What are the paramedic life skills necessary to do the job right? Here’s a list of the top five to put in your paramedic tool box:
1. Learning from your mistakes is a crucial paramedic life skill.
Nobody is perfect, not even doctors, nurses, paramedics or EMTs. No one wants to make a mistake, but it’s inevitable that somewhere along the line you’ll slip up. Guilt, shame, self-recrimination and fear will paralyze you and increase the likelihood that you’ll make the same mistake — or another — again.
You have to be able to move on to do your job efficiently and effectively. Make a mental note of what you’ve done wrong and what you can do to correct it. Then let it go. Take criticism well if a mistake is pointed out to you and vow to do better next time.
2. Be a good team member.
Getting along with your fellow shift workers is crucial to being successful and is an important paramedic life skill. Develop good relationships with your bosses and coworkers and keep a positive, helpful attitude. Don’t lord your elevated position over the EMTs you work with, but be a good team leader who’s willing to help those who don’t have the same level of training that you do. If someone makes a mistake that needs to be addressed, do so in a supportive way without being harsh or overly critical.
Don’t extend yourself beyond your authority. Let the boss do their job while you take care of the things that are within your scope of responsibility. Don’t gossip or ridicule fellow co-workers.
Be positive, proactive and supportive. Have a good work ethic and don’t expect others to cover for you unless it’s absolutely necessary. Be the kind of co-worker you’d like to have.
3. Develop good communication skills.
Communicate clearly and concisely. This is especially important with patients. It’s important to speak to them calmly and with confidence and even more important to listen to what they’re saying. If you’re distracted and not really listening, you can miss crucial information that will hinder your ability to assist them.
Good communication skills are also important when conveying information to the dispatcher or the hospital emergency personnel. Eliminate unnecessary chatter and get to the point quickly and concisely so everyone can do their job to the best of their ability.
4. Learning to take care of yourself is an extremely important paramedic life skill.
Eat well, get enough sleep, have regular checkups and get enough exercise to stay in good physical condition. Spend quality time with your friends and family. Find enjoyable ways to relieve the stress of the job, whether it’s playing golf, bicycling, playing cards, hiking or camping.
If you’re feeling stressed out, panicky, depressed, angry or are drinking too much, get help. These can be signs of burnout and job trauma that can be extremely serious and need to be addressed by a professional.
5. Be prepared.
Yeah, it’s the old Boy Scout motto, but it’s an important life skill for paramedics — and just about everyone. Forgetting or losing your equipment, arriving late for work, not replacing supplies or properly maintaining your equipment will hamper your ability to do your job right and negatively impact your relationships with coworkers. Plus, constantly being in catch-up mode is stressful and distracts you from doing your job well. Get organized before you start your shift and your job will be much easier and you’ll get along better with your coworkers.
