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Want vs. Need

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I crouch down next to the skinny white guy. He looks to be in his mid 60s and he’s not breathing. Little old guy in a tiny house. It’s a narrow, shotgun shack, redolent with the acrid stench of cat urine, crowded with piles of old newspapers and bags of empty bottles ready to go to the recycle bin. The guy shared the cluttered floor space with a Naugahyde Barcalounger and a massive 70’s vintage RCA console TV, which was blaring a green tinted rerun of The Rockford Files at an ear splitting volume.

Captain McGillis is tucked in tight behind the guy’s head, wedged up next to the wall, the BVM pressed tightly on the man’s face. He is rhythmically squeezing the bag every 5 seconds and watching me through his safety glasses.

Eric is on the right side, getting a blood sugar. The glucometer beeps. “Low”, he said, as he looks across the guy’s chest at me.

Doug, my preceptor, is standing back. Unable to fit in the room, he leans against the door jamb, also watching me.

There are IVs you want, and then there are IVs you need.

This one fell into the “need” category.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I usually blow IVs when my preceptor is standing there watching. I’m pretty damn close to 100% in the ER, but when it comes to getting the line on scene or in the back of the truck, it’s a 50/50 shot. Nerves? Maybe. Whatever it is, I’m working on getting over it.

I also know there’s a big difference between the line you want, and the line you need. This guy needed a line. He needed an amp of D50 and that meant he needed an 18 gauge or better. And it needs to be done right now.

There was no room to get the drug box, or anything else, for that matter, into the room with us, so I look over my shoulder at Doug and ask him to hand me the IV roll and an amp of D50. As he turns away, I smack my hand down on the TV’s power button, silencing James Garner in mid sentence.

“Hey! I was watching that!” Captian McGills says, from his spot at the head. We all chuckle as Eric manages to maneuver the lifepack around the small end table that is tight against the man’s leg to stick some patches on.

The IV gear appears in Doug’s hand over my shoulder as the ECG prints. Eric hands me the strip, because I can’t see the screen at the angle I’m at. Normal Sinus at 72.

I wrap the tourniquet around his skinny arm and silently pray that he’s got decent veins. BAM! Before I can even blink, his cephalic vein pops right up and I grab the chloral hexidine and scrub away. Quickly slipping in an 18, I attach an extension set, tape down the hub and push in the D50.

It’s ten minutes later and our guy is sitting up and looking a lot better. The Cap is puttering around in the tiny kitchen whipping up a peanut butter sandwich and our guy’s blood sugar is now 77. It turns out his name is Louis and he took his insulin this morning, but forgot to eat. No, he’s not married, but his daughter checks on him twice a day. And there was, “no F’in way that he was gonna go to no hospital!”

I get on the phone with Laurie, his daughter, who arrives less than 10 minutes later and talks her dad into taking the ride with us.

Back at the fire station, Doug sits down at the table with me to review the call. He tells me I did the right things. Made all the right moves and nailed the IV when everyone was watching. But the thing he is most proud of, he tells me, is the fact that I just grabbed the phone and called his daughter and got her there to help me talk Louis into going.

“That’s really being a solid patient advocate,” he says. “That’s what I want to see.”

He gets up from the table and pours two cups of coffee. He hands one to me and together we walk out to the bay to restock the medic.

Here’s what’s new.

4 comments

I’ve done a slew of ER clinical time, a whole bunch of ALS calls, and I have a new preceptor. I’m booked solid, scheduled for clinicals, field shifts, ER, OR, Lab and class time from now until the end of the quarter. I may have one or two days off in there.

Out of all of what’s listed above, I’m happiest about the new preceptor. If you read my “Lessons Learned” post, he was the medic on M11. After that call we talked for a while outside the ED and we really hit it off. Soon, the conversation turned into “Ya know, if you’re into it, I can to talk to our MSO and see if I can be your main preceptor.” Yeah. I was into it. I’ve ridden a couple of shift with him and the crew on M11 and it was a great move. He’s been a medic for 12 years and loves to teach. Loves to let students get in the thick of things and is still excited and interested in EMS, something that was rare with some other medics I worked with. It’s a really good thing.

We’re cranking through school. Toxicology, Environmental, OB/GYN all down and now it is all about trauma, pedis and geriatrics. PHTLS and PALS will be all I think about for the next few weeks.

We took a surprise quiz today that knocked everyone for a loop. At the end of the expected material there was an added bonus: two pages of drug calculations. Yikes. After not doing ‘em for a while it was a rude awaking. I’m digging out the drug calc worksheets and running through some problems this weekend. I won’t get caught out again.

Really, medic school is turning out to be a much better experience then I thought it would be. Everyone in the class is truly excellent. All are different, but each is a great patient care provider. I’m thrilled to work with all of them and I consider each a friend.

OK, it’s bed time now. I’m off to the ER tomorrow morning and then an OR shift on Monday Morning to try and knock out some intubations. Let’s hope everyone gets a tube and the Docs decide to NOT go with LMAs. Wishful thinking, I know.

Be safe friends.

Dave and Tom

9 comments

I feel awful about not writing more frequently… but ya know what? This is time I need for myself. I need time to study and learn and process all of the new info that I’m sucking up every day. Just being around the medics I’m working with is great. I’m getting a lot of the nuts and bolts of day-to-day practice almost by osmosis. Just by working with them, and watching how they interact with patients and each other, I’m learning the art of having presence as a medic. And, to a lesser extent, I’m making careful note of the things I’ll never do when I’m a medic. These are valuable lessons my friends.

I’ve been on some excellent calls recently. Calls that I’m sure seem mundane to my preceptors, but present me with a new learning experience every time I step out of the medic unit. Every chest pain call is an opportunity to hone my assessment and interview skills and tighten up my IV skills. I’m working hard on delegating tasks to the EMTs and other medics with me. These guys and gals want me to run the scene and they’re poised, ready to jump when I say the word, all to help me succeed. I just need to tell ‘em what I want. And that’s a little hard, when sometimes I don’t know myself. But I’m getting better.

I made some mistakes over the past few days. I’m moving fast. Sometimes too fast. Going down the checklist in my head at a chest pain call at 2 in the morning…

“Okay, Tom, let’s get this gentleman on the monitor and some O2… Dave, can you grab me another set of vitals while I get the aspirin and nitro?”

Tom, my Medic preceptor, hops right to getting the patient on the monitor and some Os flowing on a cannula while Dave, the Firefighter EMT that’s with me, looks up from his BP cuff and says, “As soon as I’m done here, I’ll go spike a bag for you and set it up in the truck. I’ll make sure to set the nitro next to your IV roll.”

“That’s great, thanks Dave.” I mouth a silent “thank you” in his direction. He winks back.

And don’t think that Tom didn’t catch that. On the way back to the station after that call Tom asks in the headset, “So, how’d you do?”

I review the call in my head before I answer. I had a great rapport with the patient, we were laughing and joking on the way to ED. I did an great Q&A. Got a 12 lead in the first 5 minutes in the door, got ASA on board quickly, got an 18 gauge in the right AC while we were en route…

“Well,” I start.

Before I could go any further, Tom says, “It was pretty nice of Dave to save your ass with the Nitro, huh?”

“Yes. Yes it was.” I answer slowly.

These guys aren’t out to bust my balls. They’re working to make me the very best medic I can be. And I appreciate that. That’s why I don’t mind helping with chores around the fire house or cleaning up after dinner. These guys don’t get paid to teach me. They like teaching. And I appreciate it.

And yeah, I wasn’t gonna give that guy any nitro ‘til I had a line. I know better than that. But Dave was there to back me up.

I love riding with these guys.

Lessons learned.

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Lesson #1- ALWAYS have that bougie out and ready! Lesson #2- Cric pressure is your best friend. Lesson #3- Suction, suction, suction.

I wake with a start when the red light in my bedroom flicks on and the tones blare from the overhead speaker.

“Medic 22 with Medic 11, upgraded ALS response for a traumatic fall…”

I hop from my warm bunk and stuff my feet into my still warm boots and walk out to the bay and climb in the medic unit. I settle in the back and put on my headset. The captain turns to look at me through the pass through.” This is for you, ya know. 11s doesn’t need the help, but they know we have a student so they called us in.”

As we speed down the quiet streets, the radio mutters updates in my headset. “Bagging the patient.” “We need your C-Spine gear.”

We show up to a mess. The patient is a 50ish year old guy who had either been assaulted or had a standing ground level fall. Either way, it doesn’t matter. He’s in bad shape. A mushy occipital fracture, decorticate posturing and an airway full of blood means he is getting a tube.

The medic on scene finished starting the IV, lookes up at me and asks, “Can you go set up my truck to RSI this guy?”
“He looks to be around 150 pounds?” I guess.
“Sounds about right.”

The firefighters get to work packaging the guy on a board while I run over to Medic 11 and grab the intubation roll. I set out a 7.5, a mac 3, and  pull the bougie from the airway cabinet and lay it within reach on the bench. Then I start drawing up the drugs. 140mg of Sux, 20 of Etomidate, the Vec, the Versed. I label all of the syringes and carefully place them in order on the counter next to the head of the stretcher. Suction? Set. Vent is out and plugged in. I am as ready as I’ll ever be.
The stretcher comes crashing and rolling into the back of the rig. The Captain is bagging, the guy is seizing. A firefighter I don’t know is holding the man’s arms to keep him from pulling the mask from his ruined face. 11’s medic asks me to get a BP as he pushes some benzos. As I pump up up the cuff I hear the medic tell my preceptor, “No, you can go, I’ll just take your student.”
Monitor on, pulse ox, capnography showing a good waveform.
Down the road we go. Blood everywhere. The suction thrums, slurping in the guy’s mouth.

The medic asks if I think I can get the tube. I tell him I’d give it a shot.
“This is going to be a hard one,” he says. “He’s got a bunch of facial trauma, his airway is full of blood, he’s in a C-collar…” He trails off, looking at me expectantly.
“Well, no time like the present,” I say.

He smiles as he pushes the Etomidate and Sux while I pick up the laryngoscope in my left hand.

Looks like I’m getting it…

8 comments

I’m still a student, but this was my first ALS call where I acted as the “paramedic” start to finish.
Obviously, all the details have been changed to make sure I don’t get stepped on by a HIPAApotamous.

Medic 22 was dispatched priority to a private residence for a 56 year old male C/O low blood pressure and feeling dizzy with a slight SOB. PT states he had been feeling unwell, with some chest pain and fatigue since yesterday afternoon following power washing his deck. The pain yesterday was described as a sub-sternal burning pain rated as “13 out of 10”. Believing this pain to be heartburn, the PT took OTC antacid and received no relief. This evening he was still feeling dizzy with some CP, and took his BP with a home machine. His BP was 84/52, so he summoned 911. The PT has a history of hypertension and takes Metoprolol 50mg, Amlodipine 5mg, Clonidine 0.2mg and HCTZ. There have been no recent medication changes and he has been compliant with his meds and is positive he has not taken any more than usual. The patient is also a smoker and has recently reduced his consumption to a half pack a day. PT denies any diaphoresis or nausea or vomiting. PT has no other complaints aside from the chest tightness, dizzyness and slight SOB. PT’s last meal was a turkey sandwich about 90 minutes prior to our arrival. PT is allergic to codine.

Upon our arrival, PT was found sitting on the edge of his bed. He had just extinguished a cigarette as we arrived. He was CAOx3, GC15. His skin was cool and dry and pulse was slow and weak. BP: 90/62 HR: 52 RESPIR: 16 SpO2: 96% on RA. The monitor showed Sinus Brady with a rate of 54 with no ectopy. 12 lead was unremarkable with no noted ST elevation. HEENT: No trauma noted, Pupils PERRL. CHEST: Lung sounds were clear and equal bilaterally. PT says his chest “feels tight. About a 4/10.” No radiation. No palliation. He states he has felt this way all day. ABD: Soft and non-tender in 4 quadrants. PELVIS: Intact. EXTREMITIES: No edema noted. His extremities were cold to the touch, with slow capillary refill.

PT to be transported to XXXXX ER ALS to R/O MI.

BSI, PT contact followed by interview questions and exam. PT placed on 2 LPM of O2 via NC. SpO2 to 99% with Oxygen. Vitals obtained. PT placed on monitor and 12 lead obtained. The patient was able to stand and ambulate without difficulty. He was assisted in walking approximately 10 feet from his bedroom to the front door where he sat on the stretcher and was placed in a semi-fowler’s position, covered with blankets and moved to the ambulance. PT was assisted into a hospital gown. IV access was established in the Right AC with an 18ga angiocath and a 500ml fluid bolus of NS was started. PT was administered 324mg of ASA and 0.5mg of Atropine IVP. Following the fluid bolus and Atropine, vital signs were reassessed. BP: 106/88, HR: 72, RESPIR: 16 Lungs remained clear bilaterally. IV drip rate adjusted to TKO. PT was administered 0.4mg Nitro SL. PT states chest discomfort is gone.Telephone report to ED was made. A second 12 lead showed NSR at a rate of 72 with no ectopy or ST elevation noted. On arrival at ED, PT was transferred to bed 8 via 3-man draw sheet lift and report given to Jane Doe, RN. PT care and transport occurred without complication or incident. Signatures obtained and Medic 22 returned to service.

Not an earth shattering call, by any means… but the first one I ran soup to nuts. And what I did made a difference. 

It was pretty cool. I copied my SOAP here so I never forget how jazzed I was about this first call.

Back on the Left Coast.

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This cold will not go away. Is it becoming bronchitis? Why won’t it go away? Why can’t I stop coughing? Why do I feel better one day and the next feel like hammered dog shit? Why has this lasted a month?

I was at the point today where I almost, I said almost, went to the ER. As I was considering driving over to the local hospital, I was looking at myself in the rearview mirror. “What the HELL was wrong with me? Was I really going to show up in the ER to get checked out for a cold that I’ve had for a month?”

Consider it a momentary lapse of reason.

Needless to say, I didn’t go to the ER and embarrass myself in front of my EMS brothers and sisters. But I will be at the doc’s tomorrow. Antibiotics? Maybe. I need something. This is not getting any better, and I had to cancel tomorrow morning’s clinical because of it. That sucks.
In other news, I just got back from two weeks in the south with my wife at her new place. It’s pretty weird splitting up the household like this. She’s rented a little townhouse and she’s got some furniture from our Seattle house in there. The dogs are with her, too. It’s pretty weird. It’s like “Hey, here’s my stuff and my dogs, but this is not my house and I go home in a week…” Weird.

Well, it’s just until I finish school. Six months seems like forever, but it’ll go by quickly.

Another thing I’ve discovered about the south, I like all the food, except biscuits. Can’t stand biscuits. I like grits. I like BBQ. I like collard greens and black-eyed peas and sweet tea. However, I can’t stand biscuits. When I have breakfast, I want toast. How hard is that? It’s just bread, warmed up. Easy-peasy. Don’t look at me like I’m an idiot, I’m a Damn Yankee. I like toast. I know y’all got some bread back in that kitchen. Work with me.

It’s almost a new year!

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Hi all. I’m still on the holiday break, and rather than frolicking in a winter wonderland, I’ve been fighting a miserable cold since the first week of December. As I mentioned in some past posts, my wife has taken a new job in the southern part of the country while I finish school in Seattle and work on selling our house. I’m actually down south with my sweetie now, and have been for the past week. I can already tell I’m going to really like living here a lot. The people are nice, the weather is great, the cost of living is significantly less than the PNW and frankly, I’m tired of living in the perpetual gray that is Seattle.

As the year is quickly coming to an end, I wanted to thank each of you who’ve read my blog and commented on my posts. Medic School continues on Jan 4th, and this quarter is going to be even busier with clinicals and classes. It looks like I won’t have a free day until mid February. I’ll keep you updated with what’s going on. This quarter, I’ll be taking more of a “lead medic” role on ALS calls and I expect to really learn a lot.

I’ve also started to compile a list of things that I want to accomplish over the next year. Not really New Year’s resolutions, more so a list I can refer back to and check off as I get things done.

In 2010, I want to:

  • Attend a comprehensive difficult airway class.
  • Remove fast food and soda from my diet totally.
  • Clean out the garage and sell all of the junk
  • Make it a priority to work out once a day.
  • Lose some more weight.
  • Make sure I tell my wife I love her, every day.
  • Remind myself why I decided to become a paramedic whenever I have doubts.

Sounds easy… but doing it every day might prove to be difficult, but I’ll work on it.
Friends, I hope you all have a great 2010 and keep checking back… I promise to get back on the posting track very soon.

The Medic Student Guide to Field Rotations

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When you’re a paramedic intern, your field rotation is a tremendous experience. You’re playing in the big leagues now, brother. It’s no longer imaginary patient scenarios; it’s the real deal. You’re standing in the middle of someone’s living room at 2:40 in the morning and you’ve got a sick person sitting on the couch in front of you, and you’re expected to treat him or her appropriately. Oh, and did I mention that all eyes in the room will be watching your every move?

In talking to my preceptors, I’ve found that most paramedic interns don’t have much trouble with the actual medicine. However, they do have trouble with the other 22 hours of the day. The time they spend in the firehouse with the crew. So, to help those medic students who may be venturing out on their first field rotations, I’ve compiled a list of handy tips to help you make the most of your field time and to keep you from ruining it for future students. Most of this is common sense… but remember, this is from my preceptors, at my ride site. Your mileage may vary.

First, remember that you are a guest in somebody else’s home. Respect for the house and the crew is your number one priority. Simple things mean a lot. Wipe your feet. Knock before you just barge in. It sounds pretty easy, but you need to remember that the crew in the firehouse is a family, and you’re an interloper that can easily disrupt the delicate dynamic that exists. Oh yeah, bring a gift. To be more precise, bring food. Cookies, muffins, something. Here in the PNW, it’s expected that the medic student bring Ice Cream on the first day of rotation. Snacks are always appreciated. Don’t make a big deal about it, just put the cookies or muffins on the counter in the kitchen. It’ll vanish before you know it.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before shift change. Introduce yourself to everyone. Look them in the eye, shake their hand and say, ‘Hi, I’m, ______ a medic student riding here today.” Be proactive in letting people know who you are and that you’re part of the crew today.

Learn what’s expected of you as soon as you walk in. On your first day you should be asking where you ride on the engine and what spot you take on the medic unit. Which bed is mine? What bag or box you’ll carry into the house. Where is the mop and broom? Figure out where to find your traffic vest for MVAs. Ask if you need a helmet and gear for calls. Anything you need to know should come out as soon as you get there. Ask your preceptor or the senior firefighter, “Hey guys, this is my first shift here. What do I need to know?” And don’t wait for them to volunteer that info, get it!

Expect to work. Don’t fall into the trap of letting the crew treat you like a probie where you’re expected to scrub toilets and kitchen tile grout for your whole shift, but pitch in with the station chores. Don’t wait to be told. Grab a broom or a mop and get to it. The crew may not say anything to you, but they’ll notice that you’re helping and they appreciate it. Usually station chores can be done pretty quickly and then you can move on to the real business at hand…

Learn the location of everything on the medic unit. Everything. Spend as much time as you need in that truck to be able to put your hand on anything your preceptor may ask for or you may need in the course of doing your job. If the same equipment or medication is in multiple locations on the truck, know them all. It should be your mission to do a full rig check every time you walk into that station. Physically inspect every drug vial. Touch them all so you make the connection with the location in the drug box. You want to be able to open the box and know exactly where the Adenosine or Solu-Medrol is. Touch every piece of equipment in the truck. Do you know how to turn their brand of monitor on? Where’s the capnography plug in? How many sets of combi-pads are in the rig? Is every laryngoscope blade bulb tight, white and bright? Can you put your hand on the bougie without having to root for it in the airway bag?

Spend some good quality time with your preceptor and get to know what he or she expects from you. Conversely, let your preceptor know where you think need help and guidance. Expect to be grilled on your medicine and treatment plans by not only your preceptor, but also other medics in the station, the shift captain, the MSO and anyone else who happens by. Don’t think you can skate through this. You need to know your stuff. You need to know drug dosages. You need to know WHY you give certain drugs. You need to be able to grab gear off the truck without fumbling. Your preceptor is watching to see how much you know, how you handle stress and where your weaknesses are. When you roll out together, some preceptors may want you to just observe how they run calls for the first shift. Others may tell you to run it all while they stand back and observe. It’ll be up to you and your preceptor to find that comfortable groove where you can get great patient care experience and he can guide you in shaping your practice. And if he or she knows you need help with certain skills, they can be right there to help you out with tips and tricks to get it done.

Have some presence. My instructor calls it “Medic Swagger”. You’ve simply got to be decisive in your treatment and interaction. After all, you’re going to be the guy that everyone on scene looks at for answers. There’s nothing worse than being unsure. When your preceptor says, “This guy’s rate is 42, what are you gonna do?” Don’t scratch your head and say, “Uhhh…maybe some Atropne?” That is the wrong answer my friend. If you know it, say it. If don’t know, ask your preceptor. Don’t guess. If you do guess, expect to get grilled on treatment for that situation when you get back to the firehouse. This isn’t something you’ve got to have nailed on your first shift, but soon after you start riding, you’ve got to be able to step up to the plate and be the medic.

After the call, you clean and restock the rig. No questions. Just do it.

Study. There’s going to be downtime at the station. You better have your books with you. Use that downtime to feed your head and prepare for the next class. If your preceptor is a newer medic, chances are he’ll quiz you on some esoteric stuff that you’ll be expected to look up and report back on. No, he’s not picking on you. Well, okay he IS picking on you, but he’s also helping you to learn. And just think, in a few years when you’re precepting a medic student, you can do the same.

Dinner. On some shifts the evening meal is a big deal where the cooking starts just after breakfast. For other shifts, it’s pizza or Thai food ordered in. You’ll need to talk to your preceptor about what’s expected. At the station where I ride the rule is, Medic Students are not expected to cook and are never asked to buy in. The guys there remember what it was like to be a student and how having no money is the norm. I appreciate that, but I always offer. (And yes, I did cook for the crew a couple of nights ago. My roasted chicken with wild rice was received with rave reviews.) If you don’t cook or pay in, you’re still expected to help. Did you hear that? Offer to help! When dinner is done, clean the table and the kitchen and do the dishes. Don’t say anything, just do it.

Coffee. Make sure there is always coffee on. If you’re studying in the kitchen, it’s easy to do. I always throw a couple of bucks into the coffee fund when I’m there. One of my preceptors doesn’t drink coffee, so she always loudly announces to the crew that I can drink her share. The captain on that shift has a constantly full mug, so I make sure there is always a fresh pot on. Remember, it’s a respect thing.

Fitness. Most crews have a period of time during the day set aside for PT. If you’re comfortable working out with the crew, ask if they mind. Most don’t. Some spend their PT time “discussing” department politics, and they may not want you around for that. Don’t be offended. However, you should take an hour out of your day to work out. My firehouse has a great workout room and I spend at least an hour in there every shift.

There’s an old joke in the fire service, “If I wanted your opinion, I would have told you what it was.” While you’re not expected to be silent, it is prudent to keep your yap shut. You have two ears and one mouth, so do twice as much listening. If you’re studying in the kitchen and two firefighters come in talking about something, don’t insinuate yourself into that conversation. If they want to talk to you, they’ll include you. Most times they will. If a discussion becomes heated or turns into a rumor mill discussion, it may be better to quietly pick up your books and head to your bedroom or the bay.

At my station, evenings are pretty mellow. They cross staff a medic unit and engine so we have a small crew, usually three and me, sometimes a crew of five plus me. Around 1900 or so most of the guys settle into their recliners for some TV. Medic Students are never allowed to sit in a recliner unless they are invited. Don’t ever break this rule. You are not there to watch TV. You’re there to study and learn. Now, most preceptors will give you the wave and say, “Hey, put those books away and come over here and sit down.” When I’m invited to watch TV, I do so for a short period and then excuse myself to study more or hit the rack. Be polite, but don’t expect to just hang out and watch the tube. It’s not cool.

Sleeping at the firehouse is tough for some. One guy I know can’t sleep unless he’s almost totally naked. That’s got to be rough. If you’re that guy, don’t make them wait for you. The fireguys have bunker gear to put on, so they can be ready pretty quickly. I usually just sleep in my uniform pants and a t-shirt and throw on a quarter zip with my Student ID for that middle of the night call. I also keep a box of Altoids in my jacket. Mints are always appreciated in the middle of the night. Also, make sure your bed is made neatly and you keep everything orderly in your room.

To clarify, this is MY situation and it may be different for you. ALL of our clinical time is with Fire. There is no separate ALS only service. ALL of our rotations are 24 hour shifts. We spend the entire shift with the crew, and many of the students pull 48’s to meet the criteria for number of required ALS calls, as juggling the required field time with hospital rotations and classes can be difficult. Unlike some Medic programs, we don’t do “ALS Engine Sleepovers.” ALL of our patients are transported by Fire Medic Unit, even the BLS calls, and the medic student has patient contact with every single one of them. I ride the busiest ALS unit in the county and average about 16 calls per shift.

Many of the departments in my area cross staff both an Engine and a Medic Unit.The engine has a full compliment of ALS gear on board but it’s not the primary ALS response unit. However, if the engine rolls on a fire call, the medic student is expected to be on board. If the engine responds to a call that tuns out to be medical, the medic student and preceptor will manage that call to the hospital on a separate medic unit which will be called to the scene to transport.

Your field rotations can be a great learning experience and you can have a lot of fun. Just remember to respect the crews you’re working with, say please and thank you and pitch in on the work. “I’ll do it” is a great attitude to have. I’m sure you’ll do fine. If you have additional tips, put ‘em in the comments section. I’d love to keep this post as a living document for new medic students to refer to.

Wow. It’s been busy!

9 comments

Constant reader, my apologies. I feel simply awful that I’ve neglected you and all of my other my blog readers for the past few weeks.

However, I do have an excuse.

It’s the final couple of weeks of the first quarter of Medic School. That means I’m cramming clinical and ride time in, studying all of the material we’ve covered for the past 3 months and trying to have a little bit of life on the side. It’s tough.

So, I’m sure you’d love to read about what’s been going on… here’s a little recap of the past few weeks.

I’ve shown some marked improvement in my IV skills. It’s simply a Jedi Mind trick. If I visualize the catheter advancing in my mind, it will happen when I do the skill. I also met some great nurses and other medics during my ER rotations that are helping to hone my skills.

The ER rotations are fun for me. I know some of the other guys look at them as a waste of time. “Let me get my sticks and get outta there!” I like talking to the Docs and learning more about how THEY evaluate the patients and what happens after we bring ‘em in. It’s really a great learning experience. I do my last ER shift of the quarter tomorrow morning.

My ride time has been strange, to say the least. I’m riding with a department that has 4 platoons and medics that float from station to station depending on debt days and staffing needs, so I never have the same preceptor. That’s something I’m not really happy about. Although, I guess at this point in my education, it’s more about me learning how they work in the field.

My first 24 was pretty laid back. 2 ALS calls, both very minor. My preceptor told me, “Just do it. If you’re gonna kill someone I’ll stop you.” Not exactly the learning environment I was hoping for. But, all went okay, and I didn’t kill anyone.

I just finished a 24 this morning and it was another strange one. The first medic I was assigned to was very cool and seemed really interested in training and teaching. We really clicked. However, he was only working a couple of hours on a fill, so he left at noon. The senior medic who came in to cover the rest of the shift wanted nothing to do with a student. The third guy on the truck was a precepting medic and he was running all of the calls. It was confusing and a little messy and I just tried to stay out of the way and do what I could. The Captain on the shift said he could send me to another station if I wanted to work with just another medic. By that time it was mid afternoon and I figured I’d just stick it out.

Three ALS calls for the day. A possible CVA, a cardiac arrest and a fall/fracture that was ALS due to pain meds.

The CVA was really a marginal ALS call. The PT had some slurred speech and left arm drift. We did run a 12 lead as she had a history of Afib, got a dexi and we tried to get a line. No success. The transport time was short (under 5 minutes) so I suggested that we just load and go. Nobody disagreed, and off we went, code to the ER.

Shortly after that we responded to an Extended Stay motel for a “Citizen CPR”. Young adult male, unknown down time. Best guess? “Awhile.” The guy was at least 300 pounds and gray when we arrived. He was asystolic on the monitor and that never changed through 40 minutes of ACLS. I did attempt to get the tube, but no dice. The guy was huge. A Mallampati Class 4, no neck and his jaw was pretty rigid from the extended down time. But, I figured I should give it a go. The medic handed me a Mac4. (not my choice. I wanted a Mac3, due to the size of his mouth.) I grabbed a pillow off the bed and crammed it under his shoulders, stuck in the laryngoscope to take a look and couldn’t see the cords. I mean, I couldn’t see nuttin’! He had very little jaw excursion and it was tough even getting a look. One of the other medics switched places with me and just shoved the tube in while I gave some cricoid pressure. He told me he didn’t see the cords either and just went for it, hoping he’d hit the trachea. Good bilat breath sounds and the capnography was showing a good wave form with ventilation. Luck? Experience? Maybe some of both.  I wasn’t comfortable enough to just try and jam a tube in blindly. The guy also had no veins and he wound up getting an IO drilled in each tibia and we pushed drugs that way. We worked him for 40 minutes and after we called it, the story we got from the cops was that he had a history of sleep apnea and took a bunch of Percocet with his buddies … and that was that. Lots of help on this one. There were 4 guys on my Medic Unit and we had an additional Medic Unit and an Engine Company. So aside from the firefighters and cops, there were LOTS of medics on scene. At least four, plus me (the 1/3 medic.)

Later in the afternoon we rolled to a call for a mid 50’s female that fell and dislocated or fractured her ankle. It was on the verge of becoming an open fracture, so we did a pillow splint and got her in the truck. It took a long time to find IV access, as she had no veins. She eventually got a 20 in her hand, some fluid and 10mg of MS that really took the edge off by the time we arrived at the ER. Personally, I think I would have lingered a little longer on scene to get the IV and some pain meds (and maybe some Diazepam) on board before we took that long, bumpy ride to the ER. But that’s a personal preference thing.

The rest of the night was quiet. Pizza for dinner, got a lot of studying in. However, I don’t know if I’ll go back for a ride with that shift again. I guess I just have to take what I can get.

I’ll admit, spending long shifts in a fire station is a little awkward at first. I have a history with Fire, so I know the rules. But, it seems that some of the other students didn’t and that makes it rough for all of us. When you’re a student doing ride time at a fire station, you need to remember you’re a guest in someone else’s house. I’ll write a full blog post on “how to behave during field shifts” in the next day or so. I think it’ll be valuable to anyone who is nervous or unsure about what to expect and how to act. The EMS part is easy… it’s what you do for the other 22 hours that you need to think about. Here’s a couple of big tips; don’t argure with your preceptor and always do the dishes!

Okay then… Today is Sunday so that means some football, some studying and early bedtime to get up and ready for my final ER shift in the morning.

Practical makes perfect.

3 comments

Wednesday is lab day at medic school. Most of the people in my class groan on Wednesday, because everyone knows it’s a day where you have to have all of your ducks in row and you’re expected to be able to treat patients appropriately. We worked through 6 stations today including assessment, static cardiology, electrical therapy, med math, intubation practice and more IVs.

Maybe I’m weird, but I love Wednesdays. When I do a lab practical, I look at the whole thing as a game. The objects are simple: Follow all the rules, get as many points as you can, don’t step off the cliff with a critical fail and allow your “paramedic presence” to grow.

I think my two favorite practical stations are Medical Patient Assessment and Static Cardiology. Anyone who’s been through medic school knows the drill. For patient assessment the proctor gives you a scenario and follows along with the National Registry check sheet. Fun! Static Cardiology is just “read ‘em and treat ‘em.” You’ll be handed a sheet with some info and a strip.

78 year old man, weak and dizzy for past hour. HR: 52, BP: 112/62, Resp: 14

Brady

Now, go! You’ve got to identify the rhythm, and treat him appropriately. Do 4 of those in under 6 minutes.

Yeah, I know it’s beginner stuff but it’s still simply a blast. I love this class.