Staying calm during calls

xrsm002

xrsm002

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Any tips/tricks for staying calm apparently I become flustered during ALS calls I'm a medic student one of my preceptors said I get flustered this was after this preceptor kept telling me to do something while I was busy with another task. I have A.D.D. However I can't take the normal meds like Ritalin Wellbutrin or the generics for it as they cause my muscled to spasm and freeze up that anything I'm holding I'll drop. So I haven't been on those in a while and no problems. That being said its hard for me to think fast as I was born with a non traumatic brain injury which was due to lack of oxygen secondary to my heart having a faulty valve. So I move slow but not like turtle slow. As far as moving faster with skills on the truck the only was I'll get faster is by doing them more that's the only way I've ever been able to get faster at stuff. Sometimes I feel like I'm not getting a fair shot because of my disability. I don't even want to work on the box I prefer the ER.
So should I switch crews or what? Please give my suggestions
 
Slow is steady= steady is fast.
Everyone has something wrong. Nobody is perfect. Just because you think differently than others just means you probably have a strength somewhere else. You need to find that strength and use it to the maximum.
 
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Well I'm good with IVs I'm just kinda mad they are wanting me to do it all their way and yet the school says to try and learn the way that best fits you
 
My other preceptor on same truck rocks and is more laid back then the their partner. He lets me do it my way
 
On this particular call I didn't feel like I became flustered until the preceptor started trying to get me to do several things at one while I was working on another task. Usually if I feel that I stop and take a deep breath or two and it helps.
 
Any other tips to stay calm in a situation like this
 
If you read my thread "Oxygen Question" in the BLS section, you will see that I had a similar problem with an FTO.

You know your skills otherwise you wouldn't be in the field. You know the protocols otherwise you wont be a medic for long. That is what is important. In the mean time do what your perceptor wants you to do. You will be with them for a short time, then you can do it how u want to.

The job of an FTO is to show you how to apply your skills to the real world. You may not always agree with them but you will learn something from him.

That is what got me through FTO.
 
There is a bit of a difference between being a medic student with a preceptor and a new hire with an FTO.

To the OP, have you asked your preceptor what they are seeing you do when you get flustered? Have you found yourself getting flustered in the same type of situation multiple times? Learning what makes you flustered means that you can recognize when you are getting into a situation that flusters you and you can mitigate the circumstances so you don't get as flustered.
 
The preceptor was causing it in this case but I didn't want to be an *** and blame it on them.
 
leoemt said:
If you read my thread "Oxygen Question" in the BLS section, you will see that I had a similar problem with an FTO.

You know your skills otherwise you wouldn't be in the field. You know the protocols otherwise you wont be a medic for long. That is what is important. In the mean time do what your perceptor wants you to do. You will be with them for a short time, then you can do it how u want to.

The job of an FTO is to show you how to apply your skills to the real world. You may not always agree with them but you will learn something from him.

That is what got me through FTO.
Click to expand...

Nope I have been doing what they want for the past 2 semesters only required to ride 300 hours I am above that getting close to 400 so no I haven't been with them a short time
 
xrsm002 said:
The preceptor was causing it in this case but I didn't want to be an *** and blame it on them.
Click to expand...

The blame game doesn't roll around here, so it's either everyone's fault or my fault. Don't point fingers
 
Aidey said:
There is a bit of a difference between being a medic student with a preceptor and a new hire with an FTO.

To the OP, have you asked your preceptor what they are seeing you do when you get flustered? Have you found yourself getting flustered in the same type of situation multiple times? Learning what makes you flustered means that you can recognize when you are getting into a situation that flusters you and you can mitigate the circumstances so you don't get as flustered.
Click to expand...

Eh...tried to give a little friendly advice. Forgot you medics have to do several hundred hours of precept time.

I'll go crawl back in my little BLS hole now :)
 
I will say I've learned how when the time comes what kind of preceptor I do and do not want to be
 
leoemt said:
Eh...tried to give a little friendly advice. Forgot you medics have to do several hundred hours of precept time.

I'll go crawl back in my little BLS hole now :)
Click to expand...

I wasn't trying to discourage your advice, just pointing out that the OP is still a student, and thus the setting/relationship isn't quite the same.
 
xrsm002 said:
I will say I've learned how when the time comes what kind of preceptor I do and do not want to be
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Everyone says that, and then they get their first student and realize why their own preceptor and did things the way they did, lol.
 
It's not your emergency.


My biggest pet peeve is working with a partner who gets antsy on the radio and all worked up like the world is ending.
 
Experience. That's all there is to it, really. Experience and knowledge breeds confidence.


When I was brand new, I had never had a patient who had a seizure in my presence, I was worried about it happening. Now someone seizes and I stare at them for a bit waiting for it to end. (Obviously breaking out the Benzos when called for)



Remember, you are often the only Paramedic on scene, everyone from the FFs to the cops to the bystanders are looking at you to make all the tough decisions. If they see you freaking out, they'll freak out, and then you've lost the scene and it won't flow.
 
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