I haven't posted anything this week?

No, I haven't.

Those of you who care will have noticed that I should  have been back at work for three shifts now but I have not made a single post.

Our Certificate to Practice lasts for three years, during which, in a mystical and difficult to understand sequence we are required to attend one of our education centers and complete a three day workshop for revision of skills, protocols, pharmacology and any issues that we put forward for clarification as well as assessment scenarios, supposedly every 18 months.
This one has been focused on;
Mentoring
Sepsis
Paediatric
Stroke
Cardiac review
Mental health.

Factually I really learnt little as I do try to keep myself in touch with contemporary readings etc but rather as usual absorbed little pearls of wisdom from the older wiser heads.

Night shift tomorrow and then days off, no resting though. I have a 2000 word assessment for Uni that's struggling at about 1800 words short and a telephone interview for a possible new station I have applied for in a rural setting.
 

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

Why would a 2 y/o take stool softener?

Yeah! I don't know either but our 1st call was for that.
We consulted all the pharmacy guidelines and directions and decided that as the little fella was running madly around the house in a game with other children that double nappies when he does slow down and expect a heroic poo!
40F - Anxiety
48M - IP with a laceration to his face where he fell down.
42F - Chest infection being treated by LMO but she requested a brochodialator neb and declined transport.
21F - Very pissed, lost balance and sustained a head lac needing stitches.
34M - 2/52 post op for orthopedic surgery now very painful.
60F - Vertigo.

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

Split from my partner and sent away for the shift.

And that usually means some really good work.
Just not for me of late,

42M - In a whole world of hurt with renal colic, kidney stones teaching us ignorant men what child birth feels like. In the end I had given him 30mg of Morphine and still he was restless with the pain.
23M - Motorcyclist who had gone over the handlebars and then the roof of the taxi before landing near the drivers door. Complaining of lower abdo/pelvic pain and I applied a pelvic sheet and Rx as such but frankly I think he slapped his goolies on the gas tank and then the speedo!
38M - Has Google'd himself into a rare and possibly fatal disease or it's just some cold symptoms that he hasn't understood. Lets consider experimenting with some night time cold and flu medicine and if she wants to his wife can take him to their LMO tomorrow. She was great and just needed someone in a uniform to tell him that.  

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

It's not a good job when the dispatcher apologises for giving it to you!

18F - My foot is sore. Did you sit on it on the train? Yes! Could that be why it's sore? Yes! Left on her own TWO feet.
81F - At that stage where she has been approved for aged care placement but can't quite leave home. We're still not sure how we got involved but we bypassed ED for Geriatric Care.
80F - Has been attempting to manage a sprained ankle at home for three days but it's getting too hard God love her.
41M - One day of the year that he's in the office rather than on the road, BAM witnessed heart attack. Instant CPR and application of an AED with one DC shock Return Of  Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC).
Pt is conscious on our arrival GCS = 13/14, AF, tachy. Turns out he is being investigated for the arrhythmia.
We all told him to by a lottery ticket.
42M - Walked into his LMO's office tight chested, pain in left arm, diaphoretic, they gave him an aspirin and took him outside to the street to wait for us. Our 12 lead shows NSR and the GTN did nothing for the tightness or pain but we Tx as cardiac.
68M - Acquired brain injury form alcohol abuse, anxiety issues that are being heightened by issues to do with his accommodation at a low care facility who appear to be taking a rough handed course to have him removed. Tx more for social issues. 

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

 Taz

Mad Mondays.

The hospitals are full and there's no beds so my plan was to only take in those that need it. As I've said before if they state they want transport to hospital I must take them, even if I think they're going to walk straight out and go do some shopping or are just using me as a taxi.

34F - Cyclist who self stacked. Grazed elbow, sore shoulder but everything was moving in the right way so take the day off and self manage at home.
42F - Giving up the smoke and put the whole 20 mg nicotine patch on and found out how awful a drug it is. She took the thing off herself and I just confirmed that she needs a smaller dose for her petite frame. Go to work.
83F - New to renal failure and refused dialysis on Friday and now if feeling the toxins and fluid retention. She wants it now.
54F - Reflux chest pain, resolved, stay at home.
19M - Playing sport, tackled and compound # Tib/Fib. Surgery tonight to be pinned.
Flagged down to help a Gent with vision problems cross the road. Happy to do it but why did it have to be me?
??M - Cyclist V Car didn't want us not hurt, just winded.
19M - Same sport as the #, concussion, dizzy and unbalanced an hour post hit. He needs to be watch.
89F - Mechanical fall and what I suspect to be a #/dislocation of the left shoulder.

Nine jobs in 12 hrs, 4 not taken in to waste the systems time and money.

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

Not many the next night but interesting.

Not that it started out that way really,

36F - Developmentally delayed, seems to have a Hx of going out to organised events and fainting and being transported. Tonight it was at the LIVE recording of a reality TV that I'm not allowed to name because that would indicate where in Australia I work and I'm not allowed to do that. I don't think we appeared in the broadcast and the stage looks much bigger on the little screen.
22F - A cast member in a real family drama series. They're all either drunk or drug effected and no there is nothing in my kits to stop your daughter (pt) for shouting at you. We were called back while driving away and again asked to stop the fighting and shouting between them. Made them sit in different rooms for 10 minute while we snuck away. Halfwits watch this shit on TV for entertainment just our family didn't have silicone boobs, bling or  say OMG.
41M - Electrician in a power room and all his mate saw was a big flash. Initially unconscious his mate started CPR and the Pt was sitting up on our arrival. No visible entry/exit points, evidence of epistaxis and very tachy, confused agitated but luckily stable. Tx for observation.
Very loud, very fake and very popular night spot has 2 females who have been punched in the nose by someone male. So Cops are there and it's all very intense because of the little bit of blood and tears but we're just waiting for them to calm down so we take them to a quiet room and let them chill and start to talk and what do you know, with all that glamour and bling they started the incident. Bleeding had stopped and they just wanted to make a quick getaway.
40F - Well known cutter who, as they do nomally, doesn't do much damage. Tonight she got her tendons in the forearm. Otherwise she's a sweet, troubled person.

So I have a Traffic Offenders course to present on my first day off and then 2 days supervising some Paramedic Students from a university who have hospital ED placement to get cannula's and experience with living patients.



Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!


Taz

Sent to a neighbouring station for a quiet night.

85F - Anxious, a cuddle and some time to listen, she stayed at home.
27M - Sore knee from two weeks ago, wanted transport and we did, straight to the waiting room.
68F - Cold, and I mean temperature wise. Bed socks and a hot water bottle kept her at home.
69M- Hospital to hospital transfer with kidney stones.
11day F - Baby two of twins being transferred to home hospital, nurse escort we did nothing.


Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz