Working With New Medics

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As pretty much a new (to 911) EMT, I've had a few instances where Im becoming leary of working with newer medics, being as niether one of us has much experience to draw from, it concerns me.

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[southerndoc]

Two newbs should never been placed on the truck together. It invites catastrophe.

 

[12R34Y]

Couldn't agree more.

Service I worked at would absolutely NOT let two newbies work together. One of them has to have at least been working full-time for a year in the field prior to being partnered with somebody who has been there less than a year.

Usually, the crews were divided into dinosaurs (10+ years experience) and a newbie.

Of course, when you have over 150 medics to work with you can mix and match pretty well.

Might have a hard time if in a small or rural service.
May be unavoidable to place two inexperienced folks together.


later

 

[OSUdoc08]

Couldn't agree more.

Service I worked at would absolutely NOT let two newbies work together. One of them has to have at least been working full-time for a year in the field prior to being partnered with somebody who has been there less than a year.

Usually, the crews were divided into dinosaurs (10+ years experience) and a newbie.

Of course, when you have over 150 medics to work with you can mix and match pretty well.

Might have a hard time if in a small or rural service.
May be unavoidable to place two inexperienced folks together.


later

My first week as a paramedic:

I was sent to a dyspnea patient that turned into a CPR in the middle of the yard on the way to the ambulance in a very rural area with no first responders. The EMT had 3 shifts' experience.

Fortunately, I had been an EMT for a couple of years, and had some idea what I was doing.

 

[Jambi]

The ambulance company I used to work for (think "the Walmart of ambulance companies") had a policy, at least in my area about having new employees working together on 911 ambulances (BLS they didn't care about), either the medic or the EMT could be new (<1 year) but never both. It's never good to have two newbies together when both are still feeling out there new roles.

An "old" medic will "keep" the new EMT in-line and show them the ropes.
An "old" EMT knows when to speak up, knows when to keep quiet, and knows how to say the right things.

 

[Jambi]

I was sent to a dyspnea patient that turned into a CPR in the middle of the yard on the way to the ambulance in a very rural area with no first responders. The EMT had 3 shifts' experience.

Learning to be an EMT is hard, being a new medic is harder, being a new medic with a new EMT sounds like a nightmare for both. 😛