I’ve been swamped with school stuff, so here’s the quick update for all 3 readers.
1) I was checked off for field/OR intubations. Only 4 out of the 24 people in my class had technique good enough to be checked off this time around. Kinda scary. On a rubber “Fred the Head” it’s not all that difficult. It all changes out on the street. Feel free to read this blurb on Airway Management and some thoughts on medics NOT being allowed to intubate.
I don’t understand why some medics let their Ego eat their Brain. Frankly, if there’s something better and easier … I’m all for it. I don’t care if it’s an ETT or a King or a Combi. If it gets me a patent, secured airway, I’m all over it. Who I am is not tied to the skills I can perform. And yes, I feel if endotracheal intubation is going to remain in my scope of practice, I must be competent. If that means I need to get 12 good tubes a year, or continuing education, so be it.
2) I’m flying to a beautiful part of the country this weekend with my wife. She has a great job opportunity and the head honcho from company that wants to hire her wants to meet me, as well. So, they’re flying us in, putting us up and doing everything they can to make sure we like the place. Having been there before, I think we will. If she takes the job, I’ll stay here and finish school and sell the house. By the way, the place we’re visiting has an outstanding Third Service EMS agency, and they’re looking for medics. So, that’s a BIG positive.
3) As part of the airway discussion mentioned above, the EMS 2.0 thing is fired up again and everybody in the blogoshpere is weighing in with their opinion. Where is EMS as a profession going? Some say MORE medics, some say fewer medics. Some say fewer skills for basics, others say more skills for basics. Up the educational requirements or keep them the same. Christ, it all makes my head hurt. I will, at some point soon, fully weigh in with my take on where EMS should go … after all, I am one of the “soon to be new medics that will be working to drive the process forward.” I just don’t have the time to do it now. I’m working on committing drugs and dosages to memory, and that’s a little more important.
4) I’m picking my agencies for ride alongs next week. I’ll let you know how that goes, too.
Jane here,
I have not looked at the EMS 2.0 site. From my own experience, all I can say is that all EMTs, every level; B,I, or Paramedic need to refocus on the A the B and the C. This brings the ego, the Ricky Rescues, the stupid, and the lazy back to earth.
I would have been a better EMT if I focused more on ABC. If those are in working order, then it’s all good. My partner and I did not miss much, but the one we screwed the pooch on was a classic ABC miss and we spent to much time on other things. Like talking. The guy died because we let him tell us what he wanted instead of us telling him what he needed.
So, how did the test go, eh? Congratulations on the intubations. They came very easily to me as well. Hope your ride alongs are smashing (brilliant and fun)!
That last quiz was odd… Not at all what we had been told would be covered, so we all studied the wrong stuff. Still think I passed… But, who knows.
As for the intubations, I’ve found steady and precise is the key. The guys that try to go too fast always screw it up. 30 seconds is a LONG time to tube a rubber head. I figure, I’ve got plenty of time. Now we’ll see how it goes on real people.
Thanks for the good wishes on the ridetime. I’m excited to get it started.