"Hey, kid...deep breath. Focus."
It was amazing to watch the effect my single comment had on the quality of his patient care. It was like a flip was switched, and his mind and body jumped out of overdrive, and I could see him remember why he was there and what he had to do beyond spike the IV bag and get the assist.
Then about five seconds after I watched the effect of my comment hit him, the effect of my comment turned around and hit me: in this situation I was no longer the "sparky", no longer the EMT that got jacked up over every big call, and I became the EMT that others look to for guidance.
After the call, the probie found me as I was wiping down the cot outside of the EMS room: "Thanks," he said, "I really needed that in there. You, know, to refocus and stuff." That simple "thanks" may have been the most rewarding moment of my career thus far.
I will be hitting my two year mark of being in EMS in two months, and am becoming a preceptor in two weeks; it's kind of strange to think about just how much the tides have turned.
Receiving a "thanks" is always nice from colleagues lord knows that receiving them from patients are few and far between, but they do happen once in a blue moon.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first call back in 1994 (god I am getting old) like it was yesterday. Little old lady called 911 at 2am because she was lonely wanted some people over to have tea and cookies with. I thought to myself on that first call this is what I studied my A** off for?!?! Where are the car wrecks? Where are people who's life I will save?
Well over the past sixteen years I have had my fair share. You and I are lifer's to EMS (There is one caveat to this for you though). As you develop yourself becoming a preceptor, attend more classes, and do more calls. There will come a time I promise you. You will hit a crossroad and most likely it will be after a call. You will need to decide if you can do the job anymore. No matter how much you prepare for it you will not be ready.
My crossroad came about six years ago. I first responded to a call for a two month old not breathing. I arrived and had to perform CPR on this little lifeless body while I waited 15 minutes for an ambulance from a neighboring town to arrive the baby did not make it. (I still shed a tear every time I think about it). A call like this will mentally f*ck you up. You will not be able to sleep, eat, you will replay the incident over and over in your head. You will wonder if you did everything possible to save this child even though you probably did. This call might end the career for you it has for others and it almost did it for me.
Just do not forget that there is always a support network around between CISM and your peers. They will get you through it if you let them, and if I am still around when it happens you will always have a shoulder to cry on. We are the bastard children of public safety an evil necessity. There is no brotherhood like there is with firefighter and police.
I have no doubt that you will do great in this field. The bug has bitten you like it has the other select few, and although you will get that life changing call one day. There will be more than enough calls that will make it all worth it.
Stay Safe,
Jay
Its great...
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