EMTs Ever Look at You Like You're Dumb?

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Farawyn

12,646 Posts

Lol "your people" :woot:

wolf9653

209 Posts

Specializes in Psych,LTC,.

I would think it good to check the individual kids history before calling the EMT's. They need a good report. And there might be something in the history that is important to the situation in some cases. .

I'm a new school nurse at a High School, and more than once I've felt that they look at me like I'm dumb. The funny thing is that the nurse who oriented me told that they do that (lol)

Earlier, they came in to take a student to the hospital to get checked out because his pupils were the size of the moon (suspected drug abuse) and he was non responsive, EMT asked me if I knew his history, I said no, he replied "Oh so you're not the nurse",

.... Uh yes I am, excuse me if I don't know the history of my 300+ students :nono::cyclops:

So yeah, I only know if I'm in front of my computer. Ugh. Plus I don't really know what to do when they come in, I just let them take over. Maybe I shouldn't ? Eh I don't know. lol

Specializes in ICU, Postpartum, Onc, PACU.

If you get to know a student or the ones with a history of medical problems, I don't think that's too much to ask, but even then, do they expect you to also know about the home lives of these kids?

Good grief. They're expecting it to be like a transfer from a hospital where we may have had the pt for a day or two so we will know that stuff. Usually the same EMTs/Paramedics end up responding to certain places/areas so next time you have one of them ask you that, say "Yes, I'm the school nurse, but unless I've had time to look the information up before you get here, I don't know everything about him/her. What would you like to know for next time?" That type of thing.

They may still act like that and you can't help that, but aside from learning about the usual suspects, I wouldn't think there's too much more you could do.

xo

SnowyJ, RN

844 Posts

I try to at least have vitals to report, know allergies, and brief medical history.

They usually don't care to hear it, but I report it anyway.

Yeah, I've seen the 'tude, but they are MY students, and I will report to them appropriately, then step aside.

EMS-RN

8 Posts

Having worked on both sides of the fence I'll simply (sadly) say, they're not trained to look at nurses like they're dumb...they've just repeatedly responded to SO many calls where the RNs gave them reasons to develop those attitudes. Not saying their general attitudes toward us is right, but we're the ones responsible for developing their attitudes of us.

I spent well over a decade on the bus (and still do) before I became an RN. I can't begin to tell you how many calls I've responded to where the nurse was clueless about the patient's situation, or had put a NRB mask on the patient (flowing at 2 LPM), or had a patient in full blown approaching a need for intubation respiratory failure and was having a fit because we wanted to give more than 2 LPM O2 to them 'cause they had COPD. I've seen many (literally hundreds) of miserable failures of employing basic BLS by staff.

I have also encountered nurses who have done everything right and gave quick concise reports nailing all the pertinent info. We notice and appreciate those. I regretfully have to say those experiences for us seem to be rare exceptions.

If you don't like the stereotype, don't be the stereotype. That's the only way to change opinions. We are responsible for developing their attitudes toward us. We are responsible to reverse it.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

Having worked on both sides of the fence I'll simply (sadly) say, they're not trained to look at nurses like they're dumb...they've just responded to so

Whatever makes them feel better. :sarcastic:

EMS-RN

8 Posts

SnowyJ, RN....

What happened, What's been done, Main/pertinent Hx, Main/pertinent meds, Allergies, latest V/S.

Thank you...I *sincerely* mean that...Thank you.

I wish all reports were like that.

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

I would think it good to check the individual kids history before calling the EMT's. They need a good report. And there might be something in the history that is important to the situation in some cases. .

This is not always possible in a school environment. If I am called to a classroom because a student has begun to seize or becomes unresponsive, I will not be leaving the student's side and I am the only one with access to private health information. Ideally, by this time I have another adult there (teacher, admin) who is calling the parent who can provide a quick history.

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

If you don't like the stereotype, don't be the stereotype. That's the only way to change opinions. We are responsible for developing their attitudes toward us. We are responsible to reverse it.

Do you like embodying the sterotype of the condescending EMT?

SnowyJ, RN

844 Posts

Well, recently I had a student with extreme stridor, Sat in the 80's, anxious...The more anxious he became, the more stridorous he became. And wide eyed, and resp rate increasing.

I had called mom who said she was going to "try" to get here in 45 mins. (Ummm..No.)

So I called it. I have been a nurse for 30 years...I know kid's airways can obstruct VERY quickly. And once it's gone, it's gone. I was taking no chances.

When EMS got here, they were very dismissive of his symptoms. They didn't even put O2 on him. They hesitated about transporting or not. He was in the ER for a few hours. MD said "viral." He was given albuterol neb.

I have ZERO regrets in calling them. But I was treated as if I was an alarmist.

A child's safe airway will always trump the inappropriate attitude of an EMT any day.

EMS-RN

8 Posts

Kidzcare... No, and I make an effort to thank staff regardless of the quality of the report or what they managed to do. Being nice costs $0.

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

Kidzcare... No, and I make an effort to thank staff regardless of the quality of the report or what they managed to do. Being nice costs $0.

That's great! I hope you are also proactive and respectfully call out your coworkers if they start to develop the attitude you described.

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