emstrogren

[emstrogren]

Transport RN: Why the hell are they sending this kid to another hospital 30 minutes away when all he did was swallow a penny?

Me: Because this hospital only deals in nickles and dimes

[emstrogren]

Ah hell I forgot to hit queue. Screw it, those posts are for the morning crowd

[emstrogren]

Whenever I get a call for altered mental status and the patient has a history of dementia there's always like a 20% chance they're actively having a major problem, and like an 80% chance they fell 2 days ago and the nursing home is only just now sending them out to get looked at

[emstrogren]

Critical Care Transport is fun because you'll sit and do nothing for the first 10 hours of your shift and then they'll send you to a hospital an hour away to take someone to another hospital an hour away from the first one

[emstrogren]

Just found this blog and I am fucking here for it!

Single-handedly motivating me to actually post not gonna lie. Time to start queing again

[emstrogren]

Literally the only thing I do if I see a patient is trans is go up to my partner and tell them "I'm treating this one. You drive." and that's only because I'm trans too and guaranteed to get their pronouns right. Otherwise? It really doesn't matter unless the chief complaint is specifically related to their gender affirming care. As for med measurements and crap like that? Most likely it's not going to matter much until you get to the hospital and by that point they'd have already asked pertinent questions like "what medications are you on?" that will actually help them make the decisions they need.

the euphemistic nonsensical phrasing of transphobia constantly gets me. like I know it's just bad faith bullshit, but just the implication of an EMT needing to do karyotype testing before treating someone is so absurd it feels like the premise of an over the top satirical comedy sketch about transphobia

[emstrogren]

im a trans new emt and i was wondering how you deal w day to day stuff

I feel like this is going to be a very "your mileage may vary" response, because a lot of this is going to depend on things like where you live, whether you do 911 or transport, and even what kind of crews you come across, but having been an EMT for several years, there are a few things that help me get through it:

First, from a trans perspective, it's important to remember that most people, most normal people, aren't going to look at you coming in and see a trans person. Most likely, they're going to see an EMT who is there to help. When I make patient contact, I introduce myself by my chosen name, and I immediately show care to the patient and whatever problem they're having. More often than not, they don't realize they're talking to a trans person despite my not passing extremely well.

I also wear a mask with every patient. This gives me the benefit of protecting myself and the patient, but also hides my stubble if I didn't shave well that day. Most people don't comment on it, and those that do would be unsafe anyway to be around.

Personally, the biggest factor for me for feeling safe on the job is my crew. I'm fortunate to be with a company that is very pro-queer, and so I tend to be with crew members that are accepting, even if they're a little confused about it. Finding a company, whether public or private, with good protection policies is really important.

From a more general EMT perspective, a few pointers I have that apply to pretty much any EMT:

Pack your lunch every day. Seriously. It's way cheaper than fast food and you'll be happier for it. If you don't have an office to go back to between runs, get a heated lunchbox that you can plug into the truck charge port. They usually run about 30 bucks and pay for themselves in about 2 weeks.

Pay attention to which EMT's care and which ones don't. The ones who care and show experience usually have good habits and good advice.

TRUST YOURSELF. I mean it. You passed the course. You know what you need to do in an emergency. The first time you run a code, it'll be the scariest time of your life, but you'll do it. You'll get through it. You won't be alone. Just remember your basics.

Seriously. Pack a lunch. Bring your own coffee or tea too while you're at it. (Cold brew you can set up the night before to save time in the morning)

There's a reason night shift has high turn around. If you want a lot of action, go to nights. If you want to keep your will to live, stick with mornings.

Don't rely on naps. If you get to take them because it's a slow day. Great. But if you go to work every day expecting to get one in, you will not.

Most importantly though...

You're going to see a lot with this job. Every day you're going to meet people having the worst day of their life. You'll save lives. You'll do everything you can for someone that isn't gonna make it and it's gonna suck. One day you'll probably see someone you know on your stretcher, and your job will follow you home every time a loved one ends up sick. There's not gonna be an easy way to deal with all of this, but time will teach you how to endure it.

The best way I've found so far is to not go through it alone.

Make time for your loved ones. Lean on them, and let them lean on you. You've chosen the path of the caretaker, but that doesn't mean you're the only one.

You got this.

Now seriously. Pack your lunch.

[emstrogren]

Maybe in your district. I'd love to hear this person's jokes.

*covered in blood* I'm literally fine guys. im still funny. Would you like to hear a joke Im going to tell you a joke

[emstrogren]

Me, looking through the worms I dug up:

"Alright, only one of you can crawl into my ear canal and you better get me put in charge of the board of health after"

[emstrogren]

I'm EMS we're taught to look out for our partner, and double check them to make sure we're not forgetting any crucial steps when providing patient care.

I put this into practice a lot by asking Jim if he washed his hands whenever he comes out of the bathroom.

[emstrogren]

In EMS the most common crime I see (in hospitals and the field) is documentation related. Specifically when the EMT or nurse writes "18" for patient respiratory rate in the patient chart.

Seeing y'all's responses to the "are your relatives criminals" poll is cracking me up.

Criminality isn't a matter of getting arrested or convicted, or a particularly good marker of morality.

Depending on where you are, crossing the street wrong is a crime. If you're American and you've ever picked up a feather, you have probably committed a federal offense.

Not even gonna get into the fact that homosexuality is still a crime in places.

The point is that you're probably all criminals.

[emstrogren]

you may have been spared the olive smell, but RIP to your coffee

We make a lot of sacrifices on the boo boo bus, but they never warned me about this 😭

[emstrogren]

Update: Olive smell came back but I was spared it's wrath because I spilled my coffee

Got in the truck today and it smelled inexplicably like olives.

I don't know why it smelled like olives.

I didn't find any olives.

I didn't even like olives.

But either way I wasn't having it.

So now the truck smells like bleach.

[emstrogren]

Got in the truck today and it smelled inexplicably like olives.

I don't know why it smelled like olives.

I didn't find any olives.

I didn't even like olives.

But either way I wasn't having it.

So now the truck smells like bleach.

[emstrogren]

buddy, I've had to tell people to wash their hands after taking a piss.

people on my covid post are calling me a freak for saying it’s disgusting to cough into open air/your hands then touch shit. well if that’s being a freak i don’t want to be normal!

[emstrogren]

I can see the memo now

"in light of recent events, please remember to wear appropriate PPE when handling patients. In addition, please refrain from using the term 'rawdogging' in reference to our patients, particularly when friends and family are present. If you have any questions, please reach out to your supervisor for further direction."

stupid fucking coworker ass meme posted in the work group chat BUT!!!!!!!! it made me do a laugh.

[emstrogren]

The amount of times I have to remind coworkers to wear GLOVES with patients is way too high

stupid fucking coworker ass meme posted in the work group chat BUT!!!!!!!! it made me do a laugh.