Confessions of an EMS Newbie

(23:49) Ron’s not going to be a paramedic in the near future so we are talking with some other newbies. JD Meyerdirk is getting ready to start paramedic school and we sit down with him to talk about it. We also talk about Kilted to Kick Cancer a lot. It starts September first and Kelly’s … Continue reading 83 Newbie JD Meyerdirk →

(25:00) Despite many many failures, Ron has finally come to the end of his Paramedic training experience. This week he retook the skill he failed, and took his NREMT-P cognitive exam. Listen to find out the results. What I Did This Week On Saturday I went to the ALERT Academy in Big Sandy Texas and … Continue reading 82 NREMT-P →

(34:56) Ron passed his oral boards but didn’t pass all of his skills. This week we talk about pediatric airways and prepping for the written exam. Also mentioned, doing drug math, paramedic test prep books and CPR HD. Mentions: MedicTests.com Listener Questions Matt asks: I will be graduating college this coming December with a bachelors … Continue reading 81 NREMT Skills Testing →

(22:48) Well I thought I was done, but it turns out I was living an illusion. What I Did This Week I did not pass my orals, as a matter of fact I failed them miserably. 12 Lead and ECG interpretation Drug Doses Hit the stress wall and flamed out during PALS. Failed PALS Doses … Continue reading 80 Not So Done →

(58:06) In this episode Ron talks with Licensed Paramedic Sarah Francis McClure his paramedic clinical internship preceptor about the time they spent together. Tell us a little about you and how you became a paramedic. What are your memories of your own clinical internship? How do they effect how you interact with students? You have … Continue reading SP09 My Clinical Preceptor – Sarah Francis McClure →

(46:21) For Ron paramedic school is over. Finished his clinicals including getting his vaginal birth, took his department’s oral board exam and 180 question final. Ron and Kelly noticed today that this podcast has become a lot less newbie friendly because he now understands all those terms he didn’t earlier in his school time, so … Continue reading 79 Finished Paramedic School →

(35:31) Ron finally had that call he was so worried about when he started EMT Basic all those years ago. He’s almost done with paramedic school, finishing up clinicals and classes over the next couple of weeks. What I Did This Week Assessment Based Management Learned from one of the instructors – stick by what … Continue reading 78 Plug The Holes →

(38:42) Ron has a bit of an emotional breakdown during a clinical this week and we talk about the effects of fatigue and how you handle not knowing what to do. Also how do you know when you are ready? What I Did This Week Assessment Based Management More scenarios and I’m wondering a little … Continue reading 77 Breakdown →

(26:25) This week the Newbie sets down with Joseph Storm of MedicTests.com and talks about preparing for the national registry EMT and Paramedic tests. Joe gives some really great tips on taking and passing the test. What are the most common questions about Incident Command? What is the most common acidosis question and answer? Listen … Continue reading SP08 – National Test Prep →

(32:01) Starting a new semester with testing. And doing medic things everyone does, but that he hasn’t learned yet. What I Did This Week Assessment Based Management Tested all our paramedic skills. The one that got the most people was Static Cardiology. I got all the rhythms, but mess-up 2 drug doses Also you have … Continue reading 76 Calling In Reports →

(45:44) We’re back from a long break and the Newbie has been busy. Ron started his clinical internship and have now done 4 24 hour shifts with one crew at the Harris County Emergency Corps. He’s learning a lot, here’s some of the thing Ron and Kelly talk about: How to use the IV cath … Continue reading 75 Real Medic Stuff Now →

(21:58) Ron goes through his final final and some skills testing. No more lectures, no more teacher’s dirty looks. What I Did This Week Clinicals Paper work. What a pain. Mentions: Bob Page on Stethoscopes Listener Questions I had originally planned to contact Kelly directly, but then realized his answer would probably be useful for … Continue reading 74 The Final Final →

(29:40) Ron has his last lecture of paramedic school and it is about Environmental Emergencies. What I Did This Week Medical Emergencies Environmental Emergencies Heat Cold Do you have a low temperature thermometer? We’ll see hypothermia in Houston because there are lots of ways to have it happen, but she said not going to see … Continue reading 73 Environmental Emergencies →

(33:54) Blooooodddd, maybe this should have been the halloween episode. Ron learns about blood diseases. Its also scary how burned out everyone in class is getting at this point. Only 3 weeks to go. Ron gets his textbook changed. He also gets an EMS job, find out what’s scary about that on this week’s episode. … Continue reading 72 Hematology and Burn Out →

(27:30) This week Ron and Kelly podcast live from the 2011 Texas EMS Conference. They discuss the different lectures and sessions they attended, which were good, which were packed so full of information it was tough to keep up and which left the brain as soon as the feet left the room. There’s talk of … Continue reading 71 2011 Texas EMS Conference →