Even for those who are fortunate enough to love their chosen professions there are high points – areas where you get a deep personal satisfaction, your forte’ or niche. For me one of those areas is education. I truly enjoy teaching. I think that as a profession many people in EMS lose out on true opportunities that quality continuing education can provide.
Why? Well it’s because we’re “forced” into it. In order to remain certified we must attend a minimum number of classes, year after year – the same classes over and over again. Yes the material gets updated as time goes by, but once we have the core kernel of knowledge we tend to look down our noses at the material. Numbed by the redundancy we go through the motions, but ultimately lose interest anyway. The end result is erosion, we start losing those fine details that ultimately play a role in our overall experience and behavior as a prehospital provider.
Don’t get me wrong, complacency and apathy run amok on the other side of the table as well. Instructors often have it even easier. Teach just one or two classes a year and you get to keep your card. Depending on the certification you do not need to do anything else. So let’s say you teach the same skill each time … year after year. What happens to the rest of the class material? You know the stuff you’re supposed to be expertly versed in? For the low low price of a couple of hours investment, I get to say I’m higher on the food chain than you, when in reality you’ve done up to four times the hours and likely reviewed the material more than I did.
We’ve all seen it from all sides. The Registry Refreshers, Core 13, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, CPR … all the usual suspects lined up in your wallet. When it’s time to schedule them everyone does it – the eye roll and beleaguered sigh, indicating your disdain of the entire process. What could you possibly learn this time around that you don’t already know? As soon as you sign in you want to know what the quickest way to get out is, “How soon can we go home?” Why is the hallmark of a “good” program how early they let you out? Instructors stand up and read off the slides or skim from topic to topic while you try your best not to nod off and finally you get to call it a day – with your little slip of paper safe in your pocket for another couple of years. Until we have to repeat the cycle again. It almost makes one break into the “Circle of Life” song from The Lion King … almost.
But I’m speaking in generalizations only, it doesn’t have to be like that and very often isn’t. Everywhere there are people teaching these programs that honestly know what they’re talking about. People who have embraced and employed the very principles and practices they are demonstrating for you. They are the living proof that the tenets being shared with you are not only helpful, but in some cases absolutely crucial. They believe and they’re passionate; they accept and embody what it means to be a true professional – always honing their craft. It can be contagious if you let it.
Quality education is a reciprocal process; after all it takes two to tango does it not? Come with an open mind – listen, participate, contribute. Take a chance on learning from me and I guarantee that I will learn from you right back. I will get better at what I do, be a better educator, a better provider … because of you. And if you take what you’ve learned and share even a piece of it with someone else, then in turn you will have made that far-reaching ripple that might eventually directly impact someone’s life. Yes we save lives, every day – but learning process is one sure way that we actually make a difference.
My original purpose for this post was actually a simple thank you. This weekend marked the completion of another successful PHTLS program. Despite the overly warm rooms, rainy Sunday and the long days I think we still provided a quality program and it’s really the result of the students and the exceptional people who have dedicated themselves to helping with the program. As I was heading home tonight I got that deep sense of satisfaction that is often so rare in our field, and that is a testament to those same people. In a thankless profession rife with anonymous careers, let’s roll some credits:
Dennis O’Keefe & Brian Dolan – for taking dry material and making it comfortable and interesting, for happily assisting the class in killing or paralyzing all of their patients during baselines. Terrific job.
Vinny Cisternino – for keeping patient assessment down to earth and making rapid extrication not just a skill, but an adventure. He's awesome at weaving practical experience with physiology.
Steve Velasquez – eloquence and poise personified, he managed to keep head trauma in the realm of the attainable. An extra special thank you for going the extra mile. He brought bottled water for the class and his other half provided us with awesome fresh baked goods from home.
Trisha Cisternino and her daughter Briana – stepped up in the 11th hour to help out, coming in when they didn’t expect to do stations. They were also terribly good sports about being set on fire and having their limbs broken.
Charlene Barber – she just gets better every time she gets up there, she even took the time to make hand-outs.
Bill O’Brien – even if nobody got the Seinfeld reference he’s still one of the best speakers I know. And the moulage was *amazing.* It’s totally worth the effort.
Dave Langley – still puts everyone to shame when it comes to the physiology of shock. I learn something new every time I listen to him.
Stitches – a good sport and excellent assistant. Though if I never see your scar again, I will die happy …
Congratulations to the newest members of our cadre of instructors – Don Martel, Michael Garrett and Arnold Springvloed. My faith was renewed by how well prepared they were for their first class, I hope that level of enthusiasm continues.
To our tango partners, thank you as well. Students who are interested and interactive are a pleasure to teach. Your continued feedback and participation are what makes all the hard work of doing programs like these an absolute pleasure. I’m sure I speak for all instructors in all disciplines when I say that you make it worth the time and effort.
Ok, warm fuzzy feelings over now – it’s time to collapse and recover. I hope everyone had a great weekend and if I've forgotten anyone I blame fatigue!
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