Fireguy

I thought they portrayed the Paramedic more like a flunky then a health care professional. Too bad - I really enjoy the show but am frequently amazed at how "off" it is. Like a gaggle of surgeons hanging outside the ER waiting to pick-off the scraps. :chuckle A sidenote to the bazooka episode - when I was in the navy working in Radiology I came across a film (x-ray) that showed a mortar round in a guys chest cavity. The Chief told me that the film was shot in Viet Nam, it was a marine who had the round drop on him without detonating. The story is that the surgeon removed it while operating with his hands inserted through sandbags.

Puhleeze!!!!! Stay with the pt to the ER 'cause you can't hand them over to an EMT!?!?!?! Huhlo, you must not have a decent EMS system there! I am a lowly firefighter/emt (with over 30 years of experience, despite the limited training the navy hospital corps gave me) and have had doctors hand over pts at an accident because they cannot deal with the pressure of working outside the sterile and controlled hospital environment! And I have had fine nurses who stopped to help and were happy as clams to hand over pts to ems. In fact, by law, in my district the fire department is responsible (under the county medical director) for all ems; superceding some doc who happens to stop by. I can recall being called to doctors offices many times because, let's face it, an experienced emt has done more defibrilation then most docs in private practice. Not to mention actually being called to the er for a cpr call! And just for the wind-up, I have stopped to help (off-duty) and been alone, caring for multiple red pts, anxiously waiting for someone to drive by (pre-cell phones, of course) and was very happy to see the volunteers arrive on seen. However, I did not feel compelled to jump in the helocopter and go to the er as I could not surrender my pt to a flight medic! Gimme a break!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just adding my 2-bits: Except for a few months in boot camp, I have had a mustache for 35 years. My kids have never seen me without it (when my wife saw me without it, she freaked-out and wanted it back pronto!). It is part of my identity, has aged along with the rest of me (from multi-colors of red, blonde and brown to pure white). Just wanting to give some perspective from a man's point of view... That said, I too have dealt with men with some fairly cruddy messes in their 'stache. If it was truly a pain to have to deal with, I would suggest just trimming the shaggy parts that droop over the mouth (with the appropriate permission). Live and learn 8>)

I am a firefighter/emt and looking at "retirement" (see my post in the male nurse forum). With a background as a navy hospital corpsman, nuclear medicine tech and 30 years as an emt (on the mean streets of a seattle suburb :chuckle ) I thought I would go back to some type of clinical or missionary medicine. I have friends who are RNs and encouraged me to go that route but yesterday I was getting a pre-op (that's another story ) by a PA who encouraged me to look into that. So I am trying to detemine which path would give me more options and suit my personality best. Also, I am researching ASN vs BSN. I have an opportunity to get a BS in Public Administration which could probably help me into an accelerated BSN program. However, I'm not all jazzed about taking a bunch of boring business classes...but...would it be worth it? I need all the input I can get! Thanks! :chuckle

Thanks for your response. I was looking at the forum about career info and that prompts another question. It is possible for me to get my BS in Public Administration through my current employer. I really didn't want to take a bunch of boring classes (again!), however, if I had my BS in PA I would think it would help me into an accellerated BSN program. Obviously it would help in admin - I just don't know that I wish to go that route. So maybe this discussion should move to another forum, as you advise.... Thanks - Doug

Hey Ya'll, thanks for the responses. I am not currently under any restrictions, however, after blowing out L3-5 I tend to be very cautious when lifting! Having done my "ward coolie" time back in my early hospital corps days, I feel I can deal with the lifting usually associated with patient care. I also have RA but that is more painful with stuff like weight-lifting (curls and such). I really would like to hear about specialty options that would work for me. Thanks - Doug

Hi Guys, Please refer to my post under the intro page for details. In short, I am an old firefighter/EMT that is getting close to retirement thinking of the future. Our pension does not provide medical and it is not a whole lot of income (no lazy days of loafing andgolf for me!). So I am off to a new career of some type and have seriously considered getting my RN. I was a Hospital Corpsman for 6 years and graduated from Nuclear Medicine Tech school, working about 3 years in the field. I became bored with it and ended up in emergency medicine. I have spent over 25 years in the fire service, worked for about 5 years in the Training Division and administered our EMS program as well. I have an Associates in Fire Command and Administration but no other actual degrees (over 200 hours from Nuclear Medicine and Hospital Administration, but never finished the degree program). I have met a few male RNs in my time and one of our Paramedics is an RN with a temp business on the side. He really encouraged me to look into getting a 2 year RN and doing temp work. It sounds like it could be a great way to go as my wife and I enjoy traveling. I am also considering missionary medicine as an option, as we are Christians and want to help those in need. My concern is that I have some physical issues (including RA and blown discs) that preclude me from heavy lifting. I am trying to see what kind of nursing specialties would be compatible for my personality and abilities. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!