Progress

Saturday marked my official half-way point in training with this new job. A week of orientation dragged by, and then I had my first full week out on the road. It's been interesting so far, a lot of ups and downs. But I'm loving it. I don't know how you all keep up with work, blogging, reading other people's blogs, twittering, etc etc. I'm only doing 40 hours a week right now, but it feels like all I've been doing is driving, working, learning, studying maps, and more driving. The main thing I have to work on is moving patients laterally. I've got the strength, but somehow my technique is not quite right and I'm having a hard time. I have yet to have any actual 9-1-1 calls. :-\ So far I've had all transfers. I guess I never realized just how much of those ambulance companies do. Oh, and get this. I cannot, for the life of me, back up or parallel park my own tiny car. But give me a huge ambulance and I've got no problem. How does that work?

I will write more later, I'm off two days this week so I should have time to get some of my thoughts together. But I just wanted to write a short note to say that I am alive and things are moving along!

Stay safe out there.

Closer

This past week I worked my last day at the bookstore, and I can honestly say I am glad to be out of there! I also talked with someone from my EMT class who got hired by the same company as I did. They started there a couple weeks ago, so I was asking them how things were going and such.

Unfortunately, what they had to say was not good. Things about the company, the staff, the training, their policies... Granted, everything that was shared with me was from this person's perspective. So far my interactions with this company have been pleasant (for the most part) and so I was a bit shocked to hear some of the things this person had to share.

Needless to say, I'm getting a bit more anxious about Monday morning. But, alas. What can you do? I won't know anything for sure until I show up next week, go through my own orientation and training, and find out for myself. And either way, I'm still beyond excited!

Until then, any pointers/tips or words of wisdom for the newbie? :)

Also, I ended up getting a (pink) Littmann Classic II SE. Someone decided to get it for me as a gift, which was an unexpected delight!

Oh, and as you can tell the blog has got a new look. I got bored with the other layout. We'll see how long this one will last.

I got a job!!

Yupp. November 30th... The first day of my new job!!

I'm excited. And nervous. But, definitely excited. :)

I'll finally be a full-time EMT working with a good ambulance company. Yeah!

And I'll be sure to write more substantial posts in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.


Oh, and if you haven't heard about or checked out the Chronicles of EMS, you can go here, here or here. What they're doing is awesome. (Be sure to follow them on twitter and youtube too!)

Stethoscope?

Okay, so I know I asked this in one of my very first posts, but I wanted to ask one more time before I go ahead and buy something. I am (finally!) going to be getting a stethoscope [one that doesn't fall apart when you look at it] and want to know what kind you suggest?

The Littmann Classic II SE is what some people said so far. But then I've had a few people who work in EMS swear by the Littmann Cardiology III because of the acoustics. And, finally, someone mentioned Ultrascope as being a good one too.

Have you tried or do you use either of these?

Why you do...

...what you do.

What made you want to get into the field you are in today?

Tuesday

I apologize (again) for the lack of posts recently. Just been busy with work and filling out applications, trying to get a job in the world of EMS. In fact, I just got off the phone and have my first interview on Tuesday the 27th! Though now I'm super nervous. I've had interviews before, but this one is bigger. More important. Any tips or words of wisdom? :-)

The Results Are In

And... I'm a certified EMT!!

YEAH!!