New EKG kid in the neighborhood - StripTease

http://www.electricant.net/ekg/

EKG "Strip Tease"  I like it so far!

Needing to be better

a better friend
a better student
a better employee

These are things I consciously have to work on.  They do not come naturally.
I am tired of being constantly down, stuck in a hole, struggling to get out.
(It was everyone else, you see, that was getting me down.)

Truth is I need an attitude adjustment.
And a ladder.

First EMT passed their NREMT!

Just got the news that the first EMT student passed her NREMT written.
One down, ten to go!

Intriguing links - toxicology

"Under our Skin"  2009 PBS documentary on Lyme disease.  It will open your eyes (1:45 long).

http://www.hulu.com/watch/268761

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2JgR_Jfbhv8

Some great videos by a paramedic friend:

Respiratory System and Pulmonary Edema

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5rhjTeBhsM

The Pump - CHF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWdnftP2RU

Electrical Conduction System of the Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALlIYO6LdA

Pneumothorax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIfiU0obKg

NOW SERIOUSLY I am not one of those people who does not believe in vaccinations.  I think people who don't vaccinate are nuts, BUT we can do it more safely.  The mercury-based preservative is the big danger.  Why can't we do better?

Safe Minds - the dangers of mercury

http://www.safeminds.org/

Smart Vax - vaccines and mercury

http://www.smartvax.com/

Google Book - Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic

http://books.google.com/books?id=JlCS2A9WkuoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

We did it!

We survived - all 11 students made it through their NREMT practicals (even the one who put the KED on inside out - you want to talk about FORCING myself to keep a straight face and not say anything...)

And I passed cardiology.  I PASSED CARDIOLOGY!!!

I still don't feel like I know a heck of a lot, but I'm really getting the feeling that I can do this.  That I can actually be a paramedic, be good at it.  Make the right decisions when it counts.

So Monday nights can be study nights instead of EMT class nights.  Wednesdays we still get together for 1.5 hours of CE, but it will be good to be doing "real world" stuff, not just prepping them to get through exams.

Though the snow is falling, the light stays with us until after 8 pm these days.  Spring is coming, and the EMS calls will not be far behind.

EMT Class Coming to a Close

They are doing well.
I think I now can understand how Mr. Medic felt with our EMR, then EMT classes.  In the beginning it's nothing but new, fun skills.  In the middle, pure frustration.  You know enough, but really not enough to be useful.  In the end, it's all about getting through clinicals and getting ready for the tests.  Class written, class practical, NREMT practical, then scheduling that computer-based adaptive NREMT final written.

We have broken the news to a few of them, that once they are done with that - then the real learning kicks into gear.  Mr. Medic keeps it all together with our weekly meetings - debrief calls of the week, work on skills, discuss protocols.

A select few have pagers already and have gone on a call or two.

With luck, we will pick up a few of the 11 students as crew, either for our service or the Village Volunteers.

I'm proud of their progress, and relieved another class is almost done.

Struggling Cardiologically

Cardiology, ACLS - some people seem to be able to run through the algorithms without any issue.
I am having a really tough time.
Seems like everybody else does this for a living, not as a "sideline gig" so I really need to work harder.

Here are some practice resources for all of us:
http://www.12leadecg.com/

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073520713/student_view0/

Littman's heart sounds course
http://www.3m.com/healthcare/littmann/LIA-Basics.htm

OK, I'm hooked!

I have just always liked reality shows, particularly about "normal" people going about their lives in countries I don't know enough about.  So I started watching
this TV show about paramedic recruits in Australia.

When I first heard the trailer, it said they train for 8 weeks at college.
EIGHT WEEKS!
How can you learn to be a paramedic in 8 weeks?

Oh, but then you have a THREE YEAR internship.  Wow.

Watching this also makes me realize how far I have to go.

Watch Episode 1 of Recruits: Paramedics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb3KtF5HMxg

What did we ever do before YouTube?
(Apparently it was released on DVD as well)

Wiki says:
Recruits: Paramedics is an Australian factual television program that premiered on Network Ten on 6 October 2011. It follows the work lives of new recruit paramedics in Australia, showing some of the content of their 8 week preliminary theory course, as well as clips from their first shifts on the front line. To date, 13 episodes have aired. Recruits Paramedics follows the journey of everyday people setting out to achieve a lifelong ambition to become a paramedic. Offering unique insights into the high pressure world of paramedics, we are taken into the everyday lives of new recruits as they transform their overpowering motivation to save lives into reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recruits:_Paramedics

Enjoy!

Cardiology is kicking my ass

I cannot even count the number of pages behind I'm in my reading assignments.
Finally getting a handle on rhythm recognition and we've moved on to 12-Lead interp.
Just a step behind.
Tired
Overworked
Under the gun
Yikes!

Alphabet Soup

OK, I work for the government.  I am used to abbreviations.
Whether they be, TLA (three-letter abbreviations), FLEA (four-letter extended abbreviations), or worse.

But folks, I am confused about all these "add on" courses and abbreviations for medical folk.

Need to deal with kids?  Well have we got some fun for you!
PALS, PEPP, PEARS, APLS, ENPC, ITLS, NRP, EPC (go here if you want to know what these are).

Cardiac?  Well we have a class for you!
AHA HCP BLS with CPR & AED
not enough?  How about ACLS?
ACLS too hard?  Well we have an ACLS Prep course, too!

Don't forget about AMLS, PHTLS, and TCCC

WTF?

When do I stop being a newbie?

So I'm helping out a bit with our EMT class this winter.

(We live differently up here - tons of vacationers in the summer, very little in the winter.  Dang I hate generalities.  Lemme check the stats...200 calls in July, 30 in January.  That should give you an idea.)

So we have our classes in the winter during down-time.  I was assisting with an assessment station the other day and found myself saying, "well, there can be a difference between what you learn for the NREMT and what we do on calls..."

Woah.
People are asking me questions, looking to me for the "right" answer.  What we really do out there with sick people.  My experiences.  My stories.

Did I stop being a newbie?  I don't know it all.  Not even close.  Every day I learn more and realize I really know nothing.  I certainly still feel new.

We had a guest instructor, a guy I respect a whole bunch, who said, "I really felt like a good EMT after I finished EMT-I, and like a good EMT-I once I finished Paramedic school."

Totally.  I could not agree more.  We are about halfway done with didactic in 'medic school and I finally feel like I can function as a decent EMT.  But still have more to learn.  More experience to glean.

I had better go study some more...

Blank

I'm pretty sure my brain is typical at this point, halfway through paramedic didactic.

My mind is blank.

I make out flash cards, read, read, and read some more.  Attempt to put it all together in the empty hole behind my eyes.  Nothing.

It has to get better than this, right?