EMS instructors rarely talk about how to handle the doubts and anxiety that comes with being a new paramedic. The book "Paramedic" by Peter Canning deals with those fears and many more. My top five from the book and as a working street medic:
The fear of:
Can I do the job?
Not having the right knowledge.
Not being able to prove yourself worthy of other paramedics.
Not being seen as a good medic by your peers.
Canning worked in politics as a speech writer for a former governor and U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. Worked in government at the state EMS level but left it to become a paramedic.
The book was written to give the public a glimpse into the life of a paramedic, but I found it to be more of a look into the soul of a paramedic. If you’re a new medic or still in school these are some of the emotions you can expect to experience.
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