ECC

My ODA was 3-14-88. I worked at 37 on 44B, 37G, 40B and 40A. I got transferred to 41 in '89 and when A/C Kowalczyk disbanded all the Queens TPUs I got shipped onto 43A until I went to Medic School in '90. After Medic School, I worked 35W1 until 1995 when I got promoted to Lieutenant. I was #10 on that list. I went to Communications, then back to 41 (now 47), then got transferred to the Bronx in the Great Redistribution of Supervisory Wealth in 1998. I worked 26 (22), and am a plankholder @ 17, where I was the Administrative Officer. I finally returned to Brooklyn in the beginning of 2001, and went to 31 (36) despite my desire to go to 57, and was the Executive Officer there. I realized that I may have been doing Captain level work, and very well, but I did not have a 'Rabbi' looking out for me. I also was miserable. I worked EMS to feed my Firefighter/Paramedic habit in Long Island. So I found a job in a city who's inhabitants are not only happy, but grateful for the quality service we deliver. Most importantly, I am very happy now.

Wow Vent, you must have it rough. I have (along with many of my Fire Service Paramedic Comrades) very little contact with RNs (except the Triage nurse at the ED. My Paramedic Program had no input from RNs. RN input in programs I am aware of is minimal at best. With the excemption of my ACLS refresher 6 years ago, and some CME regarding Helicopter Ops, I rarely even see RNs in educational roles. My monthly call review is given by my medical director, an MD. When I was in NY, my CMEs were given by other, capable, Paramedics...or MDs. So much for universal RN support or involvement in EMS Being kept down by RNs...when I was in NY, we could thank the New York Association of Nurses for keeping licensure off the floor in the Legislature. As for my skill set or what I do and know...dont assume...you are doing enough of that already. You are not getting another resume from me...that was several posts back. I can read and interpret ECGs just fine, ETCO2 and I was treating patients before O2 Sats became fashionable. :roll: Lastly I will agree with you about our own role in keeping us down. You could not keep a bunch of EMTs and Paramedics together as a Union in NY until recently. We allow these Paramedic Mills to operate...and we fix their problem children into functioning paramedics and EMTs. And thanks for targeting an off hand remark with a 10 paragraph diatribe without addressing anything else I said. :roll:

Exactly

Interesting thoughts, and you are not really iterrupting. I am not taking swipes @ Vent...pointing out some misconceptions...and perhaps lack of communication. I am not against education, rather I am against being kept down by RNs. I have quite a bit of education, and am not done yet either. What I am vehemently against are these Zero to Hero Programs churning out 20 year olds who spent no time in the street as an EMT, 6 month part time paramedic programs churning out $10/hr paramedics, and a plethora of hired gun 'EMS Institutes' churning out graduates as soon as the ink dries on the tuition checks...or giving unsuitable candidates more tries at bat than a pre-school t-ball player. I believe that RNs deserve all the credit they are due...just not at my expense. I have not met many who would have dared work where I have (Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York during the war years 1991-~1996)...they may be out there...I have not met them yet. On the flip side of the coin, I have zero interest in what they do...never have, never will. I hope that clears some of that up.

Ventmedic, I have been a US citizen of Irish decent all my life, thanks. Next to my name says I am from Mile High...Denver to be exact. I posted earlier that my education and experience trumps most RNs except perhaps BSRNs...you will have to look that up. I know exactly how my current State EMS Office functions (or should I say dysfunctions) as well as New York's Office of EMS...how that is germain to this subject still baffles me. I am aware that some EMT-Ps have had to be 'supervised' by RNs on interfacility transports and Specialty Transports. Those are not germain to this discussion either. Just because RNs are chosen to take a specialty referral from a hospital to a specialty care center because the level of care is not within the scope of the paramedic assigned, does not increase their representation in the population of Pre-Hospital Care Providers. Nurses are not Primarily Pre-Hospital Care Providers. Just because a handful ride Specialty Referral Ambualnces or Medevacs is immaterial. My point is, and remains, there are many pre-hospital care providers who are certified to the Paramedic level who are just as educated as AASRNs. Simply because I have an 'EMT-P' behind my name does not mean I deserve less respect as someone who has the same ammount of education as I do. Furthermore, RNs have a different job than we (Paramedics) do. They may ride Medevacs (with Paramedics) or Specialty Referral Ambulances, but they do not make up the great majority of those responding to 911 assignments.

Guess we are gonna slug it out for the want of understanding huh? You know what I meant. No need to be quite so literal. I have a phenomenal hold of our history, thanks for your concern. RNs were never the most populous Pre-Hospital Provider. As for who manages the State EMS Offices...well I have no control over that, but suffice it to say, Id rather see an MD (with Pre-Hospital experience) or an EMT-P (degreed, of course...no 6 month wonders need apply) there. You don't see us trying to run RNs licensing boards right?

PS...Medics should not Triage in the ED if RNs are available...along the lines of why I do not want RNs out in the field. Our jobs are different. If they were not, RNs would have been staffing ambulances from the begining.

I am only pre-emptively answering what I am sure is going to be directed at me for my previous remark

Are you kidding me? BSRN...mebbe...An Rn with an Associates? not likely.

Exactly!

What an interesting discussion going on here. Please allow me to 'weigh in' Regarding SSM and Dynamic Deployment models: I worked for FDNY EMS and NYC EMS from 1988-2002. I was there when they tried Battalion Based Dispatching which is a fancy name for: pretend this is where a station would be...I will post a boss here, (An APRU with a Paramedic Lieutenant or Paramedic Captain and a Paramedic partner in a Bronco or Suburban) with 3-5 ALS/BLS Ambulances. The available truck with the lowest number (ie A111 would get stuck with a call before A112-all things being equal) We learned that this 'Battalion based model' did not work for NYC very well and returned to SSM. It may work elsewhere where you are not attempting to squeeze blood from the proverbial Rock. As for idling your rig...for $13/hr I would tell them to pound sand. There is no way I am roasting on a street corner for that amount of $$$. There must be some sort of OSHA reg about that. In fact IIRC, Local 2507 (the EMT/Paramedics union of the FDNY) fought a regulation that mandated keeping rigs in service with no front A/C as long as the rear A/C worked. Look into it! Furthermore...I do not care what is carried on the rig...including Ativan...the providers are much more important than ANY patient. Lastly...there is no way Fire is going to SSM. Have a great day!

Nobody considers it a 'promotion'. Department of Personnel must call it that in order to have a preferential hiring list from EMT/Paramedic to Firefighter. Civil Service Laws.

Gotcha...thanks.

So...not that anyone owes us an explanation...but what was said that was so totally egregious as to get a ban and the post deleted??