First day as a medic intern

I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting into, but you know, your first day on the job, you stress a little. 

It was fine.

It's 1:15 AM and I've just gotten off my first shift, 16 hours.

I really liked it, especially comforting people in pain and fear. And I liked the "What's gonna happen next" aspect as well.

What I didn't accurately predict was how I couldn't handle the down time. They assured me it was a slow day cuz it's the holidays and people are at home "staying safe" but I almost went out of my mind.

At 11:30 AM I did, I said, "I can't do NOTHING any more! Please, let me do something. Let me wash all the ambulances."

Everyone else was reclining in comfortable chairs, socking feet up in front of a TV. Looking at their cell phones. I was dying.

I asked, "Is there a fitness center here?"

"No."

"Not even a single treadmill?" No.

"Is there wi-fi?" (I thought maybe I could bring my laptop next time and become a much, MUCH more faithful blogger).

"No."

WTH! They want us to sit on our butts/lie in our beds in between jobs?

I again was surprised by the immaturity of the group - just like in my medic class in September, they acted like high school kids: racist, sexist comments and juvenile conversation, physical contact that wouldn't fly in most workplaces.  "Oh, he's Chinese, he says he loves dogs, but he loves to EAT THEM!" Yes, that is a statement I heard tonight.

They are also crass: "I'm going to the toilet now, to poop!"

There were thankfully a few who did not engage.

I left the room to vent about this to J on the phone, and when I came back, every single one of them was sleeping. Snoring away. 

The medical knowledge of some of them is remarkable. Actually, most of them.

One thing I found funny, my boss today couldn't remember our individual jobs, when he had to write my reports in my booklet. I think it's cuz he slept so much, but I reminded him of each and helped a lot with the restocking of the supplies in the ambulance, cuz I remembered what we used. Funnily, I asked him what he had for breakfast and he remembered that! I really like this guy and thankfully he's local so I'll work with him again. Didn't like how often he smoked cigarettes while talking to me!

As we met patients, I was thrilled to discover I'd retained my training, and was able to help, and not just observe, the treatments. But when we arrived on a terrible scene with a lady in great pain, I could not help the emergency doctor when he asked me to prepare injections. I just said no. I need some time to do that, and I wasn't familiar with their meds packs.

I found it surprising how thankful the family was, how they tried to help me carry the 20kg pack up 5 flights of stairs. No, no thank you, I can do this. I was surprised at how appreciative people were.

I did not like my other boss for the day, Nik, he's loud and immature. But he spoke French to the Iranian mother who was crying over her son's broken arm, and she was so happy to have that. Thankfully he's not local and I won't have to deal with him often. He drives the ambulance like a maniac, but I'm learning that most of them do. I almost fell out at one point! He took off and the side door was still open and as I tried to shut it, the surge of the vehicle made it swing back, and I almost fell out. He had to slam on the brakes when I yelled, to shut the door. I scolded him later cuz he really needs to think about our safety. I wondered what would have happened if I'd fallen out. I would have had to ask someone to call 911 for me, and tell them I fell out of an ambulance. I'd at least be able to tell them which one! 6RTW11.

At the end of our first job for the day, they wanted my opinion on how it went. I said to my boss, "You're really good with people." To which Nik said, "And I'm not?" I said, "You drive like a maniac."

But Nik was nice enough to get me xrays when I expressed interest and that boy was so brave, both arm bones broken, and he never said a word, never made a sound.

There was a situation, where I was caught alone by the father while waiting for the boy to descend the elevator with the crew, and he asked me how his son was. It's my first day and I cannot diagnose people. But I told him the arm is broken, but his son is all right, he's fine. I was sure I was right about it being broken - arms don't normally bend that way.

The kid was able to move his fingers, he was conscious, he was alert (happy to be in a blue-light ambulance the first time!) so it worked out. I couldn't say, "Wait for my boss, I can't tell you" because the father was agonizing and I wasn't gonna make him agonize until that old elevator made it down.

Then the most difficult case came, where I had to witness real pain. We spent forever with her lying where she fell, trying to get the IV in to get her pain medication and then onto the body board and down several flights of stairs. I held her ice cold hand, full of these things,  in my burning hot one the entire way to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital of doom and I kept my hand on hers, even though she was gone from the drugs. No one I've ever known has survived a stay in this hospital. I couldn't help but think we were sending her to her end.

I think I can do this. I'm looking forward to being excellent at it, and taking the next step past EMT to paramedic. And about the down time? I think I'll take up knitting.



(The only photo I have in my outfit, from October.)