Go Ahead and Hate Your Neighbor Go Ahead and Cheat A Friend

[captainstandup]

Anyone notice an inherently backstabbing nature to the EMS industry? I have worked in a variety of other arenas and have never witnessed the degree of faultfinding, hateful, slimy one "upsmanship" than in EMS. I haven't personally been a victim of this however I have witnessed a multitude of examples of EMTS and Paramedics living to cut another's throat. My experience has been that many pre-hospital providers seek to second guess, monday morning quarterback and critique the work of others even given the fact they were not responsible for doing so. Is it just me or are affairs and cheating more common in public service than other jobs?. I am curious if anyone has similar opinions and if so why this phenomenon seems more pervasive in EMS than other professions. Ill offer a theory to get this started. Perhaps the psychological makeup that enables humans to witness the worst life has to offer comes with these other characteristics. I KNOW, NOT ALL PREHOSPITAL FOLKS ARE LIKE THIS BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED OVER 16 YEARS IN EMS.

[FireMedic65]

seems like it happens a lot... I don't understand why...

[chbare]

It is part of the human condition. Spend a little time working around Nurses, brutal.

I experienced the same behavior bagging groceries in high school, in the military, as an EMT, as a CNA, as a LPN, in the ER as a RN, and in my current workplace.

Take care,

chbare.

[Ridryder 911]

Wow!.. This threads title is an old song...

Like CHBare, I have seen this in all professions.. in fact maybe a little more brutal. I agree it sucks... but that is they way it is.

R/r 911

[brentoli]

Dispatch isn't any better. And we're not even EMT's.

[Asysin2leads]

As I've said before, the only way to perservere is rise above it. Maybe if more EMS providers would grow a set (or the equivalent for the women) and gain some self confidence this wouldn't be a problem. Me, I just play some PSP and ignore 'em.

[njmedic1485]

Anyone notice an inherently backstabbing nature to the EMS industry? <snipped for brevity> I KNOW, NOT ALL PREHOSPITAL FOLKS ARE LIKE THIS BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED OVER 16 YEARS IN EMS.

You've obviously never worked in a casino. I got a graduate level course in backstabbing and "doing unto others" from some masters of the art. Everything else has been strictly amateur hour :cya:

[Scaramedic]

Wow!.. This threads title is an old song...

R/r 911

Old? It's fossilized.

Cheesy song from an even cheesier movie.

:hippy2: :happy10: :hippy2: :happy10: :hippy2: :happy10: :hippy2:

Peace,

Marty

[Dustdevil]

Spend a little time working around Nurses, brutal.

LOL! You beat me to that one!

Your observation is spot on. I can assure you that it's not just a local thing. And, after this many years, it becomes something you just accept as part of the deal, without even thinking much about it. Kudos to you for thinking about it. It is something we should be able to change to a great extent. And for the growth of the profession, it is vital that we change this pervasive attitude. But how?

Well, we can never eliminate it altogether. As Rid said, it is human nature. But one thing, and one thing only, can and will significantly improve the situation: Education.

Plus 5 for an inspired topic title, even if it is cheesey.

[nypamedic43]

HEY!!! I like that song...even if it is old and cheesey and tells everyone how old I am LOL!! Anyway, it's a well-known fact the EMS providers eat their young (and old for that matter). As Asys said...you have to rise above it, have confidence in yourself, educate yourself (Dust)....that way when someone takes a bite out of your behind, you can laugh it off. It wont ever go away completely...and in the end, you can only change how you react to whats going on around you.