What can I say, I have been crazy enough to join the ambulance service and train to be a paramedic. The reason I have started this blog is to document my training and experiences as to give an insight into what it is actually like to be a trainee with the ambulance service.
I hope to give an honest and real insight into what I see, hear and smell whilst out on the road.
So a bit of synopsis of what has gone before this blog was created. I am training at university to become a paramedic within the UK. This involves the academic element of university, with actually working practically on an ambulance responding to actual '999' calls. I have already completed a year of university training to date and have now been let loose out on the road as a probationary ambulance technician (where the real learning really starts).
The past year has had alot of ups and downs. I have had the stress and anxiety of tests and assignments and the related anxiety of awaiting with baited breath, the results of those exams. Then when you think you have just leaped the last big hurdle, you enter the crew room at the ambulance station on your very first day.
It was like being at school for the very first time; walking into the playground and seeing all the friendship groups and feeling very much out of place. I was then wisked off and given a swift tour round the station. I still feel like the new kid at school, even now being three weeks into the actual job.
One of my biggest fears, is messing up and appearing like a complete muppet infront of my new colleagues...
...this has happened, this has happened many times now I cannot count on one finger. Despite being reassured by several people that this is normal, you cannot help but feel that you are failing, especially with the thought running through your head that "I have been trained to do this". The training and the reality(I have found) are two very different things.
I await the day, when things start to seem a bit more natural and I feel that I fit in with the team a bit better. (I have been reassured that this comes with time, at the moment, I am sceptical.
One of the things I am enjoying at the moment is the driving. Not neccesscerially the "flying about with lights and sirens" but the driving in general. It is one area I think I am doing rather well at, which is a comfort when you are wanting to feel less like a "f**kwit".
Well this is a brief synopsis of where we are so far before this blog. I hope to update this daily and provide an insight into the in's and out's of being a trainee paramedic, not only from the actual job front, but the days off, the university work and other areas which might be of interest.
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2 comments:
I'm a trainee technician, though have gone for one of the final direct entry routes. I feel exactly the same as you, training is nothing like the real world!
I'm a few months in working for real and it's quite tough going. Trying to remember what training has explained, then walking in, forgetting the lot and having to let your crew mate take over.
Even when I do remember my training, there's always far more my crew mate will know about than me (as is to be expected).
I often think WOW when watching their line of questions and they come out with things to say that I never even had thought of.
Good luck in your career!
Good luck!! I'm a "Spara" oop north, not long into training and have recently started doing "obs". Amazed at the peeps out there, totally in awe of their experience but hope to be like a giant sponge & soak it all in to use (eventually).
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