First, what in hell is a P5? Can anyone tell me what I should be expecting when that is the dispatch info I get? In my area we don't use 10 codes or any other coding system just plain ol' Chest Pain or Seizure. And for the record P5 sounds a hell of a lot like suicide in the wee hours of the morning.
Also, I'm switching things up. I'm moving out of this here blog and heading out to a new spot where I don't have to log out of my email to comment or write posts. I'm not going to be officially announcing the new address because well, there is some baggage I would like to leave here. I may pop up on your radar in the future, but let's face it, it's not like I am in high demand on the interwebs.
So, until then, Bernice... out.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Missing Out.
Not so long ago I discovered google reader. I know, way behind the times. Well, that has really been an improvement to the amount of time I spend reading blogs. Namely, I can scroll instead of going to favorites and clicking on the next blog I want to read not knowing if there is a new post or not. This is quick and convenient, but I think I miss seeing the layouts of the blogs. Let's face it, I'm very much a visual person and the blogs I read were associated with the layout of the blog. It helped me remember who is who (I read a LOT of blogs) and gave me some insight into personalities. I kind of miss that. With that, my goal for tonight is to go through all daily reading and update my favorites and also my blog-roll here.
So, if you link to me and I don't link to you, leave a comment and I will gladly add you. Also, please hang in there while I beg Tony to assist me in creating a new design for this place that reflects my personality better.
So, if you link to me and I don't link to you, leave a comment and I will gladly add you. Also, please hang in there while I beg Tony to assist me in creating a new design for this place that reflects my personality better.
Monday, January 11, 2010
What would you do?
While on a call you observe behavior from an officer that you are not comfortable with. The officer is rude to the patient's family and also physically moves a person to prevent them from walking past the cot while the patient is being moved. This action on the family members part has the potential to cause the cot to become unstable. You do not witness this event.
While en route to the hospital the family member states they would like to file a complaint and provides their recount of the event. You remain neutral and ask if you speaking with the person would be sufficient. They agree.
You ask to speak with the officer and you find that they believe their actions are correct and justified. After hearing their side of the story you still feel uncomfortable with the events and also mention your dissatisfaction with the officer's interaction with the patient's family. The conversation takes a turn and your care of the patient is now brought into question.
What do you do?
While en route to the hospital the family member states they would like to file a complaint and provides their recount of the event. You remain neutral and ask if you speaking with the person would be sufficient. They agree.
You ask to speak with the officer and you find that they believe their actions are correct and justified. After hearing their side of the story you still feel uncomfortable with the events and also mention your dissatisfaction with the officer's interaction with the patient's family. The conversation takes a turn and your care of the patient is now brought into question.
What do you do?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
HTML and other buggars
So I like to think I'm pretty crafty with HTML for not knowing what in the world I'm doing. So of course, new year means new layout, right? Uh not so fast there slick. As it turns out I'm not nearly as crafty as I thought I was. Back to the drawing board, er copy and paste and google searches for me.
In other news, I think my career in EMS is coming to a close. With the prospect of a new zip code and quite frankly and entirely different climate (yay!) doesn't bode well to continuing one's volunteer "career" in EMS. Of course being the short-sighted person that I am I let my national registry lapse. No big deal, right? Just go take the test again. Call it laziness, call it fear but I don't know if I can or will. Reading those sentences again sounds like a list of excuses and maybe it is.
I don't think I can really say how I feel about it. Am I sad that I wont have that joy of connecting with people, both coworkers and patients? Yes. Am I sad that I wont be adding to the library of images that creep up on me at the oddest times? No. Will I miss it? Definitely.
I'm good at what I do. I'm not the best nor do I think I will ever be. When I sit down and think about it, the set up I have here is pretty close to perfect. I have a great job that pays me better than I could have ever imagined but I don't LOVE it. But what I don't LOVE about it, I make up in the hours when I get home responding to calls, learning new things and working with the community. I get everything I need. A paycheck and fulfillment. Unfortunately, like most adults I have to make concessions. I have to decide which is more important. Being with the man that I love and who makes me a better person or keep my set up as it is.
It is no mystery that I have struggled with burnout and malaise in the recent past. I'm sure it has some to do with my personal life and a lot to do with the fact that I have zero interest in department politics. I want to do my job, do it well and go home. I don't care if Sally was upset that she wasn't allowed to transport because it wasn't what was best for the patient. I don't care that Fred is pissed and Roger because wanted to run for A/C. I just can't get myself worked up over stuff like that. As much as I hate the phrase... it is what it is. If in the grand scheme of things it is but a tiny little bump that will soon be forgotten, then let it go.
I haven't quite thought it all through yet which I'm sure is evident in this choppy, all over the place rant I've got going here. The bottom line is, I don't know what to do. Part of me thinks that I could walk away and be happy with it and part of me feels like I'm not done making a difference in people's lives.
Who knows. I have applied to several different jobs. Some in the hospital with direct patient care and some that are more like my full time job. I'm not sure if a patient care in a "controlled" environment of a hospital will trip my trigger the same as emergency care. I just don't know. For now, I am leaving it in the hands of the Big Guy and waiting to see how receptive they are of my resume.
In the mean time, hang in there with me while we pretty the place up around here.
In other news, I think my career in EMS is coming to a close. With the prospect of a new zip code and quite frankly and entirely different climate (yay!) doesn't bode well to continuing one's volunteer "career" in EMS. Of course being the short-sighted person that I am I let my national registry lapse. No big deal, right? Just go take the test again. Call it laziness, call it fear but I don't know if I can or will. Reading those sentences again sounds like a list of excuses and maybe it is.
I don't think I can really say how I feel about it. Am I sad that I wont have that joy of connecting with people, both coworkers and patients? Yes. Am I sad that I wont be adding to the library of images that creep up on me at the oddest times? No. Will I miss it? Definitely.
I'm good at what I do. I'm not the best nor do I think I will ever be. When I sit down and think about it, the set up I have here is pretty close to perfect. I have a great job that pays me better than I could have ever imagined but I don't LOVE it. But what I don't LOVE about it, I make up in the hours when I get home responding to calls, learning new things and working with the community. I get everything I need. A paycheck and fulfillment. Unfortunately, like most adults I have to make concessions. I have to decide which is more important. Being with the man that I love and who makes me a better person or keep my set up as it is.
It is no mystery that I have struggled with burnout and malaise in the recent past. I'm sure it has some to do with my personal life and a lot to do with the fact that I have zero interest in department politics. I want to do my job, do it well and go home. I don't care if Sally was upset that she wasn't allowed to transport because it wasn't what was best for the patient. I don't care that Fred is pissed and Roger because wanted to run for A/C. I just can't get myself worked up over stuff like that. As much as I hate the phrase... it is what it is. If in the grand scheme of things it is but a tiny little bump that will soon be forgotten, then let it go.
I haven't quite thought it all through yet which I'm sure is evident in this choppy, all over the place rant I've got going here. The bottom line is, I don't know what to do. Part of me thinks that I could walk away and be happy with it and part of me feels like I'm not done making a difference in people's lives.
Who knows. I have applied to several different jobs. Some in the hospital with direct patient care and some that are more like my full time job. I'm not sure if a patient care in a "controlled" environment of a hospital will trip my trigger the same as emergency care. I just don't know. For now, I am leaving it in the hands of the Big Guy and waiting to see how receptive they are of my resume.
In the mean time, hang in there with me while we pretty the place up around here.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2009 In Review
Well what can I say? It has been one hell of a year folks. Ups, downs and plenty of inside outs too. Despite my letter to the year 2009, it was full of everything I didn’t want but what I got out of it is too good to imagine so I really can’t complain. Because I'm lacking in the mental capacity department, here is a list-style review of my year...
Went to the greatest place on Earth, and I'm not talking Disney.
Ran my first 5K road race.
Took a leave from the fire department and blogging.
Divorced after 4 years of marriage.
Became a landlord.
Visited my favorite city.
Fell in love with my best friend.
Racked up more frequent flyer miles than I had ever imagined.
Missed a flight in NYC and was rewarded with a promise of a life every girl dreams of.
Quit my second job.
Got an impressive raise and promotion.
Lost my grandmother.
Learned more about an amazing woman in a few days than I had my entire life.
Made new friends.
Laughed.
Cried.
Hurt.
Smiled.
It sure has been one heck of a year but looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Now looking ahead to 2010 I am ready, willing and excited. Good things are in store for me folks. Very good things.
Went to the greatest place on Earth, and I'm not talking Disney.
Ran my first 5K road race.
Took a leave from the fire department and blogging.
Divorced after 4 years of marriage.
Became a landlord.
Visited my favorite city.
Fell in love with my best friend.
Racked up more frequent flyer miles than I had ever imagined.
Missed a flight in NYC and was rewarded with a promise of a life every girl dreams of.
Quit my second job.
Got an impressive raise and promotion.
Lost my grandmother.
Learned more about an amazing woman in a few days than I had my entire life.
Made new friends.
Laughed.
Cried.
Hurt.
Smiled.
It sure has been one heck of a year but looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Now looking ahead to 2010 I am ready, willing and excited. Good things are in store for me folks. Very good things.
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