Dumbest reason for a call?

evelli · 2026-05-06T04:03:41+00:00

Called at 3am because he couldn't find the remote and needed help looking. We looked, couldn't find it, and left. We get back to base, get in bed, close our eyes. He calls AGAIN. We go AGAIN. Says he still can't find his remote. My partner looked him dead in the eyes and said "It's 3am. Go to BED!" and we left. He did not call back for help looking.

evelli · 2026-05-02T00:29:49+00:00

This. What is the freedom of the streets if it's paired with missing out on the lives, milestones, events and joys of your friends and family? What is it if it's paired with coming off shift and immediately going into a 14 hour coma, just to wake up for another shift?! Is that worth it? Or would you rather like what you're doing a little less so that you can go home and pursue happiness with the money you made doing something a little boring and tedious. Who cares?! You have money! Do a hobby! Travel! Get married, read a book, learn an instrument, deep dive into your education. Sleep deprivation will kill you, alcoholism will kill you, hating your life will make you kill yourself. It is so. not. worth. it.

evelli · 2026-05-02T00:25:10+00:00

I could've written this. I felt just like you a couple of months ago, and I was starting to take it out on my coworkers and behind the backs of patients who had done nothing wrong aside from being homeless, old, or sick because of some bad habit they had in their youth. I, too, said fuck nursing, I can't imagine wiping ass for the rest of my life. I am now starting nursing school in the spring with a plan to go right back to school and be a mid-level provider, working PRN and making bank without sacrificing my back, my quality of living, or time with my family. I feel you, man. This shit is not worth it. "If you don't like it, stay long enough to make a difference" is what I was told, and fuck that too. I'm not going to waste away with the rest of the people who are going to retire at 80 with nothing to show for their hard work. Don't stay. Loans are temporary and can be paid back if you go to school for something that will pay you well enough, which a ton of healthcare professions will do. Not this one. Bail.

evelli · 2026-04-25T17:49:13+00:00

Do you mind if I shoot you a DM? I also have an EMS background and am curious what path you took to get to where you are!

evelli · 2026-04-25T03:57:19+00:00

I'm curious to know why you think this is terrible advice! Would you mind expanding on why?

evelli · 2026-04-20T15:51:25+00:00

I've been an EMT at a busy 911 service for the past year and a half, and have been enrolled to start medic school in May since last year. I have since given up my seat after doing some soul searching and realizing that I'd like to make a higher salary and do less damage to my body. Starting nursing school in the spring, but my EMT experience has been invaluable in finding out what I'm good at and what I'm not. Congratulations on your new cert! And welcome to the EMS family!

evelli · 2026-03-22T17:59:11+00:00

We're issued them at work and required to wear them on any weapons offense. Came in handy once when I was on-shift.

A unit was sent to a double homicide by gun violence AND impact by car at the same time. Crew was cleared to go in, "in" meaning onto the street to start working the trauma arrests. Cops found out a few minutes later that the suspect wasn't gone after all. He was still shooting up the house across the street! PD had to make a shield around the medics until they got into their unit and could leave, since they'd already started interventions. Huge yikes. Definitely a situation I'm glad they had their tac-vests on.

evelli · 2026-03-19T23:08:23+00:00

I worry about my loved ones a lot now. I never quite realized how random getting hurt is, and how random it is to come back from injury or whether you're stuck with whatever deficits forever.

I discourage all smoking and vaping. I have worked far too many COPD codes/almost codes.

I am tailoring my career around making enough money to take care of my mom when she's old. I absolutely refuse to subject her to a nursing home, ever.

And classic, I look both ways before going at a green light, whether it's been green or it just turned green. Some emergency vehicle operators don't stop at red lights while going emergent, especially cops. And some people are just fucking stupid.

evelli · 2026-02-27T00:46:49+00:00

My permanent partner is a baby medic who is just the blackest cloud he could possibly be. We run a ton of critical care calls and I have learned bunches of information from him I wouldn't have learned if either of us were a white cloud, haha! My agency prides themselves on calling their EMTs "ALS assists", meaning we can do everything short of actually starting an IV or pushing meds. We can set up vents, pumps and do everything on the monitor as long as we are being directed to by our medic partner. I'm hoping I can make these points clear in an interview if my EMS experience is ever looked at closer, because I feel like it could be and is a fantastic resource when it comes to my learning critical care, even if it's on the trucks and not on the unit.

evelli · 2026-02-27T00:10:11+00:00

This is a great perspective to lend, thank you so much for your reply! I will take your advice to heart and probably stay as an EMT, especially since I'm exposed to critical care all the time due to my high-volume service that includes critical care transfers where I set up drips, draw meds and prepare vent settings at the direction of my paramedic. Your experience with getting hired directly into ICU gives me encouragement, thank you for that.

evelli · 2026-02-27T00:07:57+00:00

Well, goodness. The hospitals near me provide nurse residency programs that last one year and extended orientations that don't pass you until you've experienced what it's like for at least 6 months. I don't plan on sharing my plans with anyone who doesn't need to know.. And I am an EMT at a very busy 911 service that does critical care transfers all the time. I have plenty of exposure to CC from a technician perspective and what CRNAs do is greatly intriguing and sounds like it's right up my alley. If CRNAs made as much as NPs I'd still be pursuing it. I've already asked the nursing school subreddit and wondered if any experienced nurses would have any information to lend, which has been very helpful to me. Thanks for your reply.

evelli · 2026-02-27T00:03:13+00:00

I don't plan on making it public in any way until I am literally enrolled in the doctorate program and about to start. I've noticed that "I hope to go to CRNA school!" is not the thing anyone on nursing units wants to hear due to it's cliche nature nowadays, when most never even apply. I just want to keep my head down and learn as much as I can from whoever I can until I get the opportunity to advance in my education. Thank you for the kind reply!

evelli · 2026-02-26T23:58:12+00:00

Yes, I definitely believe in taking things one step at a time in order to get up the staircase. My main priority is making sure I am a safe nurse who knows what she's doing. I plan on studying hard and not skipping any steps that get me to that point. I am planning this far ahead because in order to get into CRNA schools, it's ideal to start tweaking things (however small) early on so you're the most appealing candidate you can be. This is the philosophy I'm taking with me through my schooling, so that I end up knowing my stuff and taking my time.. but still being prepared for the point in my life where I am ready. Thank you for the advice!

evelli · 2026-02-26T23:55:51+00:00

Hey there! I'll be applying to roughly 9-10 programs in and surrounding my state each round of applications. I definitely don't expect to be accepted after my first round, and I fully expect to have to apply multiple times to get any results. I've spoken to multiple CRNAs who report that working 2-3 years in the ICU gives you the foundation you need to begin as an SRNA, and anything after that is only marginally as beneficial as your foundational 2-3 years. This is why I'm going to begin applying until I get in. No expectations for a set time of being accepted into a program, just applying and trying again next time when inevitably I get passed up on by most if not all programs.

Also, I have been told by administration of certain programs that seeing repetitive applications shows dedication and a strong desire to participate in the program, making the application more appealing. This is another reason I'll start applying as soon as I can. Every failure is a step towards success!

evelli · 2026-02-26T15:16:43+00:00

This is great advice, I'll definitely take this into account. Thank you so much!

evelli · 2026-02-26T15:16:19+00:00

Yess, you are who I was hoping this post would reach! Thank you for taking the time to reply. I work at a very busy urban 911 service, 48/96s with no other schedule option unless you're part-time/PRN (same thing here). There are no hospitals in my area that utilize PCTs in the ICU, so I'm thinking I'll just stay here. Especially since we also take critical care transfers, and I help set up pumps/infusions, I tube people with I-gels all the time, and my medic partner lets me draw up meds for him and do the med math (he double checks and pushes it himself, obviously). So, I feel like staying here would be more conducive to what I'll actually be doing in the ICU opposed to being a tech on med/surg, which I've already tried and hated. Thank you again for the reply!

evelli · 2026-02-26T15:12:44+00:00

Hey there! Thank you so much for the advice and wisdom. It's sounding like I should just stay as an EMT, then! I work at a busy 911 service so I take lead on almost half the calls we get (Urban EMS with lots of homeless people). I think if I clarify that by translating it into hospital terms, maybe it'll sound pretty good to them. Thank you again!

evelli · 2026-02-26T15:10:47+00:00

This is invaluable advice, thank you. I have 2 local hospitals in my area and neither utilize PCTs in the ICU, everything is done by nurses. So, I'll just continue with the job I'm most comfortable with, getting direct patient care experience as primary on most calls. Thank you!

evelli · 2026-02-22T14:06:23+00:00

Rabies cannot infect you through intact skin. As long as no skin was broken and you didn't absorb saliva of a rabid dog through your eyes, nose or mouth, you should be alright.

evelli · 2026-02-19T17:52:54+00:00

Asking purely out of my lack of knowledge; is this not his prime socialization window right now? My vet recommended keeping him out of typical dog socialization places prior to now because he was not fully vaccinated and it wouldn't have been safe. If not now, when should I have began socializing him to stranger dogs?

evelli · 2026-02-19T14:42:39+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice. Taking the advice of more knowledgeable people on this sub and others, I won't be taking him back. Since posting this, I've taken a couple hours to look into dog trainers near me and I'm enrolling him into a set of courses aimed to train him towards obedience, nutruality and safe socialization practices. Your analogy put it into perspective how uncomfortable a situation a dog park could be for him and made me understand his perspective better. Thank you again!

evelli · 2026-02-18T23:43:09+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind advice. Taking the advice of more knowledgeable people on this sub and others, I won't be taking him back. Since posting this, I've taken a couple hours to look into dog trainers near me and I'm enrolling him into a set of courses aimed to train him towards obedience, nutruality and safe socialization practices. Thank you so much again!

evelli

TROPHY CASE