EMS is a unique line of work with a unique set of problems. If you've worked in EMS even for a short period of time, you can likely relate to some of these situations.
What you want to ask your patient 90 percent of the time.
In the field of EMS, we all know that stupid people are job security. Most of the time our patients sustain injuries from doing really dumb things. When we ask a patient what happened and they respond with something like: "I tried to pry these pork chops apart with a steak knife, and it went through my hand."
When a patient suddenly remembers key information.
You've done your patient interview and haven't come to any solid idea as to what is going on or what caused their problem. Then, all of a sudden, they happen to remember something important that makes everything click. It would have made your job ten times easier if they had told you this at the beginning but then again, if they had, this wouldn't be EMS.
When it has just been one of those nights.
You're on shift with that one person you really can't stand working with, every idiot and drunk in town is in need of your service tonight and equipment keeps breaking. But you need to keep your composure and take care of each patient in a professional manner. And definitely not give them a larger gauge needle just 'cause.
By the end of your shift you need a nap. Or seven.
24 hours of lift assists, difficulty breathing, ETOH calls, and sick calls that never actually end up being just a sick call. Sleep is a luxury you are lacking but if you get creative you can sneak a few winks in here and there.
Putting up with attitude from patients all day long.
Some days it seems like you have a sign on your forehead saying "Please, make me miserable" and every patient is more than happy to oblige.
Becoming dependent on caffeine to function for work.
How many cups of coffee does it take you to get through a shift? This number tends to increase as your time on the job increases. This is because the novelty and adrenaline of the job begins to wear off and the people begin to wear on you. Sometimes you even consider starting a caffiene drip to keep yourself putting along.
