Just a New EMT

EMS Reruns addresses dilemmas in EMS. If you think of an example like the one that follows, send it to us. If we choose to publish your dilemma, we'll pay you $50. E-mail ideas to Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.

     You're awakened from a sound sleep, alert and aware of the subtle night sounds of your station: The faint hiss of a water valve in the bathroom across the hall. The click of a thermostat, followed by a breath of air from a register as the heat comes on, and the casual cracking, popping and settling noises all buildings make in their sleep. Above you, the smoke alarm's little red eye stares at you quietly, faithfully, unblinking, and on the nightstand the digital clock says you haven't slept long. You're not surprised when your pager goes off. Nobody knows how, but we all feel some calls in advance.

     You and your partner Nancy are soon responding to a residential call for chest pain. Nancy likes to drive, and that's OK with you. But she's kind of an alpha medic: drives hard, comes on strong, thinks and talks fast, and takes the aggressive path to just about every outcome. Nancy's not much for niceties. She has one pace, and she expects everybody else to keep up with her. (Usually, that includes patients and their families.) Needless to say, she's often disappointed.

     You're particularly nervous about Nancy's emergency driving. She keeps the ambulance under control, but often just barely. Sometimes you can hear the tires scrubbing on turns, and you get a feeling she's too sure of the ambulance. She's been operating these things five times as long as you have, and never had a wreck. Still, the other crews joke about how long that record will hold up. You're not sure what to do.

     Q. cI've thought about changing partners, but my seniority is zero. Nobody else seems to want to work with her. So, I just bide my time and keep my mouth shut. What else can I do?
     A. You should be more than nervous. You should be raising hell. Nancy's experience is irrelevant, because she seems to be ignoring that. Paramedic jokes are like an organization's vital signs; they're very often based on facts. And despite the fact that no workforce is perfectly compatible, the fact that nobody wants to work with Nancy is a finding that any boss should recognize as serious. Being "just a new EMT" has nothing to do with your value or your right to be safe. But worst of all, if your partner is "reassuring" you, she knows she's taking risks with your safety, hers and the public's.

     Q. I don't disagree with any of this. But specifically, what should I do? If nobody else will work with her, then nobody else will work with her. I don't want to be responsible for her job.
     A. Nancy's responsible for her job, just like you're responsible for your job—and your safety. First, before you run another call with her, confront her and let her know that you demand to come home safe. Tell her honestly that she scares you, and that she is forcing you to protect yourself and others by asking for help. If she argues, end the discussion. If she promises to alter her driving, the choice is yours. You may elect to continue as her partner on a probationary basis, or you may insist on a change. But either way, you should let your boss know what you're doing—and you should tell Nancy you're doing that.

     Q. I really like taking care of people, but I'm not good at confrontations. I could never come right out and bluntly say these kinds of things to anybody. Maybe things aren't really as bad as I thought they were.<
     A. If you find yourself worrying about a partner's driving, it's bad. You're not stupid. Ambulances are not built for high performance—which doesn't help anybody, anyway. And you know those other people who sort of stopped working with Nancy? Well, that happened for a reason. Some people simply have no business driving emergency vehicles. Like it or not, each of us has a responsibility to identify them, and to keep them from killing our friends (and us).

     Even new EMTs.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 38 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Thom is also a member of EMS Magazine's editorial advisory board. Reach him at boxcar_414@yahoo.com.