Preparing mentally for the stress of emergency medical services can be demanding for any rookie EMS technician.
Rookie EMS personnel can be especially prone to the stresses and pressures of the job. And if the situation is traumatic enough, some may be unable to recover.
But there are ways rookie EMS personnel can better prepare themselves for the job’s demands. Although there will always be situations beyond your control, knowing there are specific practical actions you can perform might help you deal better.
Preparing yourself mentally for an EMS job
A rookie EMS has ways to prepare for specific situations that could give them stress or trauma.
Go Back to Basics
Going back to basics is essential, regardless of the job or the situation. This strategy could be beneficial during intense, pressure-filled situations when it is easy to become overwhelmed by everything around you.
By this point, you already know what to do in any given situation. Run through the steps in your head on your way to the call. Talk about what you must do depending on the patient’s condition. Also, know what to expect from other EMS personnel and what they will be doing while you perform your routine procedure.
Be aware that you will likely be nervous and frazzled. That’s okay! Even the most experienced EMS personnel react adversely to periods of extreme duress. What’s important is knowing how to deal with it and doing your job regardless.
Focus on your Patient
Remember that you are there for your patient. No matter what happens and their condition, you must prioritize their needs above all else. It means a concerted effort to set aside your fears and queasiness to stabilize the patient.
It doesn’t necessarily mean being stoic and emotionless regardless of the gravity of the call. Everyone responds differently to stressful and traumatic situations, and it is only natural to react with distress when facing extreme cases. Even so, you should be able to shift your focus to addressing the patient’s needs.
Work on your Post-Call Review
The post-call review is an integral part of learning and assessment. Experienced EMS personnel will have developed the capability to perform a valuable and practical review over time. As a new EMS professional, you should strive to learn how to achieve such a review as soon as possible.
There are usually specific procedures to follow when performing a post-call review. The steps may vary depending on your organization’s policies. Still, in most cases, you will ask the attending physician to assess your performance and tell you what you should have done differently.
You may also review the procedure you performed with a supervisor or someone you trust and ask for feedback and constructive criticism. Unless you have extensive experience on the job, they will likely be able to identify areas that could use some improvement.
The importance of getting feedback from more experienced personnel is valuable. Over time, you will develop the ability to assess your own performance and figure out how you can improve. It is essential to take the criticism and grow from it.
Conclusion
Rookies naturally tend to over-analyze everything, whether how to deal with specific scenarios, their performance, or the value they bring. It is normal and often results from a genuine desire to be of service. Over time, you should learn to trust your instincts and training and do what is best for your patients.
About Provident Insurance Programs
With roots dating back to 1902, Provident Insurance Programs is a program administrator that serves paid and volunteer firefighters in addition to emergency medical responders with numerous custom-tailored insurance programs. We’ve also extended our expertise and experience to offer benefit plans and coverages to participant groups as well as Transportation Benefits. We are committed to continuing to provide superior customer service, and would be happy to speak with you to provide further information. Give us a call today at (855) 201-8880 to speak with one of our representatives.