buckeyedoc

I've applied for the 2007 class. I will be knocking out my pre-reqs when the kids start school. Doc

The ER that I worked in had a 2 squads from the same agency pull in. They walked in together. The charge nurse (well, she's not now) decided to turn both of them away and send them to another hospital. Unfortunately, the squads did leave and go to another hospital. Fortunately, the patients were not critical. The charge nurse from the other receiving hospital called made the call. The nurse was relieved of her duties.

I've gotten in the habit of grabbing the first nurse I see and start giving report in the hallway. I usually hear, "I'm not his/her nurse." My reply to that, "Well, you are now." I don't play games when I walk in the ER.

In the back of the bus (ambulance), we use a little device that has been all the rage lately. I've only used it once on an obese pt. and it worked well. I don't see too many hospitals going out and buying these for their units. http://www.veinlite.com/product.html#Veinlite%2520LED

Actually, the BLS for Healthcare Provider is the card issued for CPR/AED's for healthcare providers (hence the name). AHA offers Heartsaver First Aid/CPR for laypersons. As far as I know, all persons in direct patient contact have BLS for Healthcare Provider. The BLS doesn't refer to an EMS certification. BLS is just a general term. The BLS/ALS in reference to EMS is a totally different animal. It determines the scope of practice the individual EMT's (whether they are Basics, Intermediates or Paramedics).

My wife is an RN for the ER on the weekend work program. She works Sat. and Sun. I am a paramedic who works 24 on 72 off. We have 3 kids (7, 5 and 11 months). We are fortunate that we don't have too many conflicts with childcare. Our parents are close and help out when needed. Our 2 oldest kids are actually from my first marriage. My wife is a wonderful mom to her step-kids. So much that the kids want to live with us and not their mother. We stopped by the other night at the ER to drop off dinner to my wife and Hannah, the 7 year old, asked my wife if she would teach her how to be a nurse. She said that she wanted to be a nurse just like Em when she got older. It would be hard with the kids if we didn't have the schedules that we do. We are blessed to work the shifts we do.

Ginger, Let me address your incident first. There is absolutely NO excuse for not having this pt. on a LBB. I am a paramedic in Ohio and a minor cannot refuse ANY treatment whatsoever without a parent being present. The medic has opened himself and his department for a negligence lawsuit. I would not want this person treating me. You were right in confronting the EMS crew; HOWEVER, we've always been taught, "There's a time and a place..." and perhaps in front of the patient was the right time or place. I know the EMS crew accused you of doing that, but it doesn't sound like you did. Just my observation. Ok, now on to the bolded text above. Re-read that paragraph if you would. If this guy is "not even an EMT, paramedic or nurse", how can he be a "volunteer with alleged BLS training?" He is either an EMT-B, EMT-I, or EMT-P. In Ohio, I don't know of a flight service who uses anyone less than a paramedic. There might be one, but I doubt it very seriously. I've worked 14 years in fire/EMS in SW Ohio and NE Ohio. Then again, he could have been pulling your chain as well. Volunteer or career, his pt. care is atrocious. Whether you're a volunteer or career paramedic doesn't determine your professionalism. For the record (and this isn't directed at anyone in particular), those men and women who come in the ambulance ARE NOT ambulance drivers. They have schooling and training. Treat them with respect.

I am a paramedic who transports to about 10 hospitals. There are a couple of them that we walk into knowing we are going to have to wait to get a room. It doesn't matter whether the pt. is in full blown CHF or has a hang nail, the nursing staff acts as if there are more important things to do, i.e.-chatting with co-workers. It's not uncommon to have 2-3 squads waiting for a room when there are 8 sitting empty and they're at full staffing.

My name is Kevin and I'm a 32 year old paramedic. My wife is an RN and I will be entering nursing school soon. Buckeyedoc comes from a the state I'm in (Ohio, the Buckeye state) and what the Marines call their corpsmen (doc).