kitkat

Lots of good advise on here, and the underlying message being, when you take any course, as an adult learner you put into it as much as you want. Classroom training at the best of times is just that, classroom. As for field precepting, that is where you can start putting the pieces together, but the disadvantage can rest on a few things. As a student it is overwhelming to know what to do, and just the sight, smell of a real life sick or injured person can put your brain in freeze mode. Another hitch is having a preceptor that will guide you through the practical world of EMS. Preceptors can play as big a role in developing critical thinking skills, they are not there to teach you the whole program, but to assit you in putting the "puzzle" together. Just take every expereince you encounter now and build on it, enjoy the journey of learning. Really, it will take time, as well as your willingness to listen and learn, ask questions, and keep up with reviewing when the questions come up. So can you be a good paramedic, why not? The best tool we carry is ourselves and the ability to critical think, keep developing that, and always do the best that you can do with what you know, as well utilize the resources you have avalible to assist you. Again, as previous posters have mentioned, keep in mind who you take advise from as well, and being new, that can be a tough one too.

horrible at name picking, but what a darling. What's the "barn" name going to be? Out of my 4 I only have 2 that go by names that are only slightly close to their registered names. :-)

Research projects have now become a part of our professionalism component in our ACP program, we also then have to present the project in a 10 minute presentation to our Medical directors and some "special guests" and 5 minutes of questions/feedback. I think it is a very relevant addition to the program.

I would encourage you to take it, found it was a very practical course, and I really enjoyed it. Make the most of it, you will find something useful in it, and fall back on your what you learn in there whatever your level.

The politics of the profession. What disheartens me is when I see my "leaders" not trying to progress to changes for the future. I guess I am of the theory -How do you eat an elephant?.... one bite at a time. Change takes time. Peoples' bad attitudes I can deal with, biaeching and whining, not trying to offer a valid solution, neutralizes your right to complain, I won't tolerate it. I'll challenge you on offering a solution since you seem to know what is all wrong with everything, educate, ask questions, knowledge is power. (won't say I am getting very weary of the constant whining at my work) but, one way to shut down a negative conversation is with something positive, hey where did everybody go?? If I ever say that I am the end all / be all in this field, take me out in a "whitejacket" as I know I will have gone off the deep end.

Now that was fun, send it to Letterman.

I would say at 2 of our major hospitals, if you don't have a "red" they wouldn't even hear the "patch" just a big sigh and a 10-4, then you can expect to wait, ... to be triaged, after the other 4, or so, ambulances, then wait for a bed, oh did I say wait, for a bed?? yeah, bring a book, your ipod, or whatever. They may only start showing intrest if a supervisor shows up. So, how do we patch? -Red, Amber, Green-C/U/R-and (# code) for medical/trauma/pregnancy/burns/cardio/resp

So once again, Jack of all trades Master of none.

So, back on pg 2 I had posted some questions about whether you services have set criteria for pecepting/mentoring. Anyone else have any comments on this? MedicAR had responded quite nicely to this, and I am thinking this is the trend, that as long as there is a warm body available to "shape" the new recruit, that should be enough of a qualification. I am thinking this is an area that could be developed for making the profession a bit more professional? Thoughts?

At this time we precept student that come in after there total classroom time and some hospital time in ER. What I find both as an instuctor/preceptor, is when doing scenarios, these students don't have a hot clue on what to expect or how to even communicate with pts in a real setting. I would love to see the program intergrate time on the ambulance during the program, just so they have an idea of how things are run, let alone smell, touching/lifting pts. (eg:, not do an interview halfway across a room in a whisper, shaking in their boots) that are actually sick instead of practiceing B/P's on their healthy classmates. So in that way of thinking, after let's say a module of V/S assessment, just have them preform that skill for a few days, and observe the rest of the call, and get familiar with the concept of how to manage a pt. or run a call with the rest of the crew. It has been interesting to hear the other side of this situation. There would need to be a very clear layout to the preceptor of what the students expectations are at each time of evaluation.

Yes, last week, in of course sticky wet snow at 0200, and what happens, try to clean the wiper blades and the driver side flies off, so I figure I will take the passenger side one and put it on the driver side, at least be able to see to drive to the hospital, and now realize that the arm of the wiper is actually broken,(while fighting with the blade and getting totally soaked!!) well, too bad, I made it work, and made it safely to the hospital, everyone entacted!! Then proceeded to get another ambulance as mantienace hours were closed.

Thank-you for the response Medic AR, there are some definite similarities here as well. Just thought I would troll for some ideas/solutions to some of these issues. Anyone else willing to share??

So, in regards to this situation , which by the sounds of it, we all have experienced this to some degree. Would you care to answer a few questions? How many of you are invovled with a service/company that have something like a: *lead hand *crew chief *mentor *preceptor *field training officer *clinical team leader **Whatever term you want to call it** How do you earn this title in your company? What is the criteria that you must meet? Is it pure seniority? Level of training? Warm body? Any adult education training courses? Formal instructor program? Personal integrity/and work ethic (ie CQI, CME, Performance reviews?) Is this something that is kept in peer groups or management? (ie: union groups) Does your service/company offer any professional development planning/programs? Is there a "path to leadership" ? (other than what may be discussed in the professionalism component of a paramedic program) How do you get promoted? Other than an application process. *criteria?* How, or does the company compensate you for this "title"? Renumiration/promotion? Both? If you do have this type of "program" How is it regulated? Who is responsible to whom? What is that retention plan for employees, within the service/company? Is this a personal issue or is it a management issue? I hope that you can wade through all these questions.

my fav for abdominal pain not yet diagnosed is FCS (fart caught sideways)

We have a review board made up of our training officers and street paramedics, our Med. Director and the assistant Med director, this was specially made group that would be able to bring better clarity to the old protocols, and bring new ones forward. Has been a great working group. The intent being that we have the protocols ready and basically present the protocols ready to go, to the Medical Advisory Committee, which our MD is chair of.