scubanurse

I got my EMT at 16 and it was the best decision I ever made. Sure it was a lot juggling high school, friends, family, rowing, and the fire department but it truly shaped who I am today. I also took anatomy and physiology in high school, AP Bio and AP physics to get a jump start. I would suggest looking into your area and find out what's available. Take a CPR/First Aid course, work hard at school, keep your nose clean, and pursue your dreams.

We're finally home! And in a firetruck outfit, searched for one with just ambulances but couldn't find one anywhere

Thanks guys! All in all no big complications out of either of us, we expected some from the ehlers danlos but nothing that was as bad as it could have been! I'll post a picture when we get home in a few days!

I thought it was sickle cell with some cerebral involvement, I've just been a tad busy

Baby Scuba! I delivered my amazing baby girl yesterday at 1644. She weighed 8lbs 10oz and was 20" long. She is perfect in any way and looks a lot like her daddy! Some of you may know what a struggle this has been and the fact that she's here just amazes me every time I look at my baby girl

It's going to take a lot of convincing me that ultrasound in the field is beneficial in urban environments. I can see their potential use in rural areas with extensive training, but it's just not useful in my opinion. They can be mis-read and as all of us in the EMS field can have a tendency to do, we would treat the machine instead of the patient. If the hands-on assessment is telling me there is a high suspicion of abdominal bleeding, I am going to transport to the appropriate facility regardless of what some machine will tell me, and I feel that this technology in just anyones hand will cause problems. I may be wrong as people probably initially thought the same about 12-lead ECG in the field, but bouncing down a road enroute to a hospital hardly seems like optimal conditions to interpret the FAST exam.

What does her abdomen present on exam, Bowel sounds? What is the provider finding on the neuro exam? Acting appropriate for the age, etc?

Any tests ever run for sickle cell?

https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/public-safety/emergency-medical-services.html Google is your friend, my friend

VS? Mental status compared to baseline for the kiddo, past medical hx, term baby/any complications? Has this ever happened before? How are the parents acting, any suspicion of abuse?

If the shoe fits We can't all be young guns! I've been in EMS for 10 years this month, yet I'm only 27!

Welcome to the looney bin! There is such a wealth of knowledge on this forum, so use it to your advantage. I agree with the others, it is good that you went to medic school quickly. Working as an EMT does nothing to teach you how to be a solid medic, just as you don't need to be a CNA before becoming an RN or PA before becoming an MD. Look through the discussion boards, post questions and replies, but most importantly, just use us as resources as you continue on your journey. We tend to be a bit looney but chalk that up to the centuries (ok probably more like a decade, but Ruff and Mike alone account for a majority of it) of experience on this board.

It may be more beneficial to look at changing protocols for a scenario such as this. I see no point in having to stop and waste time, you should be able to use your discretion and bypass to the nearest appropriate facility based on the history and vital signs you see. Or swing through have doc say yup, keep going.

I almost feel like a doppler would be more beneficial in the field. It could be used for fetal monitoring and for pulses in a trauma or code situation. U/S seems like too specific of a skill to be beneficial in the field and leaves a lot up to misinterpretation that could affect outcomes.

McDreamy is a neurosurgeon... it's Arizona Robbins who's been doing fetal surgeries...duh.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, I just set my DVR up to record it.

You'll be fine . I started in MD and was a volly at 16 and faced that some with my patients. I found that if you're confident and reassuring, age doesn't matter. Best of luck to you, I love the eastern shore!

Do you consider the alteration in your hearing a disability? Does it alter the way you do your job? I have bilaterally fused shoulders that limit my range of motion greatly, I do not consider myself disabled because it does not alter my ability to perform my job.

http://www.emsworld.com/podcast/12047526/mental-health-issues-for-ems-providers Great listen for those interested.

We're supposed to get another 12-18" this weekend... finally New England isn't being greedy with all the snow and sharing with the rest of us! We're still looking at a bad fire season out here from the dry winter we've had :/

I couldn't get through it without starting to cry because it rings so true for so many of us.

https://dimcmath.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/unless-youve-been-there-you-wouldnt-understand-a-paramedics-farewell-to-the-job/ She didn't write this, but posted it to her facebook just a few hours prior.

Her suicide has completely rocked the Denver EMS community. I have several friends with Denver Paramedics and not a single one is ok right now. Hang in there brother and we're all here if you need us.

I am sorry you are feeling alone in your struggles, know that you are not. What area are you in, perhaps our network can help you find some resources for you. I love that military veterans are getting support for mental illness/PTSD, but I too hate the assumption that if you were not in the military, you can't have PTSD. Thank you for sharing your story with us, and know that we're here as a community to help in any way we can.

https://www.facebook.com/GhettoMedic/posts/1013862878641620 Tell me her suicide didn't f***ing matter and that this isn't a problem in EMS. Seriously, I hope you get your head out of your A$$.