont already have kids.

It's not a crime to be low key and quiet. A lot of time the louder more outgoing people use that to mask insecurity and nervousness. Just get on with things and do what you gotta do and the shyness should fade.
 
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Hey guys/ladies, sorry to bring this post back, just givin u guys an update I guess! The end of the semester is here, can't believe it, things went by so fast. I had a blast in my EMT course, for future EMT students, dont sweat it! The class is really fun, especially once you start clinical/ride times. I just finished my written final, got an 85%, felt like I could of done better but so many tricky questions =/, had my Lab hands-on scenario final today and got a 100% on that, was so happy lol. Now all I have left is the FISDAP test, which we need a 67% minimum to pass so we are able to take our state exam, and here in florida the state exam is the NREMT exam, so I thought that was pretty awesome, but yea, almost there!
 
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