By Sharmaine Hughes, RN, BS, NREMT-P
As an Allied Health professional that started as a first responder at 18 years old to a Paramedic- RN 22 years later, I had always felt an overwhelmingly and uncomfortable separation between pre-hospital and in-hospital care providers.
I can remember feeling anxious when I had to call medical control to give a patient report or speak to a nurse in the ER about a patient I had just transferred care to. My palms would sweat and I would get tongue tied, worried I would say the wrong thing! I was very intimidated by the knowledge and skills of those professionals above my level of training. I had – and still do – have the utmost respect for their position and training.
There can be a fine line between respect and fear when working with people in authority. It was only when I started teaching and bringing students into the clinicals setting that I noticed that same fear and anxiety is present among students – all students! I began trying to get the Paramedic students and other students (Nursing, Respiratory and Medical) to start talking to each other during clinical rotations – even collaborate on the same patient if possible.
I then tried to encourage the Paramedic students to talk to the medical residents and Physicians about their patients and even participate in rounds together whenever possible. Over a couple of weeks, the tension and anxiety started to decrease and the students began to actually speak to each other.
It was wonderful. The intimidation factor dropped dramatically and the learning increased. Each discipline began to understand the scope of practice and depth of knowledge needed to perform their jobs. Once the students began to see what each group brings to the table when caring for a patient holistically a mutual found respect began to form.
Extremely excited about this new found discovery, I immediately began to collaborate with some of our other affiliates, predominately our four year college partners, to find other ways to pair our students together. The ideas began to take a working shape and the programs and learning opportunities became a reality in 2006.
We had a unique opportunity after Hurricane Katrina to bring all disciplines of heath care together. We all realized that we work towards a common goal every day – excellent patient care. The only thing that truly separates EMS providers from hospital care providers is the glass door we all walk through each day while delivering patient care.