Scary Point

I am at an interesting point in my paramedic training, I know just enough to be very dangerous. I have learned just how much ignorance I actually have working as an EMT, but have not learned all I need to be a paramedic. This creates the situation where I hesitate when working as an EMT because I don't have the tools to use the information I now have. I am glad that most of the calls I am on are fairly straight forward and BLS has been enough, but am looking forward to having the tools to go with the knowledge. I think that is the best part of being a paramedic student, knowing that when it is over and done with I will have more and better tools to help people when they call. I have also grown to have much more respect for the paramedics I have worked with because now I have a much better idea of how they function.

A Good Example

I was in class on Monday and had a fantastic instructor discussing RSI, he made it very clear that it is not something to be taken lightly, but not a skill we should be greatly afraid of performing when a patient needs RSI.  He also admitted that is ok to recognize that you may be a little afraid everytime you are faced with doing RSI simply because the patient is in very serious trouble and there are great risks for both you and the patient involved. I appreciate when an instructor is that honest about himself and what I may face in a situation or have go through my mind.
I think that what made him a such a good instructor is that he has passion about being a paramedic and an instructor and he was not afraid to show it. He is a good example of the kind of Paramedic I hope to be.

Some Beginning Thoughts

I find myself continually wondering what kind of paramedic do I want to be? What does it take to be a good paramedic? What will it take to make me a good paramedic? These thoughts run through my mind and hopefully as I progress through my training I can find some answers. I have uncovered part of the answer already, a good paramedic is one who never wants to stop learning.