The semester starts in two weeks. This means:
That the EMT class starts in two weeks. Oh man oh God. We're trying to get more people registered. We're trying to iron out all the details. It is currently still very wrinkly. Eep.
That I need to decide what I'm doing with housing. I'll be sad to give up my beautiful room and kitchen, but for my own emotional and mental health, I need to be where my friends are.
That I need to see what's up with this ambulance company. They're asking that I go part-time, and I don't know if I can do that. They're asking me to miss the first week of classes to go to orientation, and I don't know if I can do that, especially since I am shopping quite a few classes. I'm already going to be working most every Sunday at BU, and I don't want to put my academics in danger. More to come.
That I am leaving my home again. Because I had a bad fall semester, I have LOVED being home. Doing puzzles, seeing hometown friends, baking with my family--and I don't want to leave. Which is why I'm trying to arrange for everything to go well this semester with housing so that I get off to a good start.
Bleh. My life. Not nearly as much EMS as I would like, but there's time yet.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Status Update: December
Team:
Orienting with the aforementioned ambulance company in mid-January. News to follow after that.
Really want to learn about running a megacode. Borrowing medic textbooks from the library.
Reconsidering PA, considering MD. Thoroughly okay with the idea of taking a few years after college to work and find out what it is I'm looking for in a medical career.
Knit myself a hat. =)
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to the other BEMCo TA liaison-person, who is currently in the middle of her first ever ambulance shift! I'm incredibly envious of her--but here's to that it all goes well. Rock on, girl.
Orienting with the aforementioned ambulance company in mid-January. News to follow after that.
Really want to learn about running a megacode. Borrowing medic textbooks from the library.
Reconsidering PA, considering MD. Thoroughly okay with the idea of taking a few years after college to work and find out what it is I'm looking for in a medical career.
Knit myself a hat. =)
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to the other BEMCo TA liaison-person, who is currently in the middle of her first ever ambulance shift! I'm incredibly envious of her--but here's to that it all goes well. Rock on, girl.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Good news!
Greetings everyone!
I bring a variety of good news. Going chronologically:
1) I've completed my CPR instructor certification. My card will be on its way this week, and I'm now allowed to teach CPR up to the BLS level. My first class will be a BLS refresher on the 1st. We're also starting to teach people CPR with AED, as part of the new public access defibrillation program at Brandeis. Very exciting!
2) After driving out to drop off my resume and cover letter last week, I am currently in the pre-employment process at a local ambulance company. I had an interview on Monday, had my pre-employment drug test done day (my first one ever!), and I'm in the process of getting an attested copy of my driving record. Hopefully, I'll start with orientation in December! The internet is notoriously poor with conveying emotion, but I am through the roof about this. I have wanted to work for this company since I was an EMT student, and I plan on working with them until I go to PA school around 2015.
3) Completely not related to EMS, but I'm turning 20 tomorrow!
ETA: I am 20 now! Yay!
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, readers!
All three of you =)
I bring a variety of good news. Going chronologically:
1) I've completed my CPR instructor certification. My card will be on its way this week, and I'm now allowed to teach CPR up to the BLS level. My first class will be a BLS refresher on the 1st. We're also starting to teach people CPR with AED, as part of the new public access defibrillation program at Brandeis. Very exciting!
2) After driving out to drop off my resume and cover letter last week, I am currently in the pre-employment process at a local ambulance company. I had an interview on Monday, had my pre-employment drug test done day (my first one ever!), and I'm in the process of getting an attested copy of my driving record. Hopefully, I'll start with orientation in December! The internet is notoriously poor with conveying emotion, but I am through the roof about this. I have wanted to work for this company since I was an EMT student, and I plan on working with them until I go to PA school around 2015.
3) Completely not related to EMS, but I'm turning 20 tomorrow!
ETA: I am 20 now! Yay!
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, readers!
All three of you =)
Friday, October 8, 2010
love letter
To the Brandeis community,
This is what happens when you call BEMCo.
When the pager goes off, I will most likely swear, sometimes rather loudly, since I’m probably being interrupted. I might be making dinner or watching a movie or trying to finish that lab report that is due tomorrow and why didn’t I start sooner? But I will turn on my radio, put on my shoes and jacket, and wait for someone to come get me to take me to you.
I will see you at your worst: sick, scared, drunk, unresponsive, covered in your own vomit, bleeding, alone, embarrassed—sometimes, just having a bad day. These things happen to everyone—everyone falls down or drinks too much or just doesn’t feel well sometimes. I will sit with you, hold your hand, and say just that. “Don’t apologize, you’ve done nothing wrong,” I find myself saying so much.
People often complain about how boring it is to be the secondary—on paper, our duty is to fill out the paperwork. Our job is to ask you, “Where do you live? What’s your social security number? Do you have Brandeis insurance?” It gets boring. We stand around, get things from the truck, get in the way. I’ve realized that this is the absolute bare minimum for what the secondary should do. The primary’s job is to direct medical care—and you will be well cared for in that respect, I assure you—and the tertiary’s is to take vitals. I’ve taken it upon myself to care for you. I want to make sure that even if you do not remember my name, remember my face, you will remember that you did not feel alone.
I will explain things to you in a way that you will understand. If you need to go, I will try to find your wallet, your phone, your shoes. No one likes being in the hospital without these things. Depending on what happened, I may ride with you to the hospital, or I may help take you down to the ambulance. Whatever happens, I will tell you what is happening every step of the way, and when we get there, I will say to you, “I hope that when we see each other again, it will be under better circumstances.” Or I may say to you as they load you into the ambulance, “Feel better—” and I will call you by your name. I do not want you to be just a call statistic number.
I will return to my life, and eventually, you will return to yours. Perhaps our paths will cross. Like middle schoolers who like each other, I cannot make the first move. So you may—I’ve been hugged, thanked, apologized to. I never expect it, so when it happens, it’s the highlight of my week. Just seeing you back on campus and healthy is reward enough—everything else is a bonus. I really cannot express this in words.
Or you may not remember me, which is what I generally expect. I’ll probably look at you a little longer than most when I scan the room, perhaps passing over twice—yes, it really is you. You’re back on campus, and seemingly doing well, and that will be satisfaction enough for me.
Forever yours,
Mariah
This is what happens when you call BEMCo.
When the pager goes off, I will most likely swear, sometimes rather loudly, since I’m probably being interrupted. I might be making dinner or watching a movie or trying to finish that lab report that is due tomorrow and why didn’t I start sooner? But I will turn on my radio, put on my shoes and jacket, and wait for someone to come get me to take me to you.
I will see you at your worst: sick, scared, drunk, unresponsive, covered in your own vomit, bleeding, alone, embarrassed—sometimes, just having a bad day. These things happen to everyone—everyone falls down or drinks too much or just doesn’t feel well sometimes. I will sit with you, hold your hand, and say just that. “Don’t apologize, you’ve done nothing wrong,” I find myself saying so much.
People often complain about how boring it is to be the secondary—on paper, our duty is to fill out the paperwork. Our job is to ask you, “Where do you live? What’s your social security number? Do you have Brandeis insurance?” It gets boring. We stand around, get things from the truck, get in the way. I’ve realized that this is the absolute bare minimum for what the secondary should do. The primary’s job is to direct medical care—and you will be well cared for in that respect, I assure you—and the tertiary’s is to take vitals. I’ve taken it upon myself to care for you. I want to make sure that even if you do not remember my name, remember my face, you will remember that you did not feel alone.
I will explain things to you in a way that you will understand. If you need to go, I will try to find your wallet, your phone, your shoes. No one likes being in the hospital without these things. Depending on what happened, I may ride with you to the hospital, or I may help take you down to the ambulance. Whatever happens, I will tell you what is happening every step of the way, and when we get there, I will say to you, “I hope that when we see each other again, it will be under better circumstances.” Or I may say to you as they load you into the ambulance, “Feel better—” and I will call you by your name. I do not want you to be just a call statistic number.
I will return to my life, and eventually, you will return to yours. Perhaps our paths will cross. Like middle schoolers who like each other, I cannot make the first move. So you may—I’ve been hugged, thanked, apologized to. I never expect it, so when it happens, it’s the highlight of my week. Just seeing you back on campus and healthy is reward enough—everything else is a bonus. I really cannot express this in words.
Or you may not remember me, which is what I generally expect. I’ll probably look at you a little longer than most when I scan the room, perhaps passing over twice—yes, it really is you. You’re back on campus, and seemingly doing well, and that will be satisfaction enough for me.
Forever yours,
Mariah
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Quick Update
I know that I've been doing a terrible job of keeping up on this blog, and I promise I will post something substantive soon. But for now:
I love EMS even more now. I can feel that I'm getting better with patients. I don't feel awkward talking to them anymore. I feel like I actually know what I'm doing on scene. And I do. And it's awesome.
Mariah
I love EMS even more now. I can feel that I'm getting better with patients. I don't feel awkward talking to them anymore. I feel like I actually know what I'm doing on scene. And I do. And it's awesome.
Mariah
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Always a Student
Summer is in full swing (and has been for a while). I'm currently in my second semester of chemistry at a state college near my house, preparing for a lifetime in the medical field. I'm doing very well, and am very glad that I don't need to spend the 3 hours out of class for every hour in class that they suggested.
I'm working at BU once or twice a week, and I'm loving it. Honestly, the worst part is the commute. I find that many of the lead instructors are willing to let me lead as much as I'm comfortable, which is great. It's interesting to be on the teaching side of the table, so soon after being a student.
I also took a CPR instructor course--I have to teach two classes before I officially finish the course. It was interesting--the AHA has found that videoinstruction is the best way to teach CPR, so there wasn't a lot to learn in the course.
I'm also currently working my way through Kelly Grayson's "A Paramedic's Story: Life, Death, and Everything in Between." So far, I love it.
I'm in class now, so I should go pay attention to the lecture, but here's for the quick update on my life.
I'm working at BU once or twice a week, and I'm loving it. Honestly, the worst part is the commute. I find that many of the lead instructors are willing to let me lead as much as I'm comfortable, which is great. It's interesting to be on the teaching side of the table, so soon after being a student.
I also took a CPR instructor course--I have to teach two classes before I officially finish the course. It was interesting--the AHA has found that videoinstruction is the best way to teach CPR, so there wasn't a lot to learn in the course.
I'm also currently working my way through Kelly Grayson's "A Paramedic's Story: Life, Death, and Everything in Between." So far, I love it.
I'm in class now, so I should go pay attention to the lecture, but here's for the quick update on my life.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
It's Been a While
Ah, summer. There's nothing to do here, but I'll be damned if I don't busy myself with something. Last summer: property office and EMT school. This time around: Chemistry, TAing EMT school, and actually seeing people. And the endless, fruitless, search for work.
Chemistry! I've decided to be a Physician Assistant. I don't want to do the full-out med school thing. I want to work closely with patients. I want to work--in the Navy? I keep surprising myself with these things. But I'm taking my prerequisites and checking off the boxes for applications. It's like being in high school again, except it's for real this time. Applying to and attending a masters program means making a choice about what I want to do. There's no "undecided" major in PA school.
TAing! Like at Brandeis, but with money. I love it. I led my group in CPR on Sunday, becuase I had a wonderful lead instructor who was willing to let me take charge. It felt really good--everything came together. Considering going for I/C at some point.
Seeing people! Last summer, I would work, school, sleep, repeat. I saw Matt every two weeks if I was lucky. I went for a walk with my best friend the other night, had a few bonfires with the hometown crew (accompanied by a lovely phone call to my parents from the police--but nothing happened), late night meanderings around town, seeing that nothing really changed.
Job search! Blurgh. Harassing HR people at a few places. Trying to find somewhere that will take me per diem that I can access form Brandeis. Without a car. Options are severely limited. Also, the fact that PA programs require EMT work to be "more than just patient transfer" means that what I can do as a basic in the Boston area might not count. Looking at places that will train me as a CNA while I work for them, but it feels like a step back. Making beds and wheeling patients around and monitoring bedpans--they're important tasks, I know, but I'm already trained for so much more. The fact that CNA work counts but patient transfer doesn't bothers me. I can't change the system though, so all I can do is roll with it.
So that's my life. Matt and I are coming up on our 1.75 year anniversary and yes I still count the months. When I look at my life as of two years ago and how it is now, I can't help but be happy when each month rolls around.
PA people! Military medical professionals! CNAs! I'd especially love to hear what you have to say about all this. Leave a comment, if you're so inclined!
Chemistry! I've decided to be a Physician Assistant. I don't want to do the full-out med school thing. I want to work closely with patients. I want to work--in the Navy? I keep surprising myself with these things. But I'm taking my prerequisites and checking off the boxes for applications. It's like being in high school again, except it's for real this time. Applying to and attending a masters program means making a choice about what I want to do. There's no "undecided" major in PA school.
TAing! Like at Brandeis, but with money. I love it. I led my group in CPR on Sunday, becuase I had a wonderful lead instructor who was willing to let me take charge. It felt really good--everything came together. Considering going for I/C at some point.
Seeing people! Last summer, I would work, school, sleep, repeat. I saw Matt every two weeks if I was lucky. I went for a walk with my best friend the other night, had a few bonfires with the hometown crew (accompanied by a lovely phone call to my parents from the police--but nothing happened), late night meanderings around town, seeing that nothing really changed.
Job search! Blurgh. Harassing HR people at a few places. Trying to find somewhere that will take me per diem that I can access form Brandeis. Without a car. Options are severely limited. Also, the fact that PA programs require EMT work to be "more than just patient transfer" means that what I can do as a basic in the Boston area might not count. Looking at places that will train me as a CNA while I work for them, but it feels like a step back. Making beds and wheeling patients around and monitoring bedpans--they're important tasks, I know, but I'm already trained for so much more. The fact that CNA work counts but patient transfer doesn't bothers me. I can't change the system though, so all I can do is roll with it.
So that's my life. Matt and I are coming up on our 1.75 year anniversary and yes I still count the months. When I look at my life as of two years ago and how it is now, I can't help but be happy when each month rolls around.
PA people! Military medical professionals! CNAs! I'd especially love to hear what you have to say about all this. Leave a comment, if you're so inclined!
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