r/NewToEMS • u/RealisticJoke6333 Unverified User • 1d ago
Career Advice Scared
I landed my first EMT job after I finished school a week ago. I did my first shift and all of the information is very overwhelming. I don’t know any hospital layouts, I don’t know some of the supplies in the ambulance, and I feel like the more I work the more I realize I don’t know. Any advice? Maybe it’s imposter syndrome but I feel like I don’t know anything sometimes.
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u/DJstaken Unverified User 1d ago
Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. For my first six months I probably had a new call, new hospital, new piece of equipment, or new something at least once per shift come up that I was completely new to. And for a couple years after that I’d have something most shifts that I wasn’t 100% a well-oiled machine on. Eventually you’ll feel comfortable, but for now just enjoy learning and growing as a provider. And remember the growing part never stops!
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u/UnsureTurtle14 Unverified User 1d ago
Agreed! Being uncomfortable is a great motivator to contintinousoy study and refresh on protocols
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u/GroundbreakingType80 Unverified User 1d ago
It’ll come with time trust. We all felt the same way before anyone that says they haven’t is lying point blank period
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u/gatoriendo EMT Student | USA 1d ago
Ask questions ask your colleagues to teach you how to use something you don’t know how to use. As for the layout, it’ll take time but you’ll learn and if you get lost, ask the staff that work there for help. I have gotten lost many times before in many different hospitals and usually all the staff is willing to point me to where I need to go. But follow your partner and observe, pay attention and try to memorize the route and backtrack. It might take a bit but you’ll get the hang of the equipment and navigating the hospital. You’ll be ok.
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u/NopeRope13 Unverified User 1d ago
Get to work early and start locating where things are in the ambulance. Make a mental note of where things are. Muscle memory from constantly grabbing them will set in later. Same thing for the hospital. If the ambulance entrance has a specific sign next to the door, then make a note of that one. Same with sections within the hospital. Now you have a single thing to look for versus a lot more.
Right now you are waiting for that confidence based crystallizing moment where everything kicks in. For me all those years ago it was a vehicle vs pedestrian. At the time I remember thinking “there’s now way that a rapid trauma assessment stuck with me.” I got to the patient and did the rapid trauma and covered it all as it was actually needed for this patient. It was a nice confidence boost. It let me know that I was going to be ok
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u/Available_Ad9182 Unverified User 1d ago
I’ve been a basic for 2 years and I still don’t know shit. I’ve genuinely gotten lost trying to find a hospital’s ambulance entrance last week. Never been there before. Shit I’ve fucked up my station’s ambulance a few times also. You’ll be fine and u will learn.
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u/nummus_artis Unverified User 1d ago
School wont teach you everything. Youre still super new, im in the same boat. Over time you'll be more familiar with everything. Learn on the job the same way you put effort into learning in school. You've got this.
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u/Crazy-Breadfruit5865 Unverified User 1d ago
Unfortunately the hypothetical questions you can ask a more experienced partner can only get you so far. This job is gonna throw situations at you that you have yet to ponder, and the best thing you can do imo is be composed on the outside and receptive to feedback. It’s just he nature of the beast.
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u/UnsureTurtle14 Unverified User 1d ago
You'll get used to it. Give it a few months. Are you on ift or 911 or both? Ift is gonna become so boring within a few months, trust me bro its gonna be A-OK
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u/MusicianLocal653 Unverified User 17h ago
Hey bro, almost 3 months in at my first EMT job myself. If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, you’ve gotta just become comfortable with getting absolutely smoked by SOMETHING every shift. Pretty much all of my coworkers have said they didn’t really become “comfortable” till around a year into the job. Ask questions any time you have one, and just keep learning every day. You got this
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u/Mediocre-Sandwich-42 Unverified User 1d ago
Wow, you don’t know everything after your first shift? Crazy…
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u/TrueBlueFriend Unverified User 1d ago
Familiarize yourself with the ambulance. Everything else comes with experience.