Well, I passed my provincial certification. Better than expected as well. I ended up with an 87% on the written portion of the exam, which is decent. And considering the highest mark was only a 93%... 6% off from the top isn't that bad. But then again, when you actually look at it... I was only 12% away from failing. Low margin of error in this business. BUT, like the title says... ALMOST certified. The pass only means that I can now APPLY to be certified, sheesh, haha. Now, all I need is:
1) Complete and sign an application form
2) Send an original transcript of marks (which I need to get)
3) Copy of current CPR/Basic Rescuer Certification (need to do)
4) 2 Character declaration forms (need to find 2 people to write one for me)
5) Police Clearance Letter (another $30 to the police)
6) $222.00 registration fee. (and I think this is a yearly thing... but supposedly cheaper after the first fee)
Oh well... better than failing and not being certified. Which reminds me... I need to upgrade my CPR soon (expiry date is June 18th). Guess I'll drop by SAIT tomorrow and double-check my acceptance into the EMT program and get a transcript and see if I get my certificate or not... or do I need to apply for a certificate of graduation from EMR?? hmmm...
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Results
Wow, God is awesome. It's just great how God has everything under control and under His perfect will!
Anyways, so I dropped by SAIT today to check on what my conditions for acceptance into the EMT program were and to pay my tuition deposit to ensure that I keep that spot in the class. And guess what the conditions for my acceptance were? They were simply:
1) Pay my $250 tuition deposit. (I was on the way to doing that anyways)
2) Give them a copy of my drivers lisence (They took a copy of it when I went in for my interview... but whatever)
3) Give them proof of completion of the EMR course. Well, all they had to do was check my file and it said right there that I passed. Sheesh, haha.
So, that means that I am in the EMT program for sure now (knock on wood, cross my fingers). Unless something else pops up, I have completed all the conditions required and that means I'm in!! YES!! Haha, sigh, quite happy now. That answers my education questions. Keep going for paramedics as I'm on the right track and am being accepted into the programs. :P
Now to keep waiting on my job applications and my EMR provincial certification results.
Oh, and I told some of you that we got a new BBQ and that it required assembly. Well, I assembled it yesterday easily enough. My dad was helping, but all he really ended up doing was helping me lift the grill out of the box and lose a washer for the handle for the side-burner (I had him search for the washer the entire time thereafter so I could finish the assembly without anymore trouble. :P). AND the best news of all is... my dad asked for a PROPANE BBQ and they ended up giving us a GAS BBQ... so now we have to return it and get one that is built for propane. Sigh... talk about nobody having a clue about what they're doing. They knew we wanted a propane one cause they even got us a propane tank... but NOBODY and I mean nobody even noticed that the box said GAS!! Sigh. Assemble it... then have to return it... and possibly have to assemble another one. How upsetting, haha.
Oh, and golfing yesterday at McCall Lake. Got my first birdie ever (as far as I can remember). Driving and Chipping were decent enough but the problem for yesterday was my putting. But overall, an improvement from last week. +10 compared to the +30. I was only 3 and 5 behind Philip and Andrew respectively too.
Edit: I've been trying to play along with Take It All on the bass... and boy is it fast. Does anybody know how you can speed up your plucking speed?? I can find the proper places on the frets fast enough (kinda) but I can't pluck fast enough without it hurting. :P
Anyways, so I dropped by SAIT today to check on what my conditions for acceptance into the EMT program were and to pay my tuition deposit to ensure that I keep that spot in the class. And guess what the conditions for my acceptance were? They were simply:
1) Pay my $250 tuition deposit. (I was on the way to doing that anyways)
2) Give them a copy of my drivers lisence (They took a copy of it when I went in for my interview... but whatever)
3) Give them proof of completion of the EMR course. Well, all they had to do was check my file and it said right there that I passed. Sheesh, haha.
So, that means that I am in the EMT program for sure now (knock on wood, cross my fingers). Unless something else pops up, I have completed all the conditions required and that means I'm in!! YES!! Haha, sigh, quite happy now. That answers my education questions. Keep going for paramedics as I'm on the right track and am being accepted into the programs. :P
Now to keep waiting on my job applications and my EMR provincial certification results.
Oh, and I told some of you that we got a new BBQ and that it required assembly. Well, I assembled it yesterday easily enough. My dad was helping, but all he really ended up doing was helping me lift the grill out of the box and lose a washer for the handle for the side-burner (I had him search for the washer the entire time thereafter so I could finish the assembly without anymore trouble. :P). AND the best news of all is... my dad asked for a PROPANE BBQ and they ended up giving us a GAS BBQ... so now we have to return it and get one that is built for propane. Sigh... talk about nobody having a clue about what they're doing. They knew we wanted a propane one cause they even got us a propane tank... but NOBODY and I mean nobody even noticed that the box said GAS!! Sigh. Assemble it... then have to return it... and possibly have to assemble another one. How upsetting, haha.
Oh, and golfing yesterday at McCall Lake. Got my first birdie ever (as far as I can remember). Driving and Chipping were decent enough but the problem for yesterday was my putting. But overall, an improvement from last week. +10 compared to the +30. I was only 3 and 5 behind Philip and Andrew respectively too.
Edit: I've been trying to play along with Take It All on the bass... and boy is it fast. Does anybody know how you can speed up your plucking speed?? I can find the proper places on the frets fast enough (kinda) but I can't pluck fast enough without it hurting. :P
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Answers
So... seems some answers to my options are already slowly revealing themselves. Quite interesting how fast things happen. :P What answer may that be? Well, I received a letter stating that I have received conditional acceptance for the EMT program for next september. GREAT! That's a great step. It means I'm off the waiting list. However, it is conditional... so I still need to wait for my results from my provincial certification. BUT, it's a good start. If I passed then I'm in (I think that should be the only condition for my full acceptance into the EMT program). So... still need to play the waiting game, but at least my options are a bit clearer now. No need to worry about getting into the program if I passed, cause now I know I'll be in the program if I passed. One clearer step helps that much more. :P Now, I just need to go into SAIT and check on what my conditions are and pay the $250 acceptance fee.
And no word on any of my job applications yet. Though, that might be a good sign too considering they were all part-time or full-time positions. Cause if I get those, then I'd have to quit or re-arrange my schedule in a way to fit schooling in as well. But God will provide!! Though a job over the summer would still be nice to have. The experience, the money, the time well spent. But I guess we'll see what opportunities present themselves. Perhaps, I will pass my provincial certification and I'm meant to get a temporary summer position as an EMR somewhere and then go into the EMT program in September. That would be the ideal situation. Well, guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Oh, and 6 days in a row now. Crazy. I'm usually checking everybody's blog more than I post my own blogs. But this week has been different. hehe
And no word on any of my job applications yet. Though, that might be a good sign too considering they were all part-time or full-time positions. Cause if I get those, then I'd have to quit or re-arrange my schedule in a way to fit schooling in as well. But God will provide!! Though a job over the summer would still be nice to have. The experience, the money, the time well spent. But I guess we'll see what opportunities present themselves. Perhaps, I will pass my provincial certification and I'm meant to get a temporary summer position as an EMR somewhere and then go into the EMT program in September. That would be the ideal situation. Well, guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Oh, and 6 days in a row now. Crazy. I'm usually checking everybody's blog more than I post my own blogs. But this week has been different. hehe
Event-full Day
So, to keep my record going... it is now 5 days straight. CONSIDER THIS BLOG POSTED ON FRIDAY!! hehe, it's really saturday morning, but I just got home. (It is now 1:30am)
Anyways, pretty event-full day, maybe not so much eventful, but event-full.
-Went to the bank, got cash.
-Recycled newspapers.
-Mowed my grandparents lawn (with an OLD, OLD electric mower that is faulty. Their yard is probably half the size of mine, but I worked doubly hard for this yard. Because of the stupid extension cord you need to bring along with you everywhere. Because of the faulty-ness of the lawn mower, where it wouldn't cut properly. Luckily, Philip has agreed to mow the lawn next time and we'll alternate that way. Oh, and I guess the grass was kinda wet because it rained a bit right before, oh well).
-Went to Wal-Mart (and bought bug-spray and sunscreen, now I won't be eaten alive as much on Sunday and I won't end up turning into a "huck-gwai" over the summer. :P)
-Went to Future Shop (and bought a ton of movies: The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter - Goblet of Fire, Lock-Stock-And-Two-Smoking-Barrels, Snatch, Serenity, Super Troopers, MIB II and Young Gunz and seems my dad bought Munich today too).
-Went to CP (and bought the new Starfield CD. Havn't listened to the entire cd yet and it's seems a lot slower than their first cd stuff. But I have a feeling it will be a cd where the songs will grow on me. Kinda like their first cd, cause I didn't like them at first, then I started to like them more and more after a while).
-Got a haircut
-Practiced bass for worship practice (I think I'm improving, but I need to get further than just the top 5 frets).
-Helped out with KFC (though... how come both teachers had to go make snacks for over half-an-hour DURING KFC and leave the two volunteers to lead the kids in crafts? And how come it took so long to make snacks? And how come it wasn't just prepared before KFC started? Oh well... guess that's how they do things).
-Played with Elijah during worship practice... boy he's hyperactive and never stops! And he keeps changing his answer on me... is it going to be a baby sister? or baby brother? haha
-Went to BPs (and drank 3 cups of ice-tea in 15 minutes)
-Played hockey (and got no goals, sigh... stuck at 11 for the season. I really should shoot more instead of always looking for the pass. But I still havn't gotten used to my new stick yet and my shot is always off the mark. Guess I should bring out the street hockey net and start practicing my shots again. Though, I think my skating has improved to a point where I think I should actually sharpen my skates. There have been more opportunities these past 2 weeks where I should have been able to do something more, but couldn't because my skates arn't sharp enough for me to cut hard enough without losing traction and me either falling down or not able to do what I meant to).
Anyways... sorry Jenny. I didn't think anybody actually wanted to go rollerblading today. :P Probably next week though. The cleaners are coming next week so I'll need to be out of the house by 8 (cause I feel like I'm in the way when they're around). So, yeah. Anybody interested in rollerblading next friday? Sometime afternoon. 1ish... 2ish... 3ish...
Anyways, pretty event-full day, maybe not so much eventful, but event-full.
-Went to the bank, got cash.
-Recycled newspapers.
-Mowed my grandparents lawn (with an OLD, OLD electric mower that is faulty. Their yard is probably half the size of mine, but I worked doubly hard for this yard. Because of the stupid extension cord you need to bring along with you everywhere. Because of the faulty-ness of the lawn mower, where it wouldn't cut properly. Luckily, Philip has agreed to mow the lawn next time and we'll alternate that way. Oh, and I guess the grass was kinda wet because it rained a bit right before, oh well).
-Went to Wal-Mart (and bought bug-spray and sunscreen, now I won't be eaten alive as much on Sunday and I won't end up turning into a "huck-gwai" over the summer. :P)
-Went to Future Shop (and bought a ton of movies: The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter - Goblet of Fire, Lock-Stock-And-Two-Smoking-Barrels, Snatch, Serenity, Super Troopers, MIB II and Young Gunz and seems my dad bought Munich today too).
-Went to CP (and bought the new Starfield CD. Havn't listened to the entire cd yet and it's seems a lot slower than their first cd stuff. But I have a feeling it will be a cd where the songs will grow on me. Kinda like their first cd, cause I didn't like them at first, then I started to like them more and more after a while).
-Got a haircut
-Practiced bass for worship practice (I think I'm improving, but I need to get further than just the top 5 frets).
-Helped out with KFC (though... how come both teachers had to go make snacks for over half-an-hour DURING KFC and leave the two volunteers to lead the kids in crafts? And how come it took so long to make snacks? And how come it wasn't just prepared before KFC started? Oh well... guess that's how they do things).
-Played with Elijah during worship practice... boy he's hyperactive and never stops! And he keeps changing his answer on me... is it going to be a baby sister? or baby brother? haha
-Went to BPs (and drank 3 cups of ice-tea in 15 minutes)
-Played hockey (and got no goals, sigh... stuck at 11 for the season. I really should shoot more instead of always looking for the pass. But I still havn't gotten used to my new stick yet and my shot is always off the mark. Guess I should bring out the street hockey net and start practicing my shots again. Though, I think my skating has improved to a point where I think I should actually sharpen my skates. There have been more opportunities these past 2 weeks where I should have been able to do something more, but couldn't because my skates arn't sharp enough for me to cut hard enough without losing traction and me either falling down or not able to do what I meant to).
Anyways... sorry Jenny. I didn't think anybody actually wanted to go rollerblading today. :P Probably next week though. The cleaners are coming next week so I'll need to be out of the house by 8 (cause I feel like I'm in the way when they're around). So, yeah. Anybody interested in rollerblading next friday? Sometime afternoon. 1ish... 2ish... 3ish...
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Options
So, thanks everyone for your responses to the Vicious Circle blog. It helped a lot. It brought things back into perspective, which is hard to do on your own when your head keeps spinning in circles. But it was enlightening. It's funny how going back to the basics can always solve something that seems so complicated, but it's great how God is like that. But I guess it's time to put everything into perspective and see where I'm at in life.
Education:
Crys and Karen brought up a point over dinner on Monday. There is the option of going back to Uni and finishing my degree. I'm turning that option down right now because I feel that it will be wasting my time doing something I don't enjoy or most likely won't need later on anyways.
Another option is to keep going in the direction I have chosen, which is towards paramedics. However, I'm starting to feel depressed about it because of the waiting periods needed. I missed the fall registrations for EMR last year and had to take it in winter. I'm now on the waiting list for the EMT program, sigh. But, as some of you have pointed out, nothing comes easy. Sometimes you need to stick it out for the things you want.
And another option altogether is to start in whole new direction like electronics or something, but those thoughts can wait.
Work:
Well, started applying for jobs again. All in health-care again. I applied for 5 jobs at the Childrens hospital and Rockyville. If I get one of them, it will be either part-time of full-time, so it will help me there with a set schedule instead of working casual again. Let's hope I get one, cause it will be great having something to do and look forward to again.
Also, I'm still waiting for my provincial certification marks... if I pass, I'll pay for my certification and then I'll have more options open for the type of jobs I can apply for. I'm thinking that working in the field for an industrial company would be good experience as an EMR, but we shall see how that turns out.
So, with prayer and time... let us see which of these options come true in a couple weeks to a couple months from now. Or perhaps another option that I am not seeing currently will be the result of prayer and God's will.
Education:
Crys and Karen brought up a point over dinner on Monday. There is the option of going back to Uni and finishing my degree. I'm turning that option down right now because I feel that it will be wasting my time doing something I don't enjoy or most likely won't need later on anyways.
Another option is to keep going in the direction I have chosen, which is towards paramedics. However, I'm starting to feel depressed about it because of the waiting periods needed. I missed the fall registrations for EMR last year and had to take it in winter. I'm now on the waiting list for the EMT program, sigh. But, as some of you have pointed out, nothing comes easy. Sometimes you need to stick it out for the things you want.
And another option altogether is to start in whole new direction like electronics or something, but those thoughts can wait.
Work:
Well, started applying for jobs again. All in health-care again. I applied for 5 jobs at the Childrens hospital and Rockyville. If I get one of them, it will be either part-time of full-time, so it will help me there with a set schedule instead of working casual again. Let's hope I get one, cause it will be great having something to do and look forward to again.
Also, I'm still waiting for my provincial certification marks... if I pass, I'll pay for my certification and then I'll have more options open for the type of jobs I can apply for. I'm thinking that working in the field for an industrial company would be good experience as an EMR, but we shall see how that turns out.
So, with prayer and time... let us see which of these options come true in a couple weeks to a couple months from now. Or perhaps another option that I am not seeing currently will be the result of prayer and God's will.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Golf
So, today was the first golfing outing for this year. For first time this season, not too bad. It was SUPER hot for the first few holes, but then the wind picked up and it was pretty good after that. We didn't have time to hit the driving-range before our tee time because it would have been an hour wait if we didn't take that tee time. But, driving came back pretty fast. I still need to work on my woods though. Irons were pretty good. Chipping is horrible still... I either chip it too lightly or too hard, I need to find that balance. And putting came back to me after a couple holes. Couln't putt worth ... a penny ... for the first few holes. :P And on the last hole, some of the sprinklers were going... and naturally my ball ends up right smack in the middle, haha. Oh well, I got a nice hit in there, even though I ran in and hit it without aiming and ran back out without even knowing where my ball went. :P
Also, the stupid group behind us never seemed to have the patience to wait for us to exit the green completely before hitting. EVERY single hole, the stupid guy would land a ball within 5 yards of where we were. And when I mean land, I don't mean he lands them perfectly a couple feet away where there would be no potential danger, but they were flying past us at times. There were a couple times where the ball was pretty much within hands reach when it flew past. Another time, if I had gotten to my ball earlier to chip in, I would have been hit by their ball because it landed right beside my ball. Sheesh, what jerks, stupid people. :P And no, this isn't because we were slow. We were caught up with the group before us as they would always be chipping or putting when we got to their hole.
But yeah, need to practice with the Woods and Chipping. Mario Golf, here I come!! haha. I mean... driving range here I come!
Also, the stupid group behind us never seemed to have the patience to wait for us to exit the green completely before hitting. EVERY single hole, the stupid guy would land a ball within 5 yards of where we were. And when I mean land, I don't mean he lands them perfectly a couple feet away where there would be no potential danger, but they were flying past us at times. There were a couple times where the ball was pretty much within hands reach when it flew past. Another time, if I had gotten to my ball earlier to chip in, I would have been hit by their ball because it landed right beside my ball. Sheesh, what jerks, stupid people. :P And no, this isn't because we were slow. We were caught up with the group before us as they would always be chipping or putting when we got to their hole.
But yeah, need to practice with the Woods and Chipping. Mario Golf, here I come!! haha. I mean... driving range here I come!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Vicious Circle
No, not the lounge (where I somehow ended up as a minor after a hockey game with Judy, Monica and Dick)...
But man... You know what sucks? Thinking. Thinking too much. You ever have those times when you really want something, so you start to think about it? And then you start to analyze it and realize that it's not meant to be. But because you started analyzing it, you start to want it more because you're thinking about it. And then you're thinking about it and you start to analyze it and realize that it's not meant to be. Sigh... I've had those days a lot lately. And it's driving me crazy. Wanting something and knowing that it's not meant to be... and yet not able to get over it with simple reasoning because the time and thought used on analyzing and reasoning makes you think about it and want it even more. But knowing that it's not going to work, you start to reason with yourself that it won't work, but now you're thinking about it more and sigh, it never ends...
Any suggestions on what to do? How do you shut your mind up? Or can you? Is it just me that has a mind that goes a thousand thoughts per minute? Or is that everyone? And if that's everyone... how do you shut your mind up?
But man... You know what sucks? Thinking. Thinking too much. You ever have those times when you really want something, so you start to think about it? And then you start to analyze it and realize that it's not meant to be. But because you started analyzing it, you start to want it more because you're thinking about it. And then you're thinking about it and you start to analyze it and realize that it's not meant to be. Sigh... I've had those days a lot lately. And it's driving me crazy. Wanting something and knowing that it's not meant to be... and yet not able to get over it with simple reasoning because the time and thought used on analyzing and reasoning makes you think about it and want it even more. But knowing that it's not going to work, you start to reason with yourself that it won't work, but now you're thinking about it more and sigh, it never ends...
Any suggestions on what to do? How do you shut your mind up? Or can you? Is it just me that has a mind that goes a thousand thoughts per minute? Or is that everyone? And if that's everyone... how do you shut your mind up?
Monday, May 15, 2006
Work
Well... I received notice that I'm on the wait list for the EMT program for next september. Which, in my opinion, most likely means I won't make it in to the program as it is a highly competitive course. SO... that means I should start looking for other options. PMA (Professional Medical Associates) has EMT classes in Calgary as well... so I'll look into that. But they don't have any dates open right now, so I'll have to wait. Perhaps, I might need to start looking at out-of-town centers for my EMT training?? Sigh... so complicated. I guess nothing comes easy... but when it doesn't come easy, it sure makes you doubt whether or not you're heading in the right direction. So, I passed EMR... so, I possibly passed my provincial certification... but didn't get into EMT. Does that mean... what? Sigh... too many questions in my head again. Too many doubts.
Either way, back to applying for jobs on the possibility that I won't be in school starting September again.
Either way, back to applying for jobs on the possibility that I won't be in school starting September again.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Wisdom
I have gained wisdom today... well, actually, I guess it's the opposite. :P I got my final two wisdom teeth pulled today (the top 2). No sleeping, just freezing this time. But yeah, that's it. Short blog. Shocking, I know!! Okay, maybe I'll type some more just cause it feels weird having such a short blog.
Anyone up for rollerblading this friday afternoon? Hmmm... what is YAC this friday? Anyways... maybe... 2:00pm?? Rollerblade from church to Licks to grab some icecream and then rollerblade back? On my own, at a faster than our average speed when we go as a group, I was able to finish in about an hour and a half. Well, let me know. Hopefully the weather will be nice, I havn't checked yet.
Anyone up for rollerblading this friday afternoon? Hmmm... what is YAC this friday? Anyways... maybe... 2:00pm?? Rollerblade from church to Licks to grab some icecream and then rollerblade back? On my own, at a faster than our average speed when we go as a group, I was able to finish in about an hour and a half. Well, let me know. Hopefully the weather will be nice, I havn't checked yet.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Stressful Weekend
Warning: Long Blog. Read At Your Own Risk
Man, oh man, what a stressful weekend. So, it all began Friday night when I had to drive up to Red Deer to write a multiple choice exam for my EMR provincial certification. So far, so good. The drive up is pretty nice and relaxing. Exam is scheduled to start at 6 and end at 8, and registrations open at 5. So, I head out of Calgary at 3:30 and get in line with about 500 other people by 5:15. I end up standing in line till quarter till 7... and don't get to write my exam till 7! An hour later than the scheduled start time. Okay, that's not that bad, but you really start to psych yourself up when you're standing around waiting for an exam to start, haha. And what some of my classmates and I have discovered is that SAIT does not prepare you all too well for the ACP (Alberta College of Paramedics) exams. Sigh... so I hope I passed the written portion of the exam. But, I finish my exam at 8:30 and got back to Calgary around 10, cause I figured the extra trip would cost about $30 in gas and hotel for a night would be about $80.
The next day, Saturday, I have to go back up to Red Deer for my practical exam which is scheduled to begin at 2:30. So, I leave Calgary at 12:30 and get in line with about 150 other people at 2:00 and end up sitting out in the hallway waiting for REGISTRATIONS to open because the 1:00 group was running behind schedule. We end up waiting till 3:15 for registrations to open. After that, we all get set up in a waiting room where we all get called out one at a time to get tested. I wait till 6:00 for my turn. And I blew it, haha. Oh man, that 4 hour wait really psyched me out. I over-analyzed the entire scenario! I mean, it was a simple unconcious, choking patient. Sound simple? Well, it was. So simple that when you look at it, it's really a First Aid scenario. BUT, I was in EMR mode, so I figured I should do chest compressions, but WAIT, he still has a pulse, which means that his heart is still beating, which means that I can't do CPR, and chest compressions is within CPR!! So, I decide not to do chest compressions. Well, suffice to say... I can't clear my patients airway any other way and I decide to do a rapid transport to the hospital, but regardless, the patient dies, haha. and I fail. The sad thing is... I KNEW I failed, but I still had to wait another hour in a sequester room to wait for them to tell me I failed!! haha... man... you get really depressed when you have that much time afterwards to think about what you did and what you could have done before they tell you how you did. I woke up at least 4-5 times that night thinking about what I did wrong and what I should have done. I killed a PLASTIC DUMMY and I was this stressed out! Man, I need to get stronger mentally, cause what happens when I can't save an actual person?? It better not be out of incompetence!! At least I'll have a partner with me at all times.
So, retest is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30. So, I end up not going to church cause I left Calgary at 11. Which meant I had to ask Tony to usher for me as I couldn't replace Andrew as usher anymore. :P I don't think he prayed hard enough, haha. But yeah, I end up getting there at 1:00 and stand in line with about 200 other people. Registration starts early for once at 1:15 and we get set up in the waiting room by 1:30. Looking good so far, way ahead of schedule this time. But nope, I end up sitting in the waiting room till 6:00 again for my turn. Man, another 5 hours sitting around thinking about what type of scenario you might get and what you need to do and how you should do it and at what order you should do it in!! So psyched out!! And the scenario for the retest?? Patient is having a stroke. Simple. It is, really. Administer high-concentration oxygen by Non-Rebreather Mask at 15l/m, do a quick primary survey and gather history. Package and Transport. Simple. HOWEVER, the patient decides to have a seizure en-route to the hospital. AND THEN decides to code on me (go into cardiac arrest)! So, now I have to get my partner to pull the ambulance over and come back to assist me with the patient (luckily, somehow, we end up in front of a firehall and firefighters come out to assist as well. :P). He is now pulseless, so we have to do CPR and defib him. He comes back to life, but by now we've had to size and insert an OPA (oropharhyngeal airway) changed the NRM to a BVM (Bag-Valve Mask) with assisted ventilations at 20bpm (1 breath every 3 seconds) moved him from a semi-fowlers (sitting-up) position into a supine (lying flat on back) position. Man, the retest was so much more complicated than the initial scenario!! And I passed, haha, but I had to wait another hour afterwards stressing about what I might have missed or what I might have done wrong!
Man. Going into this profession, I was afraid of getting a patient that was too complicated to handle and because it was so complicated that I couldn't save them. BUT, it ends up that the patient was TOO simple for me to even save him!! Sigh... I need to be more confident when I go into situations. But SAIT sure doesn't prepare you enough for real life or even ACP exams!! Anyways, that was my weekend!! Who actually ended up reading this far? Without just skipping to the very bottom to read this paragraph to see if I sumarize the entire blog? But, here's the summary. Long Weekend. Too Much Time Waiting For Exams To Begin. Psyched Out. Stressed Out. Failed First Scenario Which Is 100% Easier Than Retest Scenario. Passed Retest Scenario. Now Waiting For Written Results. 6 Hours Driving In One Weekend Is Crazy!
Man, oh man, what a stressful weekend. So, it all began Friday night when I had to drive up to Red Deer to write a multiple choice exam for my EMR provincial certification. So far, so good. The drive up is pretty nice and relaxing. Exam is scheduled to start at 6 and end at 8, and registrations open at 5. So, I head out of Calgary at 3:30 and get in line with about 500 other people by 5:15. I end up standing in line till quarter till 7... and don't get to write my exam till 7! An hour later than the scheduled start time. Okay, that's not that bad, but you really start to psych yourself up when you're standing around waiting for an exam to start, haha. And what some of my classmates and I have discovered is that SAIT does not prepare you all too well for the ACP (Alberta College of Paramedics) exams. Sigh... so I hope I passed the written portion of the exam. But, I finish my exam at 8:30 and got back to Calgary around 10, cause I figured the extra trip would cost about $30 in gas and hotel for a night would be about $80.
The next day, Saturday, I have to go back up to Red Deer for my practical exam which is scheduled to begin at 2:30. So, I leave Calgary at 12:30 and get in line with about 150 other people at 2:00 and end up sitting out in the hallway waiting for REGISTRATIONS to open because the 1:00 group was running behind schedule. We end up waiting till 3:15 for registrations to open. After that, we all get set up in a waiting room where we all get called out one at a time to get tested. I wait till 6:00 for my turn. And I blew it, haha. Oh man, that 4 hour wait really psyched me out. I over-analyzed the entire scenario! I mean, it was a simple unconcious, choking patient. Sound simple? Well, it was. So simple that when you look at it, it's really a First Aid scenario. BUT, I was in EMR mode, so I figured I should do chest compressions, but WAIT, he still has a pulse, which means that his heart is still beating, which means that I can't do CPR, and chest compressions is within CPR!! So, I decide not to do chest compressions. Well, suffice to say... I can't clear my patients airway any other way and I decide to do a rapid transport to the hospital, but regardless, the patient dies, haha. and I fail. The sad thing is... I KNEW I failed, but I still had to wait another hour in a sequester room to wait for them to tell me I failed!! haha... man... you get really depressed when you have that much time afterwards to think about what you did and what you could have done before they tell you how you did. I woke up at least 4-5 times that night thinking about what I did wrong and what I should have done. I killed a PLASTIC DUMMY and I was this stressed out! Man, I need to get stronger mentally, cause what happens when I can't save an actual person?? It better not be out of incompetence!! At least I'll have a partner with me at all times.
So, retest is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30. So, I end up not going to church cause I left Calgary at 11. Which meant I had to ask Tony to usher for me as I couldn't replace Andrew as usher anymore. :P I don't think he prayed hard enough, haha. But yeah, I end up getting there at 1:00 and stand in line with about 200 other people. Registration starts early for once at 1:15 and we get set up in the waiting room by 1:30. Looking good so far, way ahead of schedule this time. But nope, I end up sitting in the waiting room till 6:00 again for my turn. Man, another 5 hours sitting around thinking about what type of scenario you might get and what you need to do and how you should do it and at what order you should do it in!! So psyched out!! And the scenario for the retest?? Patient is having a stroke. Simple. It is, really. Administer high-concentration oxygen by Non-Rebreather Mask at 15l/m, do a quick primary survey and gather history. Package and Transport. Simple. HOWEVER, the patient decides to have a seizure en-route to the hospital. AND THEN decides to code on me (go into cardiac arrest)! So, now I have to get my partner to pull the ambulance over and come back to assist me with the patient (luckily, somehow, we end up in front of a firehall and firefighters come out to assist as well. :P). He is now pulseless, so we have to do CPR and defib him. He comes back to life, but by now we've had to size and insert an OPA (oropharhyngeal airway) changed the NRM to a BVM (Bag-Valve Mask) with assisted ventilations at 20bpm (1 breath every 3 seconds) moved him from a semi-fowlers (sitting-up) position into a supine (lying flat on back) position. Man, the retest was so much more complicated than the initial scenario!! And I passed, haha, but I had to wait another hour afterwards stressing about what I might have missed or what I might have done wrong!
Man. Going into this profession, I was afraid of getting a patient that was too complicated to handle and because it was so complicated that I couldn't save them. BUT, it ends up that the patient was TOO simple for me to even save him!! Sigh... I need to be more confident when I go into situations. But SAIT sure doesn't prepare you enough for real life or even ACP exams!! Anyways, that was my weekend!! Who actually ended up reading this far? Without just skipping to the very bottom to read this paragraph to see if I sumarize the entire blog? But, here's the summary. Long Weekend. Too Much Time Waiting For Exams To Begin. Psyched Out. Stressed Out. Failed First Scenario Which Is 100% Easier Than Retest Scenario. Passed Retest Scenario. Now Waiting For Written Results. 6 Hours Driving In One Weekend Is Crazy!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Frustrating
Sigh... the game isn't even over yet and I've already given up, haha. How frustrating. I knew they had it tough to win the cup this year... but at least show up to play... sheesh. No emotion whatsoever. No energy. No mojo. Haha. Sigh. Oh well... another season done with nothing (other than a division title) to show for it. Another year of too much time wasted on watching Flames games and not enough time on studying or working, haha. And I was looking forward to a Battle of Alberta too.
Guess there will be some big changes over the off-season now. Maybe not on defence, cause they're pretty steady. Not in net, cause you can't get much better than Kiprusoff. But the forwards?? Man, we need some leaders like Gelinas man. Somebody who shows up day in, day out and never gives up. Always plays with energy and leads the team that way. Oh, and maybe a game-changing centreman which we've lacked for quite a while now.
Oh well... can't cheer for the Flames... who should I cheer for now? Lots of good teams out there. Guess cheering for Canadian teams (Ottawa and Edmonton) never hurts. San Jose and Buffalo are good teams to cheer for as well. Who to cheer for, who to cheer for...
Okay. San Jose in the West (not because I won't cheer for the Oils, but who can't cheer for Thornton?? haha). Ottawa in the East.
But an interesting fact:
Top 4 teams in the East advance to the confence semi-finals.
Top 4 teams in the West are upset in the confence quarter-finals.
Guess there will be some big changes over the off-season now. Maybe not on defence, cause they're pretty steady. Not in net, cause you can't get much better than Kiprusoff. But the forwards?? Man, we need some leaders like Gelinas man. Somebody who shows up day in, day out and never gives up. Always plays with energy and leads the team that way. Oh, and maybe a game-changing centreman which we've lacked for quite a while now.
Oh well... can't cheer for the Flames... who should I cheer for now? Lots of good teams out there. Guess cheering for Canadian teams (Ottawa and Edmonton) never hurts. San Jose and Buffalo are good teams to cheer for as well. Who to cheer for, who to cheer for...
Okay. San Jose in the West (not because I won't cheer for the Oils, but who can't cheer for Thornton?? haha). Ottawa in the East.
But an interesting fact:
Top 4 teams in the East advance to the confence semi-finals.
Top 4 teams in the West are upset in the confence quarter-finals.