I know it’s been a minute, but as I am sitting here, listening to the sound of rain and the crackle of thunder, I find myself with a lot of things going through my head.  It’s been roughly a month and a half since I started school.  So far things have gone well for me.  My grade is fairly decent, although I will say there is room for improvement.  I have learned so much up to this point though.  It is almost overwhelming at times actually.  The funny part of that, is we are just now starting to get into the “meat and potatoes” of the program.  My instructor has managed, almost unknowingly I would imagine, to teach a few tips and tricks that I can use everyday when I am on the road as a basic.  That is the one thing I have found most helpful about all this, being able to take some of this low-level Medic skill stuff and use it within my scope of practice. I have become quite proficient at intubation.  On a mannequin anyway.  Very rarely do I find myself unable to get one.  Even when they try to stump us a little by putting a C-Collar on it, or any other type of distraction they throw at us.  As far as IV’s go, I’m getting there.  I know it will take a lot of practice to master it, but there is only so much you can do as far as feeling for veins and what not on a simulated arm.

A few problems have popped up along the way though.  Issues in my personal life have made it very difficult to keep my focus from time to time.  Work issues, and financial issues among others have caused me stress, and I have tried my hardest to overcome them.  Also, I find myself at work stuck in that Medic mentality occasionally.  I realize that Basic skills are usually the most important, and most overlooked tools used on any run.  But I find myself at times thinking how I would treat this patient as a medic.  I am almost two steps ahead of where I should be in that run.  Although I believe this could be a good thing, due to the fact that what I am learning in class is obviously sticking with me, and my critical thinking skills are developing the way they should, it could also be detrimental in that I don’t want to be one of those Medics that gets “tunnel vision” and wants to stick the IV and push drugs before realizing the patient simply needs oxygen. But, it’s a work in progress.  I have at least 9 more months to work on these things, and get myself exactly where I need to be, God willing.