I can't say I was super-impressed with my clinical this weekend. Only 3 real calls (the others were crap calls that didn't really require us to be there, and the medic didn't even write a refusal). No IV sticks, and the medic I was with was not nearly as cool or nice as the one I was with last weekend. On the other hand, it did teach me how NOT to interact with my coworkers. In fairness to the medic, he was very good with the patients. Just not me or his partner.
Again, on the other hand, I ran an OB that actually gave birth, for the first time in my 11 years in this field. Thankfully, it was not in the back of the medic unit, but it was on the stretcher. The patient was a multiple pregnancy, multiple birth, and the kid just flew out. We did make it to L&D, but the nurses and doctors there were too busy arguing over which monitor to put on her and weren't quick enough in moving the patient over to the hospital bed. It would have been nice, since even though her water broke on our stretcher, I would have liked to NOT have to clean up after the actual birth. Still, it was nifty, but I am damned glad it happened in the hospital.
Nothing exciting happened after that, aside from the IV I missed because it was a crappy vein, and then got pushed out of the way by the medic, who was very easily frustrated. It made me mad, because her AC was a pipe, and her hand was a little spidery thing that you see in arthritic people. Irritating, because I wanted to go for the AC first, and he said that you had to do hand first, and when I couldn't get it, took the AC himself. Later he said 'You can put down that you did IV's if you want, I don't care.' I'm not so desperate that I'm going to cheat, jerk.
Hung at the firehouse for a bit after that, and then home. Lazy Sunday, though I did get some gardening done to clean up the yard for the winter (as noted yesterday).
Today was our last test before finals. It'll be very very nice to have several weeks without having to hurry and study for some test or another. Gotta check the schedule again...we start learning 12-leads in a few days.
About Me
- roaming_gnome
- Finishing medic school this semester, and hoping for a decent job so I can start paying off my debts. Also planning a wedding. Someone shoot me. All stories are only loosely based on real life to protect patients identities and myself from lawsuits.
3 comments:
We were taught to "start low, go high" but thankfully the medics I worked with said if low looks like crap and you're sure you can get high then why stick twice.
That's really interesting that the lady delivered right there on the stretcher, bet the nurse and doctor felt like goobers after that. I don't envy you the cleanup!
Good luck with your tests
Crap Calls? The average person will call 911 ONCE in there lifetime. They will call because they are either hurt, sick or scared past thee point of coping or there ability to handle the situation. They call because to them the situation is an emergency.
Because there definition of an Emergency you have the audacity to classify there emergency as Crap Calls?
Kyle,
I'm sorry you were offended by my choice of words. Crap calls are those that are generated by people who don't really need EMS, know and admit they don't need EMS, and call anyway. You are correct, most people will never call 911. Yes, most rational people call 911 when they are at the end of their rope, or don't know what else to do. Yes, it is their emergency, even if it doesn't seem as such to us.
But just because it is their emergency, doesn't mean it is mine. Do I want every call to be a code, a horrific car wreck, or something similarly serious? Of course not. But having someone who knows how to play the system call for chest pain, and then meet you at their door with their suitcases because they needed a ride to the hospital for their scheduled colonoscopy, and didn't want to drive themselves or pay for a taxi, that is a crap call. I will stay in someone's room for as long as I can to explain that they need a general physician to manage their chronic arthritis pain rather than just treat it with painkillers they are afraid to take. When it's a matter of confusion, I'm all about helping the person fix it.
I treat every patient I get the same. I am professional, pleasant, and kind to every person, whether they are a system abuser or someone who truly needs help.
I sincerely hope that in your time in EMS, you never have to experience someone calling your ambulance because their 12 year old son, who cut his foot, has never ridden in an ambulance before. With 7 cars in the driveway and at least 10 adults in the house, they look you in the eye, and say, 'He wants to ride in the ambulance, so that's why we called.'
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