Paramedic school

[littlemissemt]

I just started Paramedic school on the 21st and I was wondering if anyone has any advice/tips/etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

If at all possible, try and work on an ALS unit for as long as possible during school. It is much much easier to equate what you are learning in school to "real world", when you are actually doing it on another human being. Another hint...When you start doing your cardiac sessions and you get to EKG strips for the first time it is going to look like you are reading a foreign language. Just hang in there, its like one minute you are scratching your head and then BINGO it's like a light goes on...Look a P wave!..wow!..its irregurarly irregular..Look at those PVC's...Have fun and study hard..

[burnmup]

I agree with MICKEY. Paramedic school was an experience I will never regret or trade, but I am glad it is over. 3/4 of the class I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it. All I knew was that they told us to memorize, memorize, memorize. I went through ACLS and BTLS scared to death (I actually made myself sick I worried about it so much). Then, one day, we were studying, getting ready for one test or another and suddenly, BOOM. It all made sense. As I worked on the ambulance and also in the ER's, little by little, I became more comfortable with my knowledge. At my 4 year mark, I went through a refresher class and sitting through class, I was able to say "I've seen that before" or "so that's why that worked". A real eye opener.
I have been a paramedic now for 8 years. I did not get comfortable until about my 4th year (when I say comfortable, I mean not scared to death on every call). I can honestly say that I feel I am an above average paramedic, I do not know everything, but I have enough sense to be able to get through any situation that I come across. That's not saying I don't ask for help, I will always ask for advice or look for new and better ways to do things.

Just remember, no matter how tough it gets in class, buckle down and stick with it. Find a study partner in class that is on or about your same study level and help each other. Not only with studying but with sanity. Take time to relax and have a breather once in a while. Good luck.

Marci