Ski Patrol nurses?

I have been a member of the NSPS for 40 years. I started when I was 14. I am a volunteer. We have no pro patrollers at our mountain. There is a significant difference in function depending on what type of patroller you are (vollie vs pro). I have been a nurse for 30 years. The roles are very different but are often complimentary. My nursing has given me an edge in assessment skills over my non-medical patroller peers. Patrol honed my critical thinking skills at a young age but will do the same at any age. Because I was a patroller before I became a nurse I do not find separating the two roles difficult but some of my peers who became patrollers after being nurses have a difficult time with that aspect. The scope of a patroller is very small but absolutely must be abided. We, however, do much with very little especially when EMS is delayed. It is important to know your state's laws. For example, supplemental O2 is available but can only be used by order of a physician or if the patroller is and EMT-B or a medic. I happen to also be a medic so I can use it but if I wasn't I would not be allowed. The educational program we use is Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC or "Wec" for short). It's really too involved to adequately explain but here's an example of the kind of care we render.

https://www.togskipatrol.org/OEC%20Refreshers/Refresher%20Workbook%202016%20OEC%20Cycle%20C.pdf

I would describe the education to be similar to EMT-B without a few things (medication administration, intubation and scene command as applied to EMS). It's down and dirty care for sure. I've loved my years doing it. I retired from it this year as the hourly requirement was getting ridiculous for a volunteer job.

I think it is a worthwhile venture and would be a very good thing for your son. I learned so much about not only medical issues but dealing with the public, self-control (remember I was only 14 when I started), personal responsibility, communication, facing fear, leadership and a multitude of other things.

Oh and forget the Maslow and Erikson stuff. Totally irrelevant and will get you laughed off the hill.

You mean if I tell the injured he's in the Integrity vs. Despair stage, it won't be of enormous help?

Thanks! I've been doing some online research and can't find an OEC class in our area. There is a Red Cross class and REI offers a wilderness medicine class as well. I may have to actually pick up the telephone and call them.

I agree, this would be great for my son. Requires a pretty hefty up-front investment, but I think more than worth it in the long-run.

I was skiing with the volunteer patrol for a while. I was planning to take the outdoor emergency class, but they were always always on the weekends and I never got enough notice of when the class would be to get the time off from work, so I gave up the idea.

They told me I wouldn't have to take the entire class, as a nurse I could skip part of it, but I had wanted to take the whole thing anyway. I made it to one class, but couldn't work it out schedule wise...

I work with a nurse who is also a professional ski patroller in winter.

Hee hee! Yes and then they will make you buy a round for being a tool.

OEC is only offered by the NSPS and is the only course they accept. You would have to take it through your local patrol. I am an OEC instructor. I would recommend that you don't try to test out. You won't pass. There's too much information/skills that we don't learn as nurses. Even medics struggle with it a little. As for the cost, it really is worth it and some is tax deductible. The intangibles are invaluable.

Check with your local patrol. They may have a "ski-along" program. We do. It's sort of formalized shadowing. You are assigned a patroller and ski several shifts with them. That way you can get a good feel about what we do and they can assess your skills. Nothing worse than accepting a candidate only to find out they can't ski or ride for $*#t.

Be aware that the environment is often, uh, testosterone heavy. Always professional with patients of course but as a female you can expect some good-natured off-color jokes. The flip side of that is if any skier harasses you or you get hurt there will be about 10 guys at your side in a hot second.

Thanks for the info! Our local hill has a weird setup. There's a class you take through them the first year and then the second year, you take OEC. Their website isn't particularly informative on this and it's unclear whether we should go through the local chapter of the NSP or directly through them. Again, may have to pick up the phone. Also, they don't mention anything about a junior patrol. My son will be 17 in December. I tried to e-mail them for more info from the page, but it bounced back.

I'm actually pretty excited to take the medic and first aid classes. It's my riding skills I'm more concerned with at this point.

20 years patrolling, OEC instructor, 14 years as a nurse.

If there is only one option for patrolling, check with that patrol director as far as requirements and expectations. They differ from hill to hill.

Almost all require the NSP OEC certification. Some don't. My mountain will let other certifications patrol for a season, then test OEC. So, many medics, docs, nurses, EMT's, WFRs, etc... never actually take the OEC course. But, we are a high volume, high acuity operation, and do extensive on-hill training, regardless of whether a candidate has a brand-new-OEC-never-seen-a-patint, a trauma surgeon, or a medic. After training with us, and a year and a half patrolling, they challenge, and pass, OEC.

Your nursing experience will definitely make you a better patroller, but, as one of my fellow patrollers mentioned, won't help you pass the OEC exam.

The patrol director will definitely be your best source of information.

I like patrolling.

• I have my own locker.
  
• Season pass for me and my wife, good at several mountains.
  
• Pro deals on gear.
  
• Free tunes, and periodic favors from the shop.
  
• 1/2 price food on the hill.
  
• Ski for an hour before the public.
  
• Ski closed trails.
  
• Help fellow skiers having a bad day.
  
• Every now and then, something really exciting happens.
  

20 years patrolling, OEC instructor, 14 years as a nurse.

If there is only one option for patrolling, check with that patrol director as far as requirements and expectations. They differ from hill to hill.

Almost all require the NSP OEC certification. Some don't. My mountain will let other certifications patrol for a season, then test OEC. So, many medics, docs, nurses, EMT's, WFRs, etc... never actually take the OEC course. But, we are a high volume, high acuity operation, and do extensive on-hill training, regardless of whether a candidate has a brand-new-OEC-never-seen-a-patint, a trauma surgeon, or a medic. After training with us, and a year and a half patrolling, they challenge, and pass, OEC.

Your nursing experience will definitely make you a better patroller, but, as one of my fellow patrollers mentioned, won't help you pass the OEC exam.

The patrol director will definitely be your best source of information.

I like patrolling.

• I have my own locker.
  
• Season pass for me and my wife, good at several mountains.
  
• Pro deals on gear.
  
• Free tunes, and periodic favors from the shop.
  
• 1/2 price food on the hill.
  
• Ski for an hour before the public.
  
• Ski closed trails.
  
• Help fellow skiers having a bad day.
  
• Every now and then, something really exciting happens.
  

We're in the midwest so our "mountain" is actually barely a hill, pretty high volume though.

Sounds like you have a great deal on your hill. Not sure what the perks are for us, except my son would get all of the service hours he needs to graduate out of the way.