Nate talks about a motorcycle crash he stopped at on his way home and how he was critical in saving an injured patient and how he became close with the family who still talk to him today. Even though the patient ultimately died, the impact he made on that family was immense. 

Patients remember us

We need to remember we treat a person not a complaint or a room number

The balance is finding the human connection while not over-empathizing and taking on burdens that are not yours to bare

We talk about moral injury vs burnout – I do agree that we do not need to blame the individual for their burnout. It is certainly caused from many factors outside of their control factor BUT I like to place the responsibility for overcoming burnout on the individual because no one is coming to save us. Looking to blame external factors doesn’t help us in the long run

Mental health struggles are not always obvious to us in people we spend time with

Casey talks about how the cooperate leaders are actually trying to do the right thing for the front-line workers in spite of what we might think about them

What advice for yourself 5-10 years ago?

Nate: Slow down. Listen to those with experience. Bring your love of the job to someone else, especially new people. 

Kash: Remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own. EM is a team sport.

Aaron: Enjoy teaching the newbies. You can make or break their experience based on your affect. 

Casey: Journal your days in EMS. The babies you deliver. The skills you perform. Something to look back on can be very valuable.

We mean a lot to new people and students so remember the influence you have on people

Support the show

Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care.

Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics

Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours.

If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you.

1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition