Too Early To Have An Opinion: True/False?

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cook

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I'm currently going through a bit of hazing at my workplace for posting online that I've decided to look for other career options outside of EMS due to what I've witnessed thus far; every Medic and EMT I've asked about making EMS a career, has either said a solid NO, or that if they could go back and do something different, they would in a tachycardic heartbeat. And it made me not want to stick with EMS due to how many people clearly have lost so much morality and passion for the work they do over the years. Some of their reasons revolved around the pay cuts we've had to take.

Due to this, people think I'm "big headed", "Cook thinks she's too good for the field" and lastly, "You haven't been here long enough to have an opinion, let alone voice it."

I've severely locked down my social media, so please don't point the finger at that. But even to this day, I see no real fault in what I said, and why so many employees took it personally. Management hasn't batted an eye at it; they frankly couldn't care less. So, is there some kind of unspoken code to the field? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.
 
cook said:
I'm currently going through a bit of hazing at my workplace for posting online that I've decided to look for other career options outside of EMS due to what I've witnessed thus far; every Medic and EMT I've asked about making EMS a career, has either said a solid NO, or that if they could go back and do something different, they would in a tachycardic heartbeat. And it made me not want to stick with EMS due to how many people clearly have lost so much morality and passion for the work they do over the years. Some of their reasons revolved around the pay cuts we've had to take.

Due to this, people think I'm "big headed", "Cook thinks she's too good for the field" and lastly, "You haven't been here long enough to have an opinion, let alone voice it."

I've severely locked down my social media, so please don't point the finger at that. But even to this day, I see no real fault in what I said, and why so many employees took it personally. Management hasn't batted an eye at it; they frankly couldn't care less. So, is there some kind of unspoken code to the field? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.
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What did you say that got you jammed up?

Generally, it's a terriblr idea to air you dirty laundry from work on any sort of social media. You can face discipline and ridicule at work, and future employers can look back and see everything you've said. Once it goes online, it's permanemt.
 
Cook, if you really love this field, ignore the naysayers. They're idiots, plain and simple. Many of us undergo the same treatment at our employers for being "too smart" or variations thereof. Most of us are somewhat disgruntled at our coworkers due to that same treatment. Simply being an active member of EMTLife who learns from other paramedics and EMTs makes you different. Just having that urge to improve yourself makes you different and better than they are.

Most of the people who work in EMS today have absolutely no desire to change anything, because it works, and change requires work. A minority of us do want to change, and are willing to work for it. Don't worry about hazing.

As far as the at-work stuff goes, I go out of my way to avoid criticizing my employer or my coworkers directly, but I do have an opinion, no filter and a strong sense that I am right. If you want to see it, look at the "Most Interesting Ambulance Crew in Oklahoma City" facebook. I'd reckon a good third of that site is anti-me, or at least some variation thereof. Most of it is from people who don't like me for reasons that I do not know, who have never worked with me and that do not improve their practices at all. Many of those people are career EMTs who have never even taken the time or put out the effort to become a paramedic. Some are new EMTs who are too cocky and stupid to know that we are not awesome as a profession with the mindsets most of us have. I take precisely zero of their feelings about me into consideration, and if I am partnered with one of them, I do things my way. My patients, the doctors, management and (lastly) my partners seem to approve.

Most of the strife you see on social media is due to anti-employer comments and derogatory infighting between the workforce. There's no reason you should have to keep everything to yourself, but phrase it appropriately. Don't tear someone down when you can set them up for self-induced failure instead.

Example:
" I love Company X and my job with Company X. With that being said, there are some things that we can do as a company to improve ourselves and ensure that we maintain a competitive advantage over our business rivals while continuing to deliver world-class patient care and remaining profitable for our shareholders. It is far more expensive to recruit, hire, train and lose employees than it is to retain good ones with the and connections to their community that make average paramedics into great paramedics. With that in mind, I think that we should examine the concept of reducing late calls for employees on the night shift by instituting a phased shift-start instead of the current mass shift-change operation. I think that this will improve employee morale and productivity and lead to less overtime and fewer compliance fees." - you

"man screw you that aint happenin i don't wanna cum in early on my saterday"- them

"you aint even been hear that long noob!1"- them

"don't screw with the overtime"- smarter them

"you look funny and stupid and I don't think you're a good paramedic"- them.

"Hey, this guy has some good ideas. Let's sit down with him and discuss this." -(hopefully management).
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RocketMedic said:
Cook, if you really love this field, ignore the naysayers. They're idiots, plain and simple. Many of us undergo the same treatment at our employers for being "too smart" or variations thereof. Most of us are somewhat disgruntled at our coworkers due to that same treatment. Simply being an active member of EMTLife who learns from other paramedics and EMTs makes you different. Just having that urge to improve yourself makes you different and better than they are.

Most of the people who work in EMS today have absolutely no desire to change anything, because it works, and change requires work. A minority of us do want to change, and are willing to work for it. Don't worry about hazing.

As far as the at-work stuff goes, I go out of my way to avoid criticizing my employer or my coworkers directly, but I do have an opinion, no filter and a strong sense that I am right. If you want to see it, look at the "Most Interesting Ambulance Crew in Oklahoma City" facebook. I'd reckon a good third of that site is anti-me, or at least some variation thereof. Most of it is from people who don't like me for reasons that I do not know, who have never worked with me and that do not improve their practices at all. Many of those people are career EMTs who have never even taken the time or put out the effort to become a paramedic. Some are new EMTs who are too cocky and stupid to know that we are not awesome as a profession with the mindsets most of us have. I take precisely zero of their feelings about me into consideration, and if I am partnered with one of them, I do things my way. My patients, the doctors, management and (lastly) my partners seem to approve.

Most of the strife you see on social media is due to anti-employer comments and derogatory infighting between the workforce. There's no reason you should have to keep everything to yourself, but phrase it appropriately. Don't tear someone down when you can set them up for self-induced failure instead.

Example:
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Rocket Medic, thank you. That's precisely what I feel I needed to hear. What I posted was actually pretty damn generalized, without pointing fingers at any single soul I work with. But people took the generality from it, and made it personal.

One Medic continues to tell me that the field "Eats their young", and I see that to an extent. If you let it eat you, it will. It just baffles me as to how easy it is to be "eaten" in this field.

But, thank you for your insight. Very much appreciated, truly.
 
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Just look at the circle of fools on "The most interesting ambulance crew in Oklahoma City". Would you have misgivings letting them treat you?
 
What Rocket said.

I'm like him but at a different employer.

I was ridiculed when I transferred in because I had 5.5 yrs with the company in a different area. Alot of my new coworkers loved to chant that "Texas is different you can't do it like you did somewhere else". After 4 yrs there is alot of bad having to be undone and I'm getting to say I told you so. I too have very strong ideas of how things should be and no filter at times which has caused all kinds of fun over the years.

Look out for you. If you are always doing the right thing then at the end of the day you can be happy with yourself.

Limit the social media and keep comments to yourself. If you need to vent do it here or send a PM to someone. Ill gladly help you if I can or just be a sounding board.

I understand the frustration of working with underachievers. Set your goals and go to work knowing this is only temporary and you have bigger plans down the road. That's the point at I'm at and that mentality helps.
 
Almost the same story. I moved to where I am from Washington State… I'm told frequently, "we do it differently here". I've eliminated all of my coworkers from Facebook, and have learned it to filter my comments at work. It's just a little easier that way
 
RocketMedic said:
Just look at the circle of fools on "The most interesting ambulance crew in Oklahoma City". Would you have misgivings letting them treat you?
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I just looked them up. They're.... Animals. I almost can't believe that some of our Life-Savers are a pack of drama-hungry fiends. I'm so sorry you have to put up with the treatment of those fools; I'm reading what they've been lashing out at you today. And I thought I had it bad?! At least my company are a bunch of SILENT crap-talkers instead of publicly airing their dirty laundry about one another. You're a trooper, man. Best of luck with your county, and your future endeavors. Truly. Just wow, about that Facebook account.

And to shfd: I've actually begun to look on this sight with more open-mindedness. I think this'll be a better site to direct my concerns and frustrations from now on. Thank you for your input!
 
DEmedic said:
Almost the same story. I moved to where I am from Washington State… I'm told frequently, "we do it differently here". I've eliminated all of my coworkers from Facebook, and have learned it to filter my comments at work. It's just a little easier that way
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This. Precisely. Couldn't agree more.
 
cook said:
I just looked them up. They're.... Animals. I almost can't believe that some of our Life-Savers are a pack of drama-hungry fiends. I'm so sorry you have to put up with the treatment of those fools; I'm reading what they've been lashing out at you today. And I thought I had it bad?! At least my company are a bunch of SILENT crap-talkers instead of publicly airing their dirty laundry about one another. You're a trooper, man. Best of luck with your county, and your future endeavors. Truly. Just wow, about that Facebook account.

And to shfd: I've actually begun to look on this sight with more open-mindedness. I think this'll be a better site to direct my concerns and frustrations from now on. Thank you for your input!
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They're not the minority in this business, sadly.
 
Nevermind lol.

You know what? I'm cutting all that FB crap out.
 
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