Dave123

LOL. I like a nice smile Dave

Most guys I know do not really care. We think on a much more primitive level;) Not to say we won't look though. But the actual topic solution is to do what you can and then you have done all you can. Just my opinion Dave

Its a funny thing you mentioned that. I always wear cartoon or some strange type of boxers under my scrubs. Now its a "thing" to be asked to show what I have on today :-) I know where I work there is a group of us, about 1/2 the ER staff that are VERY friendly and always showing all sorts of new things to each other. My wife says if we were any more friendly we would be passing DNA She works in the same hospital and always hears about our antics down there. That sounds like a new fun topic Dave

I am kind of wondering what the problem is Just my opinion Dave

Hey man, a staffing problem is just the way the game is played. I don't have the answers to your staffing problems. But I think your question was simply how well does it work putting paramedics into an ER that practices team concept care? You wanted to hear from people who have experience with it. Well I do and as I told you, I am not a fan. If it works for you then thats great, for "you". You know what they about asking questions. Just my opinion Dave

I know its a tad late but I wanted to throw my opinion in as we have them assigned to the ER. CEN35- I know you didn't want it to turn into a bash fest but this topic carries with it strong emotions both ways. But you did ask. We have 15 paramedics, 22 basic EMTs, 7 LPNs, 14 RNs, 4 PAs, 10 Docs. So I think I have lots of experience as to how well it works. I will simply say I am NOT a fan of it. If you want to know more Email me and I will be happy to tell you why. Just my opinion Dave

I have both enjoyed and been extremely frustrated by government service. The system it self is bad because it is practically impossible to get rid of a lazy worker and the intricate web of government red tape can be frustrating. At times it does seem like everyone is just trying to ***** the soldier. But I serve the VERY best people. For me this is what I like, I help take care of the soldiers and thier families who have made everything we have possible. Once you learn the system you can really help them by sort of manipulating the system to get them what they need. Now that TriCare (for profit Corp) has taken over management. We like to call Tricare (try to get care). I get to talk with people who were there on D-Day, or had ships torpedoed out from under them in the North Alantic. Those that were there at the "Frozen Chosen" in Korea, and were there at Khe San. For me yes it does frustrate me at times but I love being able to take of my fellow vets and there families because they have given more than most.

I think that the nursing field needs to seriously look into developing its own emergency pre-hospital training with its own certification and get the legislation pushed through. They did with NP. I have worked in both the ems field and the nursing field and if we could merge the two it would be great. Some will say that there is already a program out there "paramedic", but I feel we need our own program. Something like "Field Trauma Nurse" because it could be a great "NURSE" expansion area.

I can only speak for myself but in the ER I feel like I get the independence and respect I've earned. I do not have to ask to do many things and in many cases the doc's and PA's expect it to be already done. By the time they hear about a CP, the ekg, line, labs,o2, is done and PCXR is coming and if need be i am already prepping the drug lines depending on the ekg. I get to suture, splint, cast, order-entry, if I see a fx or infiltrare on a film I just tell what I saw and they always are greatful, if someone needs a film I just send them. They are greatful for input and ideas concerning diagnosis and tx. I like it that its fast paced and always changing. One minute its a impaled fish hook (that I took out) and the next its bacterial meningitis or a GSW. I like that you have to be able to do many things at once and to be always thinking. Plus as an added bonus (at least in the facility I work in) no matter what, they either go "OTD", transfered, admitted, or get "T&B", but they don't stay in the ER. Another thing is I do think that male nurses get more respect in the ER than thier female peers and usually when its an all male crew on, the ER really rocks. Sometimes it gets to be alittle too much fun.......but that all just a part of it. As for the short staffing, does anyone here have a full one? I know we have paramedics (which is a problem in its self) as well as aids or medics working on the team and it really helps out.

I was active duty army for many years and just recently got out. I was in both the aviation field and medical field. The previous poster is correct that the Army slots 91Bs (emts/paramedics) for thier rotary wing medevac. IMHO it is the correct decision to do so. Like everything though I was fortunate to get to fly quite a few medevac missions but only because I was assigned to Ft. Greely Alaska and the nearest hospital was Ft.Wainwright (118 miles away) and the physican wanted a nurse on board for the "what if possibiltiy" because of the remote area and harsh enviorment. While overseas I caught many rides or "hops" on Airforce medevac flights and they were always staffed with RNs. The real thing to decide is the miltary service decision. Think long on it prior. While I enjoyed serving soldiers and my country, it is not for everyone.