ERDoc

I will.

I hope I can start page 60 Nope, that didn't do it. Maybe the 3rd time will be lucky. LOL, I didn't realize that it was just adding to my previous post and not making a new post each time. Maybe I'll stop now.

If you don't have the time to attend a formal class, at least find out what text some of the classes use and buy/read it before you start medic class.

I will answer your questions based on when I became an EMT (circa 1993). 14. What are opportunities for advancement? To what position? Is an advanced degree needed? (If so, in what discipline?) Paramedic or management 15. Is there a typical chain of command in the field? Yes and it depends on where you are 16. What are the different salary ranges? I can't answer this. 17. What other kinds of workers frequently interact with this position? Firefighters, police, doctors, nurses 18. What are the main or most important personal characteristics for success in the field? You have to want to do it. It is not something you can do half-assed. 19. What are the satisfying aspects of your work? Helping people and an occasional adrenaline rush 20. What are the dissatisfying aspects of the work? Is this typical of the field? Unhappy, unrealistic pts. Getting called out of bed at 0300 for BS 21. How would you describe the atmosphere/culture of the work place? Depends on where you work 22. Is there evidence of differential treatment between men and women EMTs with respect to job duties, pay, and opportunities for advancement? It can still be a boys club but is not even close to the FD 23. What do you feel are the toughest types of problems and decisions that you must make? Where to get lunch. Otherwise you make some decisions that may affect someone's life or ability to function, however at the EMT level this is very limited. 24. What are the demands and frustrations that typically accompany this type of work? What are the greatest pressures, strains or anxieties in the work? 25. What do you know now which would have been helpful to know when you were a student? 26. Any other important questions that I have not asked that would be helpful in learning about the job or occupation? Thank you for your time.

From the looks of it, at least 7 days so far. I agree, we seem to have a very unstable pt and I would say that electrical cardioversion may be in order. I would still like to get some more info from the staff/chart while we are setting up.

Come back Biebs!!!

LOL. People never cease to amaze me.

So have we developed a new obesity scale here? Obesity=lose a twinkie, moderately obese=lose the remote, morbidly obese=lose the chiuhuaua.

Not in my house. Better to ask first and be told no then to ask later and sleep on the couch.

Our heath system runs the HEMS service in the area and staff it with nurses and docs. I've been thinking about picking up a few shifts to get my EMS fix. I've got to see if the wife will approve.

Code that makes it (even if there is nothing left of the brain) is a phone call to admit and a standard dictation. A code that doesn't make it means a call to family, a call to the ME (who never calls back very quickly), a longer than normal dictation, filling out death certificates, a call to the PMD, and filling out organ donation forms as well as ME contact forms. I would have expected better from a state that has Baltimore Shock/Trauma. I'm a little surprised at stopping/starting compressions also. We all know at some point that someone is not going to make and in the hospital we unofficially have "slow codes." You go through all of the motions but don't put much effort into it. It is always for the family's benefit, not ours nor the pt's. These are usually the pts that are dead, have no DNR and the family wants everything done. I've heard of codes where the meds were injected into the mattress instead of the IV. I would never agree with that and for all I know it is just urban legend. Let's face it, a family that is unreasonable at the bedside is going to be unreasonable in court when they sue you. I still remember the 90+y/o lady who weighed about 80 pounds that I took care of in the CCU. Multisystem organ failure after a cardiac arrest at home. She was trying to die but her body wouldn't let her. Labs got worse every hour, urine output down to 0. She finally starts coding but responds to a minute or two of compressions. Attempts are made to make the family understand the futility of the situation but they still want everything done. Finally they are witness to her coding and as soon as they see what CPR really looks like they decide she wouldn't want that and ask us to stop.

I wish I could say that no one dies in my ER. There is a lot less paperwork that way.

Keep in mind that he's in NY. We were not exactly the most progressive state when it came to EMS. We weren't as bad as NJ but not that great either. I think MAST finally came off the buses (yeah, I said buses) until around 2000.

That's awesome. JJ is a classy guy which is why most prototypical NASCAR fans don't like him. He's a pretty boy who looks even prettier sitting with his 5 cups.

"Here's my medical director's number. You are more than welcome to give him/her a call and discuss his/her choice of protocols."

Try to hang in there. Nursing is truly one of those fields where, "Those who can do and those who can't teach," holds true. You are almost half way through, it would be a waste at this point. You know your stuff so just ignore the wrong things they teach. Others may disagree with this saying that you are hurting the others, but in a malignant environment like this you need to watch out for yourself. You are going to find lots of nurses along the way who think they know more than docs do, sometimes it is true. Be the nurse you want to be and learn not to be the nurse that your instructors are. Don't be such a stranger around here, use us to vent your frustrations and keep you focused.

Even the DNP programs don't add any additional basic science or medicine. If you read the descriptions they are classes on nursing management and research, nothing clinical.

That movie used to scare the shyte out of me. After watching it when I was younger (probably about 9) I visited some relatives in upstate NY who had a farm and yup, you guessed it. They had a corn field.

Because they don't want the paramedics pushing them out of a niche they are trying to take over. I think the idea of a home service is a great idea if run properly (I don't know how to do that, it is for much smarter people than me to figure out). Anything that will cut down on unnecessary ER visits is a good idea in my book.

I've seen some pretty pathetic malpractice sites (with forums) that say to sue everyone. I'm sure the OP would love one of those. I agree that there is a lot more to the story than the OP is letting on. How many time are they calling that they know exactly who is on the crew? Why does having Parkinsons require you to call 911? There is so much left out.

Home visits, even for "emergencies." I can't find the article now, but I read about an NP service that wanted you to call them before you called 911 unless it was a "real" emergency. They said they would respond in a certain amount of time and then send you to the hospital if needed. I believe it was directed at the elderly (read: insured) so that they did not need to leave their house unless absolutely necessary. I believe they even did simple suturing.

I don't think you will see paramedics doing this any time soon. The NP gestapo has already started sinking their claws into it and you know how they protect their territory.

You say that like it's a bad thing, Ruff. The OP will be in for a big surprise on that other EMS site when they shut the thread within 30 secs of her posting it, lol.

Starts looking up Iowa on Google Maps.

Yup, definitely love/lust.