DwayneEMTP

No babe, you're not being paranoid most likely, but you are also likely going to have to make some changes. First, nurses, in my experience at several hospitals are not big fans of being medic preceptors, particularly if there are also nursing students in the environment. But, it's really not personal, it's just part of the whole medic/nurse bullshit game that's played. Plus it's part of the game. Figure out how to win it. Second, no one is there with the only purpose of teaching you. Where you see yourself as being polite and unobtrusive, they see a waste of time. EMS is a contact sport. You truly can be polite and aggressive at the same time. If someone tells you to do something that you're not SURE that you know how to do, but you think that you MIGHT know how to do...then start doing it. Unless someone is going to be damaged, the nurse will stop you if you're wrong. I'm guessing nurses, as I have as a medic, get tired of hearing, "Can you just show me a few times and then I'll try." Nah, man, bullshit. If you don't want to learn badly enough to chance making yourself look like a dancing monkey then you don't want to learn badly enough for me to invest my time. See? I can watch you prep an IV while I do something else, catch your mistakes and set you right, but I can't teach your to prep an IV without stopping what I'm doing. If you're willing to try and figure things out to the best of your ability you'll get the nod 10/10 over Mr. Show me a few times. Also, talk to your preceptor. Stop trying to guess what you are doing wrong, because while you're doing so you're wasting valuable clinical time. Tell him/her "I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but I just don't feel like I'm getting a lot out of my clinical time. I seem to often be near things that I want to learn, but not IN them. Can you see what I need to do differently?" And most will help. Also, never be without gloves. The 'real' medics gave me no end to shit when I was doing my clinicals because I was either wearing gloves or holding a pair of gloves. Why? Because on one of the first days on clinicals I saw them bring in a bloody trauma and the doc poked his head out into the hall and yelled, "Who's got gloves?" And a nursing student run in to help do...I don't know what, and I friggin' hated that! From then on anytime something like that happened I was involved, because often in the really cool stuff they just need a pair of hands, but those hands have to have gloves on them...see? You're going to get no end to shit for being 'zero to hero' but don't take it seriously. Many of us here took the same path and have turned out ok...Focus on your education, work on putting yourself into situations that make you uncomfortable so that you learn how to work in that place..You're going to do awesome! Wait and see...You have one of the smartest 3rd posts that we've seen here in a really, really long time. Welcome Lady. I look forward to watching you come along... Dwayne

You know, the more I think about it, the more I've come to believe that we are all racist to one degree or another, and none more so than Crotchity. When he says, "When was the last time your white politician made a rule benefiting the black man?" or whatever, I do find that the hair on the back of my neck stands up. I'm tired of hearing it. Tired of hearing the Mexican illegals saying that they should be allowed citizen status because they're 'nice' and 'work hard.' Tired of hearing the blacks tell me that I owe them because I'm white, despite the fact that I grew up poorer than just about anyone of any race that I know. I do nothing, day to day, but try and do the best work that I can, earn the money that cares for my family, and treat everyone I meet with dignity and respect, do all in my power to speak for those that can't or won't speak for themselves....I'm just near exhausted by the hypocrisy. Generalize blacks and your a racist, generalize whites and your a realist. Bullshit. Generalize anyone and you're off in the ditch. (Listening to Eddie Boyd now on my Ipod...Hmmmm....wonder what THAT makes me?) And I'm sexist too, tired of hearing feminists (notice that I didn't say females/women) tell me what an asshole I am for having a penis, how all of the feminist pain an misery belong not in their basket, based on their decisions, but in mine, for being a victimizer, despite the fact the every woman that knows me would tell you otherwise. Generalize men and you're a realist, generalize women and you're an abuser. Bullshit. Generalize anyone and you're off in the ditch. It seems to me that the louder a group screams for equality that the more biased, deceitful and hateful they often are.....I don't get it. When do we stop complaining, and begging or demanding special care, and simply begin to care for each other as American brothers and sisters? I thought that was the whole point of the North American petri dish experiment after all...wasn't it? I'm not going to apologize for being white. I'm not going to use the term African American. Because a 'black person' asked me to? No, because if being American isn't good enough for you, then we will never really understand each other. I don't care what color you are, what your accent sounds like, what they say about you on the news, if you came to my country to participate, to make yourself and America better, you are welcome and a member of my family. Easy, right? I'm not going to apologize for having a dick. I'm strong and honest and kind. I victimize no one, but will rip your fucking heart out if you try and harm me or my family. I'm not ashamed of that either. If you're a woman and want to work with me you're welcome, and your success is guaranteed if you've come to really play, to participate, to carry your weight. If not, I will show you the equal respect I would show a man and throw your ass off of my site. Easy, right? Is it just me? Is anyone else tired of not being able to walk down the street for slipping on the tears of the repressed or being blocked by the outstretched hands of the beggars? When did being American become synonymous with being a whiny, needy, angry pussy? Ours is a one income family with an autistic son. I work 86hrs/week, have never owned a home, have never owned a new car and likely never will. Stop your bitching, pick your ass up, get out of the house, and go do your thing...no one single person reading this is being stopped by another from doing so... There you go Critchity. All the ammo you need to be angry and bitter for at least weeks to come. You're welcome. Whew...I feel so much better now... Dwayne

Holy shit. That was weird. But you're right. I'm guessing that if we didn't have people that we would have non of the above. Did you really type all of the above simply to make the point, "Oh my God! We're all fucked because we're.....PEOPLE!"? Step away from the coffee brother! It's all going to work itself out, one way or another.... Dwayne

I have no doubt that you are going to be frustrated, but not damaged by that system. You won't allow it to make you weaker, I'm confident of that... What I can't figure out is how a medic like you, smart, progressive, educated, political, was ever created there in the first place? Get out of there! You're taking up a spot a fireman should have!! You know what brother. I know you've been here long enough to know how many of us feel about working such systems, and how hard it must be to talk about the rules you have to follow. But for what it's worth, I've learned something new from nearly every post you've posted here, so I have nothing but respect for the fact that you've chosen to become a medic that doesn't really belong there yet are unafraid to allow us to see inside of it as well as "get" the fact that sometimes you just have to get paid to meet your goals. And how friggin cool is it that you've chosen to go beyond just getting paid and turned all of your experiences into something more positive than most would see...You so much remind me of a young basic/hosemonkey I worked with in Colorado....And I mean that as a compliment. Thanks for participating man... Dwayne

How so?? Can you actually explain this or are you just shooting your mouth off? Dwayne Edit. Heh, I was just reading the 'other' thread thinking, "I can't believe everyone is chasing Crotchity all over again." And then when I hit submit here I thought, "Them? When was the last time he actually replied to one of YOUR questions?" Kudos Crotichity for getting a bunch of literate, mostly intelligent folks to follow your blather all over without ever being forced to make a point. You would make an excellent politician.

Hey man, welcome to the City!! Dwayne

We're having a little fun at your expense, but I'm guessing that what you mean by older person is "no longer a child or teen" not as in geriatric? Good post, and logical choice for that age group in my opinion. Dwayne

That's like.....240 in Yeti years, isn't it?

Yeah Bieber, I've not heard of such a system either. You HAVE to start an IV if you use a monitor? I've often placed the monitor or run a 12 lead to document a pertinent negative for my report. (50ish year old woman, chest pain, bilat arm pain, began when she had a walking cast removed from her foot and began using a walker. Husband states it's gotten worse each day as she refuses to put weight on the foot as instructed and carries her body weight on the walker. Chest/arms tender to palp, l/s full/clear bilat, pulse full/regular, vitals all well within acceptable limits for situation. ASA, just in case, 12 lead so that I could later justify not running the chest pain protocol, see?) So would you not use the monitor in this way? Or is you do, are you then forced to start an IV on a pt that most likely won't benefit from it? But as Mobey says, it's a diagnostic tool most often used to verify what I'm already confident that I know, either positive or negative, but still just a small part of an assessment. If you choose to use your SPO2, are you then required to put on O2? And you know what brother, in writing this may come across as me bagging on your system, but that's absolutely not true. As one of the brightest new providers we've had here in a while I wouldn't do that. But I am curious, as I've not heard of this before. Maybe if you place the monitor you have to stick them as the two combined upgrades the billing in some way? Interesting though.. Dwayne Edited to try and clarify that my post was meant literally and not tongue in cheek/sarcastic.

LOL....Yeppers...we're givers.. Dwayne

Thanks for that! It makes me a little crazy that I've never paced, it's the one intervention that refuses to leave my toolbox. Thanks again for the explanation. Dwayne

I've never paced anyone, so perhaps I don't understand the concept as well as I thought I did.. But what does, "losing capture" look like on the monitor? Can you explain how you can have partial capture? Thanks Dwayne

That is awesome!

Hell, I'd thought that I'd jammed you up with my question, but I understand exactly what you're talking about. And though that's not exactly what you said, I see what you mean, and I hate that too. It takes a post that was meant to give a little swat and advice and do something productive and turns it into a lynching. And another thing that you mention, that I really, really hate?? The people that don't have an opinion until they see what others think is right and suddenly become holier than Thou. Excellent points, both. I get really frustrated when we get these waves of people that are comfortable presenting themselves in a way that should humiliate them, and certainly humiliates our profession. I'm afraid it's in that vein that I took your comment. Thanks for setting me right on that. And, I know the irony is thick in this, my eyes aren't as young as they used to be, if you could break up your posts into paragraphs I'd appreciate it. You always present your points and yourself well, so this is truly not a criticism, it's only that I really look forward to them and it makes them easier to read. Thanks for taking the time to help us learn today...the points you've made have been long overdue. Dwayne

If you know the internet is full of shady characters then you should also realize that it's out of respect for our fighting forces in general and the Marines in particular that we hesitate to allow those that have not 'been there, done that' to take credit for it. And you did get the help you asked for, didn't you? No offense intended brother, but this profession at the very least takes a thick skin. No one knows you here, no one was purposely trying to offend you. It was simply a matter of trying to separate the truth from the bullshit as we like to think that we maintain some level of honesty here, despite the never ending wave of bullshit that walks through the door. For the record. I did as you asked and Googled 'Marine Core' and recieved "Did you mean: marine corp " Just sayin'.. Dwayne

The dancing cracked me up! Yeti (akflightmedic) will soooooo be doing every one of those dances before the sun goes down tomorrow! He's a friggin' dancing machine! And terminal Liberal..sad to say... Dwayne

No question...good catch brother. Perhaps this person is checking for someone else but afraid that they would not be taken seriously in the 3rd person? Dwayne

Hey man, Welcome to the City! I wasn't going to reply to tell the truth, but when I saw that you had around 60 views at the time of this writing and no one had I couldn't leave you hanging. No one is replying brother because you made no effort to write your post above the 4th grade level. Truly. You are almost a paramedic according to what you've posted and yet you don't know how to use even the most simple grammar, spelling, capitalization or punctuation? Unfortunately many here, as I'm doing now, will attribute that to the "fd" in your name. And that's unfortunate. Many of us made a bad start when we were new here. Wanted to use texting abbreviations, etc. But this is a professional forum, a place where we help each other become better and stronger and more competent providers. And that is what I'm trying to help you do today, believe it or not. The only thing people have to judge your intelligence, commitment, personality and spirit by is the text that you present here, so it's important that you try to present yourself as best you can. You are certainly welcome here, regardless of how you choose to present yourself, its not my intention to make you feel otherwise. I'm only hoping to explain why you received so little response to your post and try and steer you down a more productive road for the future. Chin up Brother 'almost paramedic!' Life is a learning curve...now we'll watch to see if you'll run away or have the balls to stay and play. Have a great evening! Dwayne Edited to correct a typo. No contextual changes made.

Kyle, were you required to create any documentation on these calls? Can you post them for those here that think that correcting your spelling and grammar is uncalled for? If you turned in anything to your class with this type of writing on it and didn't immediately get removed from the program, then you should quit because you're getting ripped off. Brother, PLEASE, have a little self respect. Make some effort to show that you actually want to belong and do well in EMS. Something to show that you want to be taken seriously. Dwayne

Oh oh...edited as akflightmedic tells me that he is not, or at least has never claimed to be Liberal. No offense was intended..just a misunderstanding. Couldn't bring myself to put this in the funny forum, as I don't think it's all that funny, but it is catchy!

I don't know who you THINK your real father is...but....Has anyone seen Dustdevil? And I very much mean that as a compliment. Every time I find some reason to think, "Screw this nonsense" a Beiber or Ugly comes along and gives hope that the next generation of paramedics will simply refuse to give up, the same way many from the last generation did. Kudos to you brother. All of this nonsense is going to continue as long as we pretend that Fireman and hero are synonymous. That is a really hard battle to fight as the unions have all of the money, but as in Florida we're starting to see fire EMS step on their weenies. This battle won't be won tomorrow, or perhaps not in the next generation, but there is never any question that continuing to fight is the right thing, and for all the reasons young Mr. Bieber states, and more. Dwayne