Kaisu

I went directly to paramedic school from EMT basic and am now in the final 3 weeks of my program. Personally, I found it extremely challenging. I have had people put their fingers in my face telling me that I should have had a year on the ambulance as a basic before being allowed into paramedic school. It's a moot point for me at this juncture. I am going to make it. The next step for me is to work in a two medic system for at least 2 years. There are people from my class going into one medic systems and I think they are nuts. I would not want that kind of exposure at this juncture. I don't think extra time working as a basic would have been a benefit for me, but I know extra time as a paramedic will be invaluable. That being said, all this (and everyone else's postings as well) are just conjecture and opinion. Granted, some opinions are more valid than others, possibly, but without the numbers and the studies that is all they are. I saw a notice on the NREMT webpage that they are looking for a researcher or researchers. I think that is a step in the right direction. Without scientific, controlled studies about what works and what doesn't, we will be beset by legacy practices and outdated or misinformed opinions - but that is another topic. Stay safe

thank you all for the advice and support. My preceptor came back to me the next day, saying that the nurse was denying it all and that there wasn't anything else that she could do. I talked to the administrator today. He was amazing. He totally believed me and said that that particular nurse had a bad history and this incident was entirely in line with previous acts. My school has asked me to reconstruct my records to the best of my ability and they would certify my truthfulness for the ones I couldn't come up with. They told me that my credibility was high enough that if I said I was there and had the calls that was good enough for them. I am extremely gratified. I think it is sad for that nurse that a student with a 4 month history is believed before an employee that has been there for over a year. I'll post again when the results of the administrator's investigation are available. Once again.. thank you for your advice and support. You guys rock!

This great kid is about halfway through her chemo course and although she is doing great, I thought I would bump this up in the forum again. If you're thinking about it, maybe you can let her know cheers Kaisu

I trust you people to help me figure out what I should do. I am doing my preceptorship in a hospital based system with some of the finest people I have ever had the privilege of working with. I have been enjoying my time and learning tons. The problem: There is an RN who works in the ED who is the ugliest person I have ever met. Everyone has problems with her. She is out and out hateful. She is involved in an affair with the doc in charge and to give you an example of her style - the doc and I had a wonderful relationship until she decided to put me on her hate list. Now he treats me like crap. This is not the problem tho... the problem While I was on a call, she stole my log sheets out of the break room. I know that many of you will question how I know it was her.. in the interests of saving time and preventing this discussion from getting away from the subject take my word for it. It was her - (she as much as admitted it to me at the end of my 12 hour last night.) These log sheets had the list of my hours at the preceptorship with each entry signed by the paramedic team I was running with. They also listed each call and whether I was a team member or the team leader. They are essential for my course and I think I have to have them for the registries as well. They will be hell to reconstruct. I told my preceptor, who believes me. She asked me to leave it with her and I will... for now. I will take any hints or help that you can offer. Thanks

the hell with the facts - brawl on ... Don't sweat it Scaramedic... you are AOK in my book . :wink:

appreciate the post asysin2leads... regarding the Canadian French thing - Canada was founded by the French. They had the area now known as Quebec set up and running when the British took it from them in a war. The English did what they've done in Ireland and everywhere else that they conquered... supress the language, outlaw the customs, etc... trying to make the French docile subjects of the Crown... The official bilingual status of Canada was an attempt to recognize the history and the struggle of the French for self determination - bring them in as equal partners in a multicultural Canada.. This policy was completely different from the "melting Pot" approach of the US and the aparteid that exists in IReland and existed for a long time in South Africa. Except for the FLQ stuff in the 70s, Canada is managing to make this work without bloodshed and violence. In Canada, people bitched about French on the cereal boxes, but in the grand scheme of historical oppression it was a pretty small price to pay. The South Western part of the US is very similar. The area was settled and civilized by Spanish speaking people. Wars and political lines on a map wrested control of California, parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas from the Spanish to the English and later the United States. The fact is that hispanic peoples have a historical and cultural tie to large parts of what is now the US of A. Asking At what point does a people's cultural identity have to take second place to society's ability to function is setting up a straw man. That is presupposing that the two are contradictory or somehow exclusionary ideals. A society's ability to function depends to a large extent on it's flexibility in the face of ever changing cultural identities. Thanks again for elevating the discussion

oh sorry... didn't realize you wanted an answer. I was born in Finland, raised in Canada and have been in the US for 10 years. The name obviously is Finnish and means "Pure". ps... I learned English as a second language, learned French in Canadian schools and am going to return to my Spanish studies as soon as I graduate paramedic school next month. I have watched several communities wrestle with language issues. Language goes to the core of what defines a people and arouses many strong sentiments. I watched a Finnish community make the transition from a separate ethnic group to mainstream. I have observed the problems with French and English speaking populations in Canada, and now am watching what happens with the cultural clash of Spanish and English. I personally embrace other languages and cultures and consider myself all the richer for it. I can understand the fear that it generates, but not the inability of educated and intelligent people to rationally discuss it. Is that manning up enough for you? pps.. I generally vote republican, my husband is a vietnam combat vet, l am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I believe in freedom of choice, the right to pursue happiness, and prayer in school. I have a concealed carry permit, have no problem with the right to bear arms and also a woman's right to chose. Deciding that someone is a F----g liberal on the basis of a single opinion is simplistic thinking and characteristic of the strident polarization of the political scene in the US today. I was expecting a lot better from the lot of you.

I wasn't trying to refer to the individual in a factual basis, merely pointing out the fallacy of the argument

such reasoned discourse... your ancestors also bled patients and owned slaves... why don't you

well.. I guess those guys who want to be bosses need to learn Spanish - just like the Spanish speakers that want to be bosses need to learn English. Changing times call for changing skills.. what if there was a new type of fire fighting equipment that came out ? Would it be unreasonable for the State to require that the boss needs to learn the piece of equipment? How is this different?

magical thinking - the effort to control the uncontrollable... One of the reasons we are in this is because we love the unpredictable - love being the ones that call order out of chaos - Kipling's the man (or woman) who keeps calm when all others are losing it.... So while fun to talk about, if you actually track the data - there is no correlation .. and sorry for being such a dip edit - woo hoo - 200th post :cheers:

2 semesters general studies and A & P - 2 semesters paramedic - 16 hours lecture per week, 5 hours labs per week, 24 hours clinicals biweekly (total of 1200 hours + clinicals) and 240 hours dual medic preceptorship with minimum 50 patient contacts - 20 as lead medic. The paramedic year means no life outside of school. For every hour of lecture, it takes me about 2 hours of study and reading to keep up. Cost - about 4K per year. Total 8K (thats books and tuition - not food, gas, etc. and I drive 45 minutes 1 way to school and 1 hour plus to clinicals and ridetime) I am thrilled with my education by the way.. and look forward to a lifetime of learning

Hey Dwayne.. welcome back... I truly had a great time in medic school - up till about a month or so ago - I'm getting burned out and ready to have it all over with... At first, I was so thrilled to be learning all this great new stuff.. I couldn't believe they were letting me ask people all these personal questions and get to watch them negotiate some really intense human experiences. I loved the classroom - the cretins grumbled about me because I kept asking questions and was so totally engaged.. and they just wanted to get through the material and go home - but screw 'em - I wasn't in school for them - I was there for me and for the people I would be taking care of. I am just plain tired. I think after graduation (next month hopefully) I am going to sleep for about a week straight. so to answer your question - yes for the most part I truly enjoyed it and never took the privilege of being there and doing this for granted. I am still very grateful that I get to do this.

I saw the depression - saw the diffuse elevation too... didn't know what the depression meant - so I learned something too. Thank you!

I am 50. I will be graduating as a paramedic (hopefully) next month. When I first started the program, there were doubters and naysayers... and I can't say the macho young things gave me a lot of respect.. Now.. they are believers. I run in a hospital based EMS system that is the only paramedic service in 2 counties. We have 45 minute intercepts and 1 hour emergent transfers. The system is very busy too... It was the most sought after ridetime assignment in the state and I got it. Why - maturity, experience, willingness - At the beginning, I questioned myself almost everyday. The amount of material that had to be learned seemed overwhelming. I am so proud of myself. It was worth every bit of it. Do not let a stupid little thing like the date on your birth certificate to ever stop you from trying. Do not let yourself defeat yourself. Good luck.

Great question. Who does the research in EMS anyway? Is it all corporations trying to sell us something? Does the NREMT or a like organization funnel fees into non-biased, fact based research? May be Rid or Dust would know. If not, organization and/or advancement in this area might go a long way to improving our profession.

I don't want to rehash the arguments that I'm sure raged on this board (although I'm too lazy to look 'em up and read 'em). I've seen 70 year olds with arthritis and kiophosis strapped onto a board. In this case, what's hurting the patient more? The injury or the treatment? Like everything else in medicine, you kinda gotta be there.... it's always a weighting of factors and a judgement call. In this litigation happy society, its always better to err on the side of caution.

you ask super good questions ... I was taught that it is all or nothing... any tenderness, pain, etc. along the spine gets the collar and the long board... the idea is immobilization along the entire spine. Case in point.. the motorcycle guy that gets the head into a car injury - classic injury pattern is compression fracture of the anterior vertebral body somewhere around T2-3-4. (head hits, spine flexes). I don't think anyone would argue that this guy gets the whole monte... my thought is that if the mechanism of injury warrents a high degree of suspician, any ETOH is on board, and/or palpitation progressing to cautious movement elicits any pain, tenderness, tingling, etc. they get it all, regardless of where the suspected injury is.

Amidodarone has a significantly higher rescusitation rate in the field, however, survival rates to discharge are not different from lidocaine. Amidiodarone can be used for most tachy arrythmias, not just ventricular dysrhythmias. The dosing is pretty easy - but it does have to go in over 10 minutes or so - and sometimes you don't have 10 minutes. Pretty good drug really.

I really must object.. discussions of kilts rightly belong in EMS - UK - or possibly technology and equipment.. please try to stick with forum rules....

Right on.. I do Chang hun (WTK) style here in Wisconsin and Songham (ATA) style in Arizona. MY 9 year old granddaughter is a couple of belts above me but I can still whip her butt... not for long tho... sigh I haven't been to training in 3 months. My first priority when I graduate (May of this year) is to get back at it.

my kids are too big to beat... maybe I can beat yours?

I had a 25 year career in business. I had to constantly edit my "crazy" side - and even then I would forget, slip and say something that made the others look at me funny. I had a reputation for excellent returns but I was impossible to control - I HAD to go into business for myself. Now I am in EMS and the less I edit, the more the maniacs around me like it. I am amazed. Bottom line - you gotta be nuts to wanna.. and even nutser to wanna keep at it

Dwayne - as a medic student, how the heck do you have time to read anything besides school stuff? :wink: I sure as heck don't - maybe you are much smarter than me ?

awwhh you guys are so tweet...