Trading a Life for an Education
So there is a saying in paramedic school... something to the effect of, "You either get divorced or get married in Paramedic School." Something like that. Well, not true for me, at least not yet, but for two of my close friends the divorce part is true. I can understand, certainly my wife can understand. Never before have I felt the pressure, stress, overwhelming sense of ingorance, and sheer helplessness that I have the last year (particularly the last week) of school. Now my friends have to deal with a divorce and school.
Summer was a cruel taste of life away from school. I have been in school for three years now, first finishing my Fire Science degree, and now half way through AAS Paramedic. I have also worked full time and tried to be a good husband, work on my house, pay bills on time, mow the lawn... It is taking a toll on me, I just want to be done.
But alas, I should not complain too much. I did manage to get the job I wanted in the middle of all that, and I have kept up good grades, and even seem to find time to plod away at blogging a bit. The first week of school just has me down in the dumps. Our merciless instructor has us memorizing ACLS protocols, reading like 200 pages, and we are being tested on cardiac rhythm rules with no compassion whatsoever. It takes the life out of a guy, you know? I am sure that most of you out there do...
The reward is great though. Yesterday I got to run my first ALS call. Of course I had a paramedic standing over my shoulder, but I did get to call the shots on this one. A standard diabetic emergency, altered mental status, BG of 34. Got an awesome line and gave D50. Problem saved, life saved, everyone was happy. I was thrilled. It is cool to pull from all that knowledge that has been memorized and stomped into my mind and come up with a field diagnosis that is correct and then take the steps to treat the underlying problem. It was truly awesome.
I think I need to think of those moments when I get down about cramming shit into my summer-atrophied mind. One day I will diagnose multi-focal atrial tachycardia or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and think this was all worth it.
Summer was a cruel taste of life away from school. I have been in school for three years now, first finishing my Fire Science degree, and now half way through AAS Paramedic. I have also worked full time and tried to be a good husband, work on my house, pay bills on time, mow the lawn... It is taking a toll on me, I just want to be done.
But alas, I should not complain too much. I did manage to get the job I wanted in the middle of all that, and I have kept up good grades, and even seem to find time to plod away at blogging a bit. The first week of school just has me down in the dumps. Our merciless instructor has us memorizing ACLS protocols, reading like 200 pages, and we are being tested on cardiac rhythm rules with no compassion whatsoever. It takes the life out of a guy, you know? I am sure that most of you out there do...
The reward is great though. Yesterday I got to run my first ALS call. Of course I had a paramedic standing over my shoulder, but I did get to call the shots on this one. A standard diabetic emergency, altered mental status, BG of 34. Got an awesome line and gave D50. Problem saved, life saved, everyone was happy. I was thrilled. It is cool to pull from all that knowledge that has been memorized and stomped into my mind and come up with a field diagnosis that is correct and then take the steps to treat the underlying problem. It was truly awesome.
I think I need to think of those moments when I get down about cramming shit into my summer-atrophied mind. One day I will diagnose multi-focal atrial tachycardia or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and think this was all worth it.
posted by Slack at 8:25 AM
2 Comments:
Just out of interest, when you talk about "fire science" degrees how do people in the educational establishment regard it? Often in the UK vocational courses that are offered at Degree level are treated with a level of contempt which I never really understood...
They are becoming more and more popular and accepted here because there is a serious shortage of "Skilled Labor." In fact, it is almost impossible to get a job in the fire service without a degree now. My degree is actually and Associate Science degreee, so it has all the same prerequisites as a bachelor's degree. My paramedic will be and Applied Associates Science, which is much more vocational driven.
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