Lone Star

I don't think anyone is asking them to 'hide who they are', as much as it's being suggested that it be 'toned down a few notches'. Like I said in a previous post, I really don't care if my partner is a GBLT individual,but is it really NECESSARY to flaunt it do dramatically; especially when you already KNOW that it's going to have negative consequences? I mean it makes about as much sense as attending a PETA/ASPCA/GREENPEACE meeting wearing leather and fur while eating a 'cow burger'...and then complaining because you weren't welcomed with open arms....

No harm/no foul, Dwayne! I wasn't commenting so much on WHAT you said, as HOW FAST you said it...lol I would think by now that you'd know that if I felt it was a 'kick in the sack' we would have had a private conversation about it almost immediately... You also know that I'm a lot more 'thick skinned' than some of the "Sunshine and belly rubs" type.... It's a good thing that there aren't any more quotes in this post! I was starting to get confused.......

To whom are you specifically referring to, and what evidence are you basing these accusations on? You DO realize that if you're just talking out your ass (which I strongly suspect), you're potentially opening yourself up for a libel suit?

Don't punch the messenger, simply because you don't like the message! I'm not the one that said it....as evidenced by ROFLMAO

If that were the case, wouldn't not hiring the lesbians be more beneficial since it cuts down on the 'competition'?

I've seen the results of using 'zip ties' to attach those 'speed lacers' to a pair of boots. I thought it looked tacky as hell, and there was always that 'snag factor'. I recently bought a new pair of boots. They didn't have what I wanted so I ended up getting a pair of Blackhawk Warrior boots. I'm still in the 'break in period', but they seem to be getting more comfortable as the stiffness of a new pair of boots wears off. As far as ease of getting in/out, I'm not so sure about. Maybe I'm doing something wrong here, but it seems that I've got to fight with the boots to get them on...could it be that I've laced them up too tight? They seem to be comfortable once I get my feet into them, and you can feel the 'squish' of the soles, so you know they'll cut down on the shock of walking, jumping and vibration. I ended up having to get at least a half size larger than I normally wear, but they seem to breathe well, and highly water resistant/proof. These got 'tested' one night when I found out that my partner parked in a big puddle, and I had no choice but to step down in it. The water was over the tops of the lowers (foot area) of the boot, and didn't get water inside the boot. I was looking for the traditional 8" boot, but this 7" boot is all they had near my size... Blackhawk Warrior-ZW7

Chappy's right Mike, as soon as I saw the thread title, I figured it had something to do with 'back in service'... 10-what? Because of the many different variations and meanings, the '10 code' has pretty much been dropped in favor of 'plain speak' on the radio.....unfortunately, many organizations have brought back the confusion by adding their own 'signals' and 'codes'. A lot of time, people will incorporate those signals and codes into their postings and totally confuse the general reading public that doesn't use them....

If your curricula is anything like what I took, it's going to be incorporated into your EMT-B class; which means there’s no additional classes to take, and it also means that you can’t take it to ‘get it out of the way’ before you start in August. My only suggestion to either confirm or deny this, is to locate your state curricula online and see what it says (or contact your State EMS Office and ask them).

My Paramedic Instructor broke the NREMT down like this: It's not so much the 'textbook answers' that they're looking for, they're testing your ability to do 'critical thinking and apply logic' to the scenarios they give. It's kind of like algebra class, it's not so much of actually finding out what x2-2x-8 actually equals, it's more about building your critical thinking skills... BTW: x2-2x-8 x2-2x-8=0 (x+2)(x-4)=0 x=-2, x=4

I really don't care 'what' my partner is as long as they can do their job well, and I can believe that when the fecal matter hits the oscilating temperature control device; they've got my back. What I fail to realize is this....why the G/B/L/T crowd feels the need to shove their sexuality and sexual preferences in the faces of EVERYBODY.... When's the last time you saw a 'Hetero Pride' celebration/parade/festival? I can understand being proud of WHO you are, WHO you've become/developed into....but like Dust says, why make your sexuality/sexual preference be your defining element? Are you not MORE than just that, or is that your only 'redeeming quality'? We, (the general public), get it....there are those who love members of the same sex, can we just chill with the 'in your face' statements about it?

In order to be a preceptor with the program I'm in, you have to take a course in order to be approved, so I'm thinking that it's not 'just dump the student on the first crew available', not to mention that this guy is also the 'adjunct instructor' for my course.... I had a private chat with my instructor (who happens to also be the Department Head of EMS Education), and was instructed to write an honest objective critique of the preceptor. I've written a 'Memo For Record' narrative that will be included with the packet of forms I had to complete for that rotation. As I said, I'm not thrilled to have to put this on paper, but it's what the program director wants, I have to comply... As it turned out, that same preceptor/adjunct instructor also was the proctor for my 'hands on' portion of my module finals the other day. By the time I was done with my 'trauma patient', I was into areas that I had no idea how to manage because we hadn't covered it in lecture yet. Yeah, I made a couple of mistakes during the rapid trauma assessment, but when the proctor starts crashing the patient because I don't know how to do a needle decompression yet......I kept telling him that I was in 'over my head', but he kept pushing me to go deeper into 'uncharted territory'....

And women over 375 pounds think they have the right to wear spandex....

So far, it's just been this one preceptor, everyone else I've had as a preceptor has been really awsome (some even remembered me from EMT and EMT-I days). I normally have my textbooks and homework to do, so I'm not just sitting around staring at the television. I don't expect to be coddled during the shift, I'm there to learn how to do what it is we do. The only way for me to learn is to get my hands dirty by doing it. No, I possess nowhere near the amount of information that my preceptors do (thats why I'm still a student), but don't treat me like a complete idiot either! I'm not the enemy here! If being a preceptor and having students on your shift bothers you THAT much, maybe you should remove yourself from the preceptor program and being an adjunct instructor.....

What a kick ass contest! Unfortunately, I don't qualify...

As both an experienced EMT and a student, I have to point out that the student is there to get experience in the cliical aspects of what we do in the field. 'Schlepping gear' (pack mule, go-fer or whatever other 'friendly name' you wish to put on it) ISN'T a 'clinical skill'. As a student, do I expect a 'free ride'? Not at all; but there is no reason that I should be 'taken advantage of' simply because of my 'student status' either! The same applies to the 'station duties' as well. Just because you have a student rider, is no excuse to pile your daily chores on them, simply because they don't know any better than to tell you to do your own job! When I get to a station, I expect to be included in the daily check off of the trucks (making sure at least the minimum amount of supplies are on the truck), where the equipment is located and answer any questions about how something works and clarifying my responsibilities for patient care. Washing the truck and scrubbing the trash cans isn't what I'm in school for! And the whole "You can't sit in this recliner because it's reserved for REAL EMT/Medics is pure hogwash, and if I were told that; I would be quick to tell you to stuff it in your ear! I'm in school to learn how to treat my patients, provide clinically acceptable treatments for their conditions and in some cases even save their lives. I am not there to see how much of a jerk the preceptor can be simply because I'm not a 'real _____________ (insert license level here), and be treated as a second class citizen! Far too often, a preceptor will 'abuse' their students simply to establish 'the proper pecking order', or to pass on what was done to them when they were a student. All this does is breed contempt, create a hostile work environment and perpetuate the cycle. A question that this type of preceptor needs to ask themselves before passing it down to the student is: "Did I like it when this was done to me?". If you didn't; then why do it to someone else? I'm not your 'average student', and this ain't my first 'go round' in clinicals. I ususally have more time in EMS than my preceptors. I DO know how things work. Yes, I'm there to learn about patient care, not be a 'wall flower observer'; but by no means am I 'beneath you' simply because I'm a student or working on obtaining a lower license level than you!

First look at your spelling, sentence structure and grammar (notice all the red spots above?). Next, simply calling them and faxing a resume isn't properly applying for a job; and if I were in HR (Human Resources), I wouldn't hire you either. If you cannot put forth enough effort to at least follow the basic rules of composition, or show up in person, then it can be presumed that you really don't want the job! Another thing that's working against you is the proliferation of all the 'patch mill schools' that are churning out EMT's and flooding the market with candidates that have for the most part, taken the easy way into the field. Unfortunately, many of these candidates have inferior skills, simply because the focus of these schools isn't on producing EDUCATED EMT's and Paramedics; but rather only focusing on passing the NREMT (where applicable). If you want to stand above the majority, then you MUST prove your dedication to the field by obtaining a better education than the others! I didn't shred our post to make you feel bad or because I'm a 'mean person', nor did I do it because I feel like being a jerk. You ASKED what you're doing wrong, and I'm pointing it out in hopes that you'll correct these errors and stand a better chance of at least making it to the 'interview stage'.

I wholeheartedly concur with your assessment of the situation and all subsequent findings thereof!

It all started when I showed up at the station. I'm not asking that someone bake me a cake to make me feel 'welcome', but don't make it out to be that I'm some sort of 'inconvenience'. I didn't pick the station, it was set up by my instructor (who just happens to be the department head for EMS Education). Secondly, I don't care if you WERE a cop in a previous life, this isn't how EMS works. Don't insult me by not knowing my name (you ARE after all, helping teach my class)... Don't belittle me and make me do all the 'dirty work' simply because you feel it's 'beneath you'! Do NOT tell a patient that you can't or won't treat them because they lied to you about when they ate their last meal! Do NOT antagonize patients who are drunk/on drugs simply because you think it's funny that they're verbally abusing the crew in the back! Do NOT assume that since I'm a 'mere student' that I'm just a 'rookie' who has nothing to contribute or prior experience! If having students on clinical rotations bothers you THAT much, then by all means feel free to drop out of the Preceptor program! Don't try to destroy my confidence and self esteem simply because I'm not able to perform certain skills (that I haven't used in a year and a half) as well as you can! I've taken the issues to my instructor, who has advised me to 'write it up' so that it's a 'matter of record' and can be addressed. I'm not happy about having to put it on paper, simply because there's now a 'record' of it and it doesn't prevent the adjunct instructor from being able to read it and use it against me at a later time...

After pulling two clinical rotations over the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights), I'm sitting here filling out the required paperwork for my instructor. Part of the packet must be filled out by the preceptor and part of it must be filled out by the student. The preceptor evaluates the student, and the student evaluates the preceptor. I find that I'm having some difficulty filling out a critique form for one of the preceptors. There were things that I witnessed that strikes me as just plain 'wrong', but since one of the preceptors over the weekend is also an adjunct instructor for my class, I'm worried that if I give less than a 'glowing evaluation', I'll be left holding the dirtiest end of the proverbial 'shit stick'. Knowing my instructor, I know that if I take my concerns to him, he will have a chat with the preceptor/adjunct instructor and I'll end up back on that dirty end again. I also know that I'm supposed to fill out all the paperwork for my clinicals, but I really don't need to be dodging the retribution bullet for the rest of my class (I've still got a year to go). This one has me in a real bind. My concience is telling me to slap the bull and the horns be damned.....but my logical side is telling me that if I say anything, I'll be committing 'educational suicide'.....

My 7th grade Geography teacher would have a fit because you left out which hemisphere you reside in......lol

When I was stationed in Highland Park, had a partner who lived in Mt. Clemens come in wearing body armor. I couldn't ever afford it....

I have to agree with Dust on this one, those things are hideous and there's nothing 'professional looking' about them. Even the shirts that appear to be 'button downs' with the hidden zipper look far better than those! And if you're cold, try putting a jacket on, or wearing thermals under your uniform...

DKA What I know about DKA: Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a result of the body metabolizing fat stores instead of glucose for energy. This occurs because there isn't sufficient glucose stores, or the body isn't producing enough insulin. By metabolizing the fat (I believe this anerobic metabolism), it produces lactic acid. Because the body isn't using the glucose stores (as in Type I diabetes), one of the signs is polyuria, leading to dehydration. Because of the dehydration, bicarbonate levels are low in the blood. This increases the acidity levels of the blood, and because of the volume drop (dehydration); sodium levels are elevated. This diffference between the cations (positive ions) and the low bicarbonate levels (one of the body's "buffer systems") produces the anion gap. What I've learned: While I don't fully understand lab values and osmolarity, I did learn that DKA treatments by using sodium bicarbonate is highly controversial as a treatment. I've also learned that it affects the immune system, and the DKA patient is highly susceptible to infections. I found an article here that does a pretty good job of trying to explain it to dummies like me! Can someone explain the actions of the heart during each segment of the EKG cycle?

Yeah, clearly some of those things are ‘weapons of ASS DESTRUCTION’!!

I'm personally going to keep my reaction 'guarded' until I see actual photographic PROOF that Osama bin Laden is dead. After all, they've allegedly killed Ayman al-Zawahiri more than once, and he's STILL alive! I'm also going to keep a sharp eye out for 'retribution attacks'; this isn't going to bode well knowing the vengeful nature of al Qaeda!