If you’ve decided that you’d want to follow a career in the medical field but are unaware of which subfield would be most fitting for you, consider joining the ranks of emergency medical workers. It is a dynamic job, and you’ll get the daily opportunity to evolve and learn something new. You interact with patients of all ages and with a large spectrum of acute and chronic conditions. This is why emergency medicine is particularly challenging, but you probably already know that nothing good is ever easy. A career in the emergency service is extremely rewarding and will make you feel fulfilled as a person. If you still don’t know on which side of the fence you are, look at the following list to get a better idea of the traits you should possess or develop to become the best emergency health professional out there.
What is emergency healthcare
Emergency medicine concerns itself with the care of illnesses or injuries that necessitate instant care to maximize the patient’s survival chances. Some of the diseases you’ll have to deal with are acute coronary syndrome, stroke, poisoning or sepsis. For some of them, like blunt force traumas or burns, you’ll have to be on-site and witness some rather unpleasant scenes like car accidents and conflagrations. This is no easy feat, so you need to make sure you’re not a very sensitive person and easily deterred and affected by frightful scenes. After all, your patients count on you, and you can’t help them if your state of mind is shaky and uncertain.
The medical testing you’ll need to have a good grasp of are ECG, ultrasound, CT scans, as well as plain old blood tests. However, depending on the type of training you choose to undergo, you’ll have to conduct several other procedures, ranging from bleeding control to surgery.
The required education and skills
The instruction you’ll need to undergo depends on your position. For example, an emergency physician requires four years of undergraduate studies, four years in medical school, and three to five years of medical residency. A nurse necessitates a valid degree in nursing and the attestation that they are licensed in their field.
If you are looking for a career as an emergency medical technician, you’ll need to have graduated high school and enrolled in a training program. Choose intensive EMT training to make sure you focus on the practical skills and get the best of your tutoring. The job requires you to master a number of pragmatic skills, so a purely theoretical approach would be detrimental and leave you somewhat unprepared to tackle daily challenges. But by picking EMT basic training, you get all the necessary expertise as well as the confidence necessary to be a vital part of your team and provide your patients with the best care.
The working environment
The environment of emergency healthcare is quite unlike anything else, so it cannot be easily compared to other fields of work, with firefighting being perhaps the only exception. As one of the first respondents to a critical situation, you’ll often be under a lot of pressure when at work. It’s essential to learn to manage your stress so as not to become easily overwhelmed. You must find the inner balance and stability necessary. Otherwise, you cannot do the job correctly.
It can also get emotionally taxing as you encounter many scenes that would probably leave the average person quite shaken. You need to maintain your mental strength and emotional health in order to offer the best care and guarantee that the people you’re looking after are helped. The schedule can also be hectic, meaning that you should be a person with high energy, stamina, and a capacity to focus even after working long hours.
Every job has its challenges, but when it comes to working in the emergency service, you can boast that few careers can claim to come with so many advantages. Your work is meaningful like no other, as you get to help people and save lives. You get to complete a variety of tasks, meaning that you don’t only optimize the skills you already possess but also develop new ones along the way. You also get to work as part of a close-knit team. Each member is vital, and you can always rely on the rest of the crew to be by your side and support you no matter what. There’s no room for the usual drama that can sometimes occur among co-workers. When people’s lives lie in your hands, you have to step up and give the best you have to offer.
The nature of the work
The emergency room won’t only shape you as a professional but also like a human being. You see things many people never will, and that can have a very sobering effect and create a more down-to-earth and realistic perspective on life, its importance and fragility. You’ll develop compassion as you work with individuals and during emotionally and physically demanding situations. When you develop your empathy, you are able to stay calm and grounded and provide the best comfort to your patients. Communication skills are another aspect that you’ll nurture in yourself. You’ll have to communicate efficiently and effectively to receive, share, and expand on your information.
Keeping your cool no matter what is probably the most important thing you’ll learn. You already know that if you panic, you cannot think straight anymore and run the risk of committing serious mistakes. When you are in control of your emotions, you react faster and more decisively in a crisis, can reassure others that the situation is under control and can safely manage any dangerous situation.
A career in the emergency service can be challenging for many. There are many complex situations to deal with, and you always have to be at the top of your performance because the stakes are very high. But if you already have the required aptitudes or are willing to work hard to gain them, you won’t find a more gratifying and enriching job.