First Paramedic Call

I would like to believe that with every newly graduate comes a sense of eagerness and sloth. One being excited to move on after working so hard to reach the common goal of a particular degree, knowing all the doors of opportunity are now open; yet, in the same way, have a sense of wanting to quit and relax for a semester or two with no intention to do anything except wade in one's own accomplishment. As for myself, I was obvious pulled between the two options. At least until the student loans continue to show up in the mail.

Whenever anyone would ask, "So Kellie where do you plan on working?" or "So Kellie what's your next step?" My simple reply would follow, "I'll figure it out once I test out of becoming a paramedic." Well after the self-doubt, stress, pretest after pretest, and run down skills review - I did accomplish my personal goal of passing my National Registry and getting my state certification processed less than two months after graduation. With that said, I am now a Licenses Paramedic and I still haven't 'figured it out'.

No less than a week after my state was processed; I had the nerve wrecking opportunity to practice my new skills and responsibilities. Where I worked part time in the beginning since I received my Intermediate, was in a rural area just north of Abilene that covers an entire county called Fisher County, home based in Rotan TX. A normal day working with Fisher County, the EMS call volume consisted of 2 calls a day, but of course there were days that can be considered much more busier. My first 48 hours as a paramedic was "one of those days".

During those 2 days spent as a fresh paramedic, we had about 9 calls within the 48 hours. Mind you when I say 'we', there are two trucks on per day and usually switch every 12 hours to be on first call. For the most part all the calls I received were pretty basic with a transfer. But, of course, my first call of that day was dispatched as a patient who fell and might not be breathing. In my mind I strongly questioned, "how could the patient MIGHT not be breathing?" Needless to say after hearing that I STOPPED breathing. Honestly, in my head was thinking 'okay we need the airway bag, stretcher, cardiac monitor, and LBB.' As I'm sitting in the passenger's chair I want to repeat list out loud to my partner, but my mouth could not open and form words...literally! Come to have it on scene, the patient was laying on his right side and was in fact breathing. Apparently the poor guy was just discharged from the ER and when he got out of the car at his home, he slipped and fell. Yet it was greatest sigh of relief in my life.