Working as a paramedic out of an ER has its pros and cons. Im not here to list them right now, just to rant about one con....
They put us here to "help out" in between calls, but when you go into a room to help with a hyperventilating teenage girl and get glared at by the brand spanking new RN its a bit frustrating.She and I were helping another nurse who was trying to talk to the pt. She had just untangled the cords when I told her if she would hand me a gown I could help the pt change she snottily (yes i just made that up)looked at me and said "I will as soon as I am done" then gave me the "I am holier than thou lowly paramedic" look....I have never had a problem with this person until today....I guess we all have bad days, but don't take it out on the people who are trying to help you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Friendly reminders
Don't forget to change your clocks and also the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO detectors, etc.
Oh and please enjoy your halloween, but be responsible, especially when consuming alcohol.........and please don't drink and drive!!
Oh and please enjoy your halloween, but be responsible, especially when consuming alcohol.........and please don't drink and drive!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
"Trauma" gets DNR
SAN FRANCISCO — NBC's "Trauma", the freshman paramedic drama that stirred up controversy in the EMS industry over its less-than-accurate representation of the profession, has been cancelled by the network. The show will complete its 13-episode run, but will cease production after that.
The show, which was reportedly one of NBC's priciest new series, failed to capture an audience — either with the mainstream public or the EMS community. Monday’s episode of "Trauma" drew just 5.8 million total viewers.
Unlike the beloved "Emergency!", the seminal EMS drama from the 1970's, many in the EMS community felt the show did a disservice to EMS professionals by highlighting lurid and sensational — as well as medically questionable — scenarios, including ambulance sex and drunk driving.
The depiction drew immediate criticism from EMS leadership, with both NAEMT and IAFC’s EMS Section firing off letters to the producers of the show protesting the creative direction.
In his letter, the IAFC's EMS Section chair Gary Ludwig called the show "an injustice to the many professionals who work in emergency medical services," before adding, "I would ask that either the show be cancelled or modified to accurately portray the sacrifice of those who perform emergency medical services to comfort and treat those who have suffered a serious trauma or illness."
The show will be replaced by "Chuck" in NBC’s Monday night lineup.
The show, which was reportedly one of NBC's priciest new series, failed to capture an audience — either with the mainstream public or the EMS community. Monday’s episode of "Trauma" drew just 5.8 million total viewers.
Unlike the beloved "Emergency!", the seminal EMS drama from the 1970's, many in the EMS community felt the show did a disservice to EMS professionals by highlighting lurid and sensational — as well as medically questionable — scenarios, including ambulance sex and drunk driving.
The depiction drew immediate criticism from EMS leadership, with both NAEMT and IAFC’s EMS Section firing off letters to the producers of the show protesting the creative direction.
In his letter, the IAFC's EMS Section chair Gary Ludwig called the show "an injustice to the many professionals who work in emergency medical services," before adding, "I would ask that either the show be cancelled or modified to accurately portray the sacrifice of those who perform emergency medical services to comfort and treat those who have suffered a serious trauma or illness."
The show will be replaced by "Chuck" in NBC’s Monday night lineup.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
back from vacation
Took a week and went to the beach with a few girlfriends and had a blast. Didnt do much of anything...mostly read, lounged around, managed to squeeze in a manicure and pedicure and even a haircut...
These are the dogs that got to vacation with us, Harley on the left and Mox on the right. They are great dogs!!
Here is a view from our back upper deck. We stayed in ahouse on Topsail Island, NC. The weather was nice for a few days but we had a few rainy ones too. We could see dolphins from our back door.
But all good things must come to an end and here I am back at work, covered yesterday for a fellow medic who is sick and today am working a 24. Im looking forward to the nice weather that is predicted for today.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Island time
I arrived to Topsail Island, NC safe and sound after a rainy 460 mile drive....Im here for the week with 7 other girls....looking forward to doing absolutely NOTHING all week!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
S.A.L.T. (the newest addition to our intubation kit)
Where I work fulltime I have the priledge of having a boss who is willing to give any of the new products a once over at least. We have had the opportunity to "play" with quite a few different items that he got a free sample of or that one of my fellow medics picked up at the last conference they went to. If something is introduced and it seems to catch more than only a few eyes, particulary those of our older medics, then we usually end up purchasing, if budget allows. (The only exception is out Zoll monitors....most of the medics I work with here aren't huge fans, yet we have 6 Zoll monitors....)
Anywho, these new SALT airway devices were introduced to us a few months ago and I guess there was enough interest piqued that we now officially have these in our airway kits and in stock. They are pretty nifty...we used them on "fred" in several positions....laying, seated, taped to the bottom of a table....and the results were amazing, even our medical director suggested we purchase these after he got his hands on one. We now keep them as a "backup" airway. So anyways, here is just one link to look at, trust me its worth the few minutes it may take!
Let me know what you think!
Anywho, these new SALT airway devices were introduced to us a few months ago and I guess there was enough interest piqued that we now officially have these in our airway kits and in stock. They are pretty nifty...we used them on "fred" in several positions....laying, seated, taped to the bottom of a table....and the results were amazing, even our medical director suggested we purchase these after he got his hands on one. We now keep them as a "backup" airway. So anyways, here is just one link to look at, trust me its worth the few minutes it may take!
Let me know what you think!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
just another night at the looney bin...
Its been a while since I have written and for that I apologize. I have not been seeing a lot of calls thanks due to night shift, but most of what I do get are legit ALS calls, car wrecks with drunks and people not bothering the 2 seconds and minor inconvience of a seatbelt and now with the weather turning getting some more respiratory pt. I did have an interesting call last night.
Dispatched priority one for a female c/o neck pain and slurred speech, possible ETOH on board, PD being dispatched.
I arrive right behind the BLS ambulance. EMT1 (a new medic student) and his partner EMT2 get out and #1 starts walking towards the apartment complex empty handed...no bag, no stretcher, nada but #2 and I decided to at least take the cot in...I look at #1 with a quizzical look, he says, "Its Joan*, trust me just leave your bag in your truck, she is staying here now instead of xyz street" (I have never had an encounter with Joan, but I later learned Im one of the few fortunate) We stand outside in the cold ringing the buzzer for the apt she is staying in with no answer. After a few minutes we radio dispatch who call back to the apt and we finally get buzzed in. We walk up to the apartment and Joan answers the door, looks at #1 and says, "I didnt ask for no damn stretcher, I just wanted to someone to check out my neck, I'm glad its you at least" and has this look in her eye.... Long story short, Joan was burnt a long time ago and has a scar on her neck and it had gotten dry from the dry air and it had started cracking and bleeding a little. She had no desire to go to the hospital, especially after asking who the doctor was, and when told who it was her response was "then HELL NO I definitly dont want to go"....meanwhile PD finally showed up and #2 and I had to hold our girly giggles as Joan crooned over #1 and then the young policeman who showed up. Did I mention this was all at 4AM???
I swear I love my job!!
*name changed for obvious reasons....
Dispatched priority one for a female c/o neck pain and slurred speech, possible ETOH on board, PD being dispatched.
I arrive right behind the BLS ambulance. EMT1 (a new medic student) and his partner EMT2 get out and #1 starts walking towards the apartment complex empty handed...no bag, no stretcher, nada but #2 and I decided to at least take the cot in...I look at #1 with a quizzical look, he says, "Its Joan*, trust me just leave your bag in your truck, she is staying here now instead of xyz street" (I have never had an encounter with Joan, but I later learned Im one of the few fortunate) We stand outside in the cold ringing the buzzer for the apt she is staying in with no answer. After a few minutes we radio dispatch who call back to the apt and we finally get buzzed in. We walk up to the apartment and Joan answers the door, looks at #1 and says, "I didnt ask for no damn stretcher, I just wanted to someone to check out my neck, I'm glad its you at least" and has this look in her eye.... Long story short, Joan was burnt a long time ago and has a scar on her neck and it had gotten dry from the dry air and it had started cracking and bleeding a little. She had no desire to go to the hospital, especially after asking who the doctor was, and when told who it was her response was "then HELL NO I definitly dont want to go"....meanwhile PD finally showed up and #2 and I had to hold our girly giggles as Joan crooned over #1 and then the young policeman who showed up. Did I mention this was all at 4AM???
I swear I love my job!!
*name changed for obvious reasons....
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