Taking Responsiblity

As Paramedic school was coming to a close, it became apparent which students were "getting it" and which really weren't. There is something that I can say that I observed about those that seemed to have more trouble than the rest.


They always had an excuse.

I never heard someone who was really having trouble with rhythm recognition say "I will take responsibility for my own learning"

Of course, that is a really strange thing for someone to say...but there always seemed to be extrinsic factors regarding learning, with the course, the teacher, the book, the tests, or the rhythms themselves.

To future paramedic students, my advice in regards to this is that when you crash and burn (you will). Learn from that experience and find ways for you to improve, don't just blame it on factors outside of your control.

Also, if banging your head against the wall doesn't help you retain material, stop banging your head against the wall.

Flash cards were the suggestion for learning pharmacology.

Flash cards didn't work for me.

I stopped using flash cards.

I didn't blame the flash cards, or the people who told me to use flash cards, I didn't blame the fact that we spent slim to nil amount of time on the material in class.

I found something else that worked for me.

What I learned about Hospital Clinicals (Part II)

Pay Attention to the Nurses that enjoy the help

There are going to be some nurses that for one reason or another will have no problem having a paramedic student start every single IV for them and push any medications that they need to.

These nurses are the best, but don't mess things up.

Keep your ears open to how you can help these nurses more. Changing sheets, taking vitals, whatever. That brings us to the next point...

Make sure the nurses that don't give you opportunities see how much (more) you are helping the nurses that are

Don't be obvious, blunt, verbal, or a jerk about it. But if the stick-in-the-mud nurses see how much easier you can make their job, they might open up more.

Graduated

Yesterday I took my finals (practical and written), and I passed.

I am officially graduated from Paramedic School.

My NR Practical Exam is scheduled July 8th, and I will be scheduling the Written Exam as soon as my Program gets the ducks in a row.


I will probably find some time to put some more posts up with my copious amounts of free time.