Lazy summer days...

...bore the tar out of me.

I decided this morning that I wasn't getting up to my alarm. This is by no means an unusual occurrence, as I firmly believe morning shouldn't happen until around 12pm. So, I got up at 1230. Wandered around looking for my glasses which I'd knocked off my bed sometime in the night. Then I made coffee.

I'm of the opinion that the inventor of coffee should be knighted, sainted and given a public day so we can celebrate.

Anyway, since I know we'll be taking a "I bet you haven't cracked a book since EMT class" test on the first day of medic school I actually went back to my old EMT book to review the bits that I'd had trouble with. Namely cardiac emergencies. For some reason, cardiac calls freak me out.

I think it has to do with the fact that my second ever call on an ALS truck was a cardiac arrest. My medic told me later that her first ever (serious) respiratory call left her nervous whenever she gets one now. We spend respiratory calls with me watching the patient and her watching the road.

Regardless, I read the medication/pharmacology chapter of my EMT book, and part of the cardiac chapter. It only makes me more eager to start class again, because now that I've seen a (tiny) bit, I -know- there is so much more to these calls that I'm missing.

I know that they're not as simple as the scenario's we ran through in class. For example, this is rarely the case:
  PT: My chest hurts.
  QLC: Oh! Your chest hurts! Let me check your ABC's, decide which hospital we are going to, then I shall perform a focus exam while getting SAMPLE.
  PT: My chest hurts. It's a 10/10.
  QLC: Well, from what I gathered, I can tell you you're probably having a cardiac event. Here, chew up this aspirin and since you have been prescribed Nitro, why don't I assist you with taking those?
  PT: Oh, that's lovely. My chest doesn't hurt any more, but  now I have a headache!

No, never that simple. After a couple runs, I could fumble through setting up the ECG - though I still have no idea how to read them. And I figured out how to spike a bag pretty easily, and pass things. But I want to know more!

I want school to start!

I want my ambulance rides back!

I even want my captain's chair back. I figured out how to make it into a roller-coaster feeling seat when we go lights and sirens.

I just came to a random conclusion: It's a good thing I'm not filthy rich, I'd die of boredom if there was nothing to get me out of the house. Huzzah for school.

Sunless tanning lotion...

Stinks. As in, it doesn't smell very good.

Yes, random, I know.

But at least I'm not pasty any more. I'm not an avid tanner (I have a strong dislike for being sunburned - which is what happens to my fair Irish skin if I'm outside for more than 30 seconds without sunblock...Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not much) but it is nice to have a little color. Even if it is fake.

Granted, if I stand next to someone who's been outside all summer in shorts it is VERY obvious that I am 1. a homebody who doesn't go outside 2. a person who wears pants (yes, thank you uniform) almost year round and 3. very pale even with a "tan".

At least by staying out of the sun, my freckles aren't readily apparent. And I'm (hopefully) minimizing the risk of skin cancer in a few  years.

Ok, enough distractions. Back to studying pharmacology. Though, it annoys me when my textbook tells me "other types of agonists exist although it is not critical paramedics know specifics about these". Maybe it is or is not critical for me to know them but...I'm going to look them up anyway. If you're going to mention them, then tell me about them. If you don't think I should know about them, don't say anything at all. However, I'm a firm believer in knowing things - even if my own knowledge is woefully lacking.

Goal of the Day: Work on that. Stop accepting things because someone says "it is so"...ok, that's maybe more of a Goal of the Lifetime. I'll work on it.

*~*edit*~*
I found another phrase that irritates me. "You should be familiar with the various receptor types, however it is not important to memorize the physiology involved in each of the receptors and their binding process." What I get from phrases like this is: "Just know the medicine you give when x=y and don't worry about what you're actually doing to your patient." I don't really want to be a protocol dependent medic - I got sucked into that when I started EMT. I'd much rather (and yes, I know it'll take time and a lot of work, but hey, I'm young) know -why- I'm giving a medication, what it's going to do and what are the potential side effects.

I'm glad we're not using this textbook for Core (our teachers have decided it's out of date - but still a good reference).

And since I'm quoting it, I should cite it. *dutifully cites in accordance with English class expectations*
Chapleau, W., Burba, A. C., Pons, P. T., & Page, D. (2012). The Paramedic. (Updated ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

And the world sleeps...

For a couple weeks anyway.

Summer classes are over (as of the 2nd of August) and the days find me waiting on my final grade for my internship class (I got an A in the Literature class I specifically took to get an A so...). Since I was allowed to attend the orientation and register for fall classes, I'm confindent that I did pass...but I want to know my grade!

Ok, I'm a bit obsessed with grades. I'm a nerd.

Anyway, I arranged my fall classes - well, tenchincally I was told which once I could sign up for and did so. After all of last year of hearing how hard and difficult and sleep depriving the Medic Core could be I was slightly worried. We all were, actually. It's one of the better conversation topics in the hallway at school. Then I looked at my schedule.

Yes, it is a lot of courses. Yes, there is a lot of knowledge and procedure I have to cram into my brain. Yes, it is probably going to be stressful.

Except I have 1,5 days off...not counting the weekend. Granted, that day and a half is supposed to go to my clinicals - both in hospital and on the rig, but still! That's a whole 3,5 days off a week...I'll be able sleep, do my homework (which we traditionally don't have much of anyway), study and practice my skills.

I don't see what they were fussing about. I mean, sure, there is going to be a lot to do, but with proper planning and a solid schedule it's not -that- bad. It's no worse than the 10hr days I put in studying a language for two years, plus fulfilling other duties. Granted, I was younger...but I'm not old yet. Even if I complain that I am sometimes.

So, therefore...come August 27th, I'll be starting Core. My days will revolve around Shock and Trauma + Practicum, Medical Emergencies Pharmacological Interventions I + Practicum, Field Skills Lab I, Introduction to Pre-hospital Pharmacology and my field and hospital clinicals (150 hrs per semester minimum). Now all I need to do is finish sorting out finacial aid so I can get my textbooks and start pre-studying.

I can't wait to get the green light to hook back up with my medic. It's crazy how much I've enjoyed working on the ambulance. I miss it.

I'm sorry to tell you

But it is difficult to field diagnose a tension pneumothorax without a BP cuff, vitals or SAMPLE/OPQRST history. Did you even get his name?

Spring Break

It's officially started. I have a week off of school and no official plans (other than to catch up on my studies and work towards my new fitness goals). But I'm sorta bummed. I've really been liking my Ambulance Operations class.

Scenario's have been amazing, and last week I had the most amazing team. We fit in three scenario's in the three hour period (we lost an hour of class for tests); an MVC, respiratory distress and a cardio. Our team was just amazing, I can't say it enough. I mean, we managed our MVC and were off scene in 6 minutes (the goal is 10, and it was the first time we'd worked as a team AND our first MVC period). I'm not trying to brag (much), I'm just very thrilled about class.

Besides missing this class, I am excited to be out of class for a while. Time to just relax, work on my run time, and rearrange my house. Should be nice...

Spelling matters...

But so does knowing your vocabulary.

It is important to write ilium when you mean ilium and not write ileum, but when you use the example in class, it's best to use ilium and ileum not ischium and ischeum.

Though, Google searching ischeum kept me well amused in class. Evidently it's in Florida.

To all the math folk out there...

Question posed today in class (and no, it's not supposed to be a math class...yet)

You are hosting a party, with your significant other. You invite 20 couples (yes, it must be couples). Sometime during the party, you go around and ask each person how many people he/she has shaken hands with. The person cannot have shaken his/her SO's hand, or his/her own hand. Each person gives you a different number.

How many people did your SO shake hands with?

Why do you think your answer is right? I did end up with the right answer, however, my logic was flawed. And very very wrong.

Almost the end...

Meeting up with the last of my classmates that have to pass the Readiness exam today, to help them study. They have one chance to pass it (and the class) and since passing is required to take the NREMT-B we're gonna knuckle down.

Tomorrow I have my A&P final, so I need to review that as well. Yay for action potentials and calcium (has to do with muscles, I know that much) and the endocrine system. But hey! Then it's break!!

I can't wait to dig my snowboard out of storage, and take Shortie sledding. I'm so EXCITED!

Busy week

Hey! It's Saturday! Welcome to the weekend!

Monday was fun. I scored well on my last chapters test of my EMT book (89%!!) then spent AAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL day Tuesday reviewing for the skills practical of my registry exam. My class and I (six of us total) down a 12 pack of Mountain Dew, a 6 pack of pepsi, untold number of sodas/energy drinks from the vending machine and a bag full of candy and snacks. It was fun. Then we took our test - and we ALL passed. Even me!

Wednesday was the highlight of the week, with three major tests (one of which was scheduled for next week!!) but it ended well. I passed my anatomy lab practical on nervous and endocrine tissue, despite thinking that all the slides looked exactly the same. I also passed my surprise final, which wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be, and it saves me a trip into school next week.

But the best part of all? I rocked my Readiness Exam for EMT. We had to have a 70% minimum to pass. I took the cake with 84% and then we all went to Applebees for happy hour.

I think I slept most of Thursday after watching LotR and other movies all night at a friends. Thursday night was a repeat as we finished LotR FotR and TTT, then watched Clash of the Titans (twice, as we got distracted talking and it replayed) and crashed out to King Arthur sometime around dawn.

Then I found out my little brother, who I haven't seen in more than a year, is going to come TONIGHT to see me. Then I'm giving him a ride out to his rig...can you say ROAD TRIP?

All in all, it's been a lovely-if slightly stressful week. Only one more test and it's Christmas Break!

No shit, really?

Prehospital Emergency Care, 9th Edition

Chapter 41, Page 1347

"The ambulance is the vehicle that brings care to the patient in times of emergency and transports the patient to a medical receiving facility for follow-up care. It is a crucial part of the EMS system."





Really? REALLY??? 1347 pages in and you're just telling me what an ambulance is?

Oh, and EMS system is redundant.