Eydawn

Spenac, you nailed it on the head. Thanks, both articles will definitely be useful and the citations for the second article are a marvelous launching point! I had considered speaking with Dr. Bledsoe, but since this paper is just a simple class assignment I didn't feel that it merited impinging upon the man's time. A few years from now, when I really try get myself into a position to advocate for EMS education and status as healthcare professionals, I will certainly be engaging in dialogue with those already influential in the EMS sphere. Spenac, you're a life saver. Even lexis_nexus and JSTOR weren't working for me this time... and those databases have EVERYTHING... Wendy CO EMT-B

Chris? That's the new standard for bystander CPR. Has been for a while now... and we at the BLS level focus on compressions rather than interrupting them with repeated ventilations... that whole 30:2 ratio ring a bell? Welcome to the new century lol, and thanks for the suggestion. I'm not talking about CONTINUING education and responding to the new gadgets they throw at us. Just in case that wasn't clear... I'm talking about baseline education. I think EMT-B's should have to attain Associate's degrees, and EMT-P's Bachelor's degrees.. at the MINIMUM. But I need someone who's already proven themselves to have indicated the need for change in a publication, and I can't find the publications. I know something must be out there... Wendy CO EMT-B

But if you don't make EVERYONE pee in a cup, the lawyers can get you for profiling. "You only made the HISPANIC nurses pee in the cup, you're racist!" And so on... That's why all employees are subject to testing when controlled meds wander off... it's a CYA for the employer, and unfortunately, if you have access to the meds there's always a potential that you could be the abuser, no matter how innocent you may seem. How many folks have been surprised to find out that coworkers are alcoholics or addicted to pain meds? You'd never have thought so-and-so would be like that... See what I mean? Wendy CO EMT-B

Those little ones will bite you and be much more vicious than some large breeds... some have very nasty temperaments. There's a reason that sign is there... That's why they're called ANKLE BITERS... Wendy CO EMT-B

Hey, y'all. I'm currently in a class title "Writing Arguments" and our last assignment for the summer here is a "persuasive argument." AKA: Pick a hostile audience and persuade them that your position has merit. So of course, being me, I chose to convince the EMT's who do not support increased educational standards that we really need to address this issue to be the best healthcare providers we can be. Here's the problem I'm running into... my university (surprise) doesn't have a subscription to JEMS, and I'm having trouble wading through the databases to find some scholarly articles on the topic. I *do* need sources for this paper, unlike here at the forum where we shoot off our opinions at will... any suggestions? Anyone who's got PDF's they'd like to send my way? Also, if someone could help me with the freakin' search function here to dredge up some of our old threads, I'd greatly appreciate it. I may be culling some quotes from individuals here on the site with permission to use in this paper... if you don't want me to quote you, let me know! I'll be PM'ing folks for permission when and if I find the threads... I originally wanted to address the folks in charge of mandating our minimum training levels or the IAFF, but my professor doesn't know anything about EMS really and she suggested that I address other EMT's. Anyway, any help y'all can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Help in finding scholarly sources is my number one priority... Wendy CO EMT-B

Kaisu? People change. A person can be amazing until something in them changes... and they take a wrong path. We see it all the time in EMS... and most people don't actively CHOOSE a screwed-up person as a mate, but choose a mate and then realize the screwed up parts... I agree... I think it was off topic. Ladybear... good luck, and I am praying that all goes well for you! Wendy CO EMT-B

What kind of art? Sculpture? Basket weaving? Graphic design? Paint by number? Nude emotico-interpretive salsa ballet dancers? Might help you find candidates! Wendy CO EMT-B

Maybe I was trying to lure the idiot... "here, idiot... heeere, idiot..." Silly fellow! Wendy CO EMT-B

Actually, the crux of the issue is that while nurses are to some degree less independent in the hospital setting due to the innate structure of the hospital, they still have a far broader education base and therefore, theoretically would make better educators. Many RN's have Bachelor's degrees, or at least Associate's... many paramedics do not even have an Associate's. But the education discussion is a different one entirely... Also, I don't know if it's different for your wife in the military setting, but in the civilian setting nurses are every bit as responsible for their patient care decisions and actions as any paramedic in the prehospital setting. Sure, you might have a doctor to order the medication... but you're still responsible for ensuring that the medication and the dosage are appropriate. Blindly follow a bad order, and you go down along with the doctor. Also, who do you think provides care and interventions until a doctor gets there in the hospital? A nurse... many nurses intubate, etc... I think I see what you were TRYING to convey, medic... and I think it got lost in translation. For a class offered to prehospital providers, it would be beneficial to have those with prehospital experience teaching the course in order to make it more applicable to the attendees... right? So... a flight nurse, for example, would be preferable to an ICU nurse if the course was full of paramedics. Yes? No? Maybe? I can see what you're saying if that was it. If you were saying that in general, courses of this type need to be taught by paramedics because they're more independent... well... I kinda agree with Mr. James. (Ruff... train hijacking...) Wendy CO EMT-B Edited 1x for misreading a name and attributing a post to the wrong fellow. Sowwy!

In the burn patient though, the most important thing is that you're starting them on fluids right away... I don't think that a prehospital drip rate is going to change much, because as was said before, you can't calculate urine output... Wendy CO EMT-B

Did you even READ the thread? Just asking. He's exploring career options, and this is what he posted. Hobo Stew wrote: Since he can't find specific wildlife rehab programs, I posted his options regarding that field as they occurred to me. How *I* would go about trying to pursue that goal... Close reading is your friend! Avoids that early morning "sole" food aftertaste... (foot in mouth disease?) Wendy CO EMT-B

Get in line, brother... I'm female, and according to some on this site, cute. Therefore, first dibs on the begging. *Makes puppy eyes at benevolent people with lots of money*.... wait a minute... everyone here works EMS! That's right... we're all broke. Sorry Chris, pickins look slim, 'specially if you're a fat guy. Plenty of those gonna be at that conference... Wendy CO EMT-B

Eu Phon Ism... Eu meaning positive, phon meaning sound, and ism because that's what we put on the end of words. So it must have sounded good? I personally like the word cacaphony... caca meaning... and phon meaning sound... cacapony = sounds like CRAP! Wendy CO EMT-B

Obviously, if he can pose, he can walk and go inspect fire scenes. Doesn't look like his back is bothering him too much after all... but maybe he's no longer able to pass the physical fitness tests in the proper amount of time? I'm confused. WTF? Wendy CO EMT-B

I'm hoping to go. We'll see what finances look like for the travel. Wendy CO EMT-B

You want to look into a conservation biology or ecology degree then, with a minor in animal science. Where are you? I may be able to point you in the right direction if I know where you are. Also, try contacting biology or wildlife science department heads at the large universities in your state.... Wendy CO EMT-B

That's a really difficult situation to be in. One thing I would say is that if his grandmother is a positive influence, she might just make the difference... and if his grandfather is terminally ill, it could be a good time for them to spend some time together before he passes. But that's just what occurred to me on the first reading... you have to go with your gut, ladybear, and I know it won't be an easy decision either way. Wendy CO EMT-B

Bet you'll be more aware of your edges now, won'tcha? I have backed into a fence in an Aerostar... and I put my camp medical vehicle, a big ass white Suburban, into a ditch. In front of the ranger. I'm surprised I'm still alive after that one... (meaning I'm surprised the ranger didn't hide my body somewhere!) Do vehicle incidents result from carelessness? Usually... that or a misunderstanding of your vehicle line, which has to come with experience. So what do you do? You be uber careful and assume that your vehicle is about 7 inches bigger in all dimensions than it really is.... What did your employer do? Anthony, even Rural Metro out here just makes you take a drug test and take photos of any damage... they don't terminate you unless you were altered and it was a serious incident requiring expensive repair, or God forbid, an injury accident that was at-fault... why are they so strict there? Seems like it'd be a shame to fire a good EMT or Medic for clipping a side mirror or something. Wendy CO EMT-B

Congratulations to you, Ecnalumba! --Wendy

Easy children! Everyone back down! It's a valid point to illustrate that the dosage is often in grams, not milligrams. Since we're discussing medication dosages. If any of you think that was a harsh call-out, we really know ol' Dust has been away from the boards too long. AZCEP is a very well educated intelligent provider. All of us here are seeking education and discussion. I'd hope that we can remember that we're in EMS, with thick enough skins to bounce off a simple math correction instead of turning it into a hissy fit. Peace? Back to your regularly scheduled topic... Wendy CO EMT-B

I'm actually writing an argumentative paper on effective healthcare practitioner/patient communication. Specifically for those brand new docs out there... who don't know how to explain things without using the foreign language that is medical-speak. But I would expect the technologists to laugh at it... kind of like how we laugh at the "asthma is breathing through a McDonald's straw" lesson... I just hope they'd be able to suppress the laughter long enough to explain it to a patient or family member with much lower education levels. Wendy CO EMT-B

Absolutely document it. Fess up immediately, tell the doctor, tell the receiving nurse... and document the error in your paperwork. You can include that it did help the patient's pain... but you must include that it was a medication given in error. I don't think you'll burn for it... probably have to do a little bit of remedial training or something... and I'm darn sure most of us would really learn something from it. Wendy CO EMT-B

Let's see... I wonder if he told her that he does it as part of a post-op ritual? If not... she's got every right to be mad, even though it was only temporary. If I was undergoing surgery, and a doc told me hey, I put temp tattoos on patients because it cheers most of them up, how do you feel about that I'd probably say go for it doc, as long as it isn't a swastika. But doing it without consent is slightly scary. Also, I'd have used something with less connotations than a ROSE... a rose on the lower abdomen implies something sexual. Whoopsie, doc... guess you won't do THAT again. Wendy CO EMT-B

Ruff, hang in there! It'll get better! At least you didn't have to hang out in a room with dead guys today. While I love my cadaver lab, it's starting to bother me... I think it's the formalin. *sighs* Wendy CO EMT-B

Holy thread resurrection, but way to find what's already been posted! That's a good suggestion. Wendy CO EMT-B