Asking for advice: SAH dad going to EMT / Medic school

In My Humble Opinion
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Well, after eight very rewarding years of being a stay-at-home dad, I’m finally going through with a long held dream: in September, I will be going back to school to become an EMT, and then a paramedic. I already took the course for the first level required here in Alberta, Emergency Medical Responder, and passed the certification test from the Alberta college of Paramedics in January. The EMT course will take one school year, with the class and skill labs going from September to Christmas, and the practicums in the new year. If I understand this right, there are two major practicums, the first in an interfacility transfer ambulance, the second in an emergency response ambulance.

I know there are a good number of EMTs and paramedics on the SD, not to mention other emergency response workers and people who have gone back to school in mid-life. What advice would you offer me, either dealing with the educational aspects, or the actual work itself?

I have pretty good study habits, from a previous engineering degree, and found myself motivated to study during the EMR like I never did in university. During the summer, I am reviewing all my notes and textbooks, and also studied a book on the human, emotional and moral aspects of pre-hospital medicine. My approach to EMS in one based on seeking to exercise compassion and skills, not adrenaline, so a call for an unresponsive man due to alcohol appears just as rewarding as responding red-lights & siren to a multiple casualty collision.

So what should I look out for? Any common pitfalls? Is there anything you think I might be missing? To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, what are the “unknown” unknowns?

Thanks in advance.

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Congrats on this big change, trupa – let me move this thread to our advice forum, IMHO.

twickster, MPSIMS moderator

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I think you’re freakin fantastic for doing this. My only advice would be to make sure your kids are on board - they will need to understand that you need quiet time to study and sleep. Get them to help with meals and housework to take the stress off you. Try and make it a “team effort” - if Dad does well in school we all succeed!

(I don’t have kids so take my advice with a few grains of salt.)

Not to be nosy but do you have a wife? She’ll need to be on board too and willing to help out, as well as cut you some slack when you’re tired or busy with homework.

Going back to school as an adult is difficult as hell (I did it when I was 25, no kids thank God) so I greatly admire you - especially for such a difficult and intensive course. You’re going to save lives one day!

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First principle: The patient is the one with the disease.

Also important: At a cardiac arrest, the first procedure is to take your own pulse.

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How old are the kids? I definitely agree on the need to get them on board. One thing I’ve done that really helps is that I made a study center where I can study while she works on homework. We’re together, but working. I also, to her tolerance and only while it’s fun, practice skills (the ones that don’t hurt) on her - breath sounds, counting pulse rate, etc. Helps her feel more involved.

I’ve got a sign that says TEST TIME for the online tests I take. I cannot be disturbed doing those or the test shuts off, and it can be hard for people to tell whether I really can’t be disturbed or I’m on Facebook again.

If they’re old enough, maybe look into one of the Red Cross or park district Babysitter classes that includes CPR and basic first aid. It might bring some of what you’re doing less abstract if they’ve taken it at their level, and it’s a great thing to have on a babysitting resume anyhow.

Other than that remember: all bleeding stops eventually, and all patients die eventually. You won’t save them all, and that’s okay. Your presence is therapeutic as much for the family (“we did everything we could, and that nice paramedic worked so hard to save Mom; it was just her time”) as for the patient sometimes. That doesn’t mean you can get pulled into their drama and lose focus when you’re doing compressions or starting a line, just that you’ve often offered healing without even meaning to.

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First, thanks twikster, for steering me to the right place.

The recurring theme of concern for my kids, in this case, my son trusquirt, just goes to highlight the collective wisdom of the dope, and the reason I value your advice. Trusquirt will be entering grade 6, and his readiness to handle this situation has been the principal factor in the timing of this decision. I had this figured out by about the second year at home, and knowing I’d have to wait 5-6 years was a bit daunting. He’s right behind me on this, and there were many a time during the EMR program that we shared the kitchen table to study. He took particular delight in putting the shoe on the other foot, and quizzing me for my tests. I’m hopeful that I can model good studying habits to him.

One of the advantages of going to a community college for me is that the school year will end in April, which will allow me to be at home for spring & summer, and be with trusquirt for all of the baseball season. (he’s become quite the ball player, but I will stop here, lest I digress into shameless parent boasting mode). Other, private programs are faster to graduation, but go all summer. It will also allow me to indulge in one of my favourite times of the day, playing catch before school starts.

My better half, Serious Lark, is very supportive, and being a physician, has been hugely helpful in putting up with my endless “but why are they saying this” questions.

Qadgop, your point about whose pulse to take first is well taken. During my first scenario in front of the whole EMR class, I was verbally whipping through the primary and secondary survey scripts so fast that the instructor suggested I should take a hit of O2 before giving it to the patient. I had a classmate who was a marvel of calm and steadiness, and now I picture him before every scenario.

Any advice on how one might actuall go about staying calm when the poop hits the fan?

Finally, could you please kindly explain you meaning of “the patient is the one with the disease”? I’m afraid I didn’t grok that koan…

WhyNot, you highlight a point I have been trying to hammer into my head: a lot of my patients aren’t going to make it. I don’t know if that’s penetrated yet, but I guess we’ll see eh? You point about therapeutic resposibility to family and next of kin is a good one. No one has mentioned this at all so far in the EMR course.

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On a lighter note, you and other EMTs/paramedics might enjoy this thread on another forum:

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Oh man, Seanette, I’m only 4 pages into that thread, and I’ve laughed so hard I cried. Thanks for that.

Dear nursing home staff: if you can’t find the wheelchair patient with dementia, look at the bottom of the stairwell…

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I’m not an EMT, but I laughed all the way through that. Thank you!

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I’m a civilian myself, and that’s one of four threads on that forum I find hilarious. Following are links to the other three.

Here’s a shortie:
TV fills in those pesky gaps in the med school curriculum.
Fair warning, the next two threads are pretty long:
Pharmacy-related
Educational moments in the ER.

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trupa, you may want to check out Slate’s advice column this week. There can’t be that many SAHD-EMTs out there; any chance the third letter might be referring to you? :cool::smiley: