Paramedics are one of the first points of contact in any emergency situation, alongside police officers and firefighters. Paramedics are responsible for assessing and providing any treatment that a patient may require before he or she receives full medical care at a hospital. Not everyone is suited to work as a paramedic, and students considering careers in this field should possess a very specific set of skills and qualities.
Read on to learn what skills are needed to become a successful paramedic.
Professional Paramedics Should Have Great Problem-Solving Skills
Professionals who have had paramedic training understand that for the most part, their job is quite unpredictable. Since paramedics are responsible for reacting quickly and efficiently in emergency situations, it is crucial that they possess excellent problem-solving skills. Within a few short moments during an emergency, paramedics are expected to evaluate the condition of a patient and quickly determine the best way to treat them.
Paramedics Require Exceptional Interpersonal Skills
Students enrolled in paramedic courses recognize the importance of being able to effectively communicate with the patients they help. Medical emergencies can be chaotic, and during an emergency situation patients are often scared, shocked or stressed. For a paramedic to do their job properly, they must be able to calm the patient and make them feel as comfortable as possible. Doing so requires paramedics to be outstanding listeners as well as compassionate communicators.
Good Health and Physical Strength is Crucial for Professional Paramedics
While health and fitness should always be a priority, paramedic school graduates know that good health and physical strength is actually a requirement of the job. Paramedics are often required to do a lot of physical work during their shift such as bending, lifting and kneeling to pick up patients and stretchers, and a patient’s well-being may actually be at risk if the paramedic cannot fulfill these physical requirements.
Paramedics Must Always Strive to Learn From Their Mistakes
It’s important to understand that as humans we sometimes make mistakes. However, when a mistake is made by a healthcare professional like a doctor, nurse, or paramedic, it can often affect the life or health of another person. As such, healthcare professionals tend to feel guilt, shame and even anger towards themselves if they make a mistake. Professional paramedics know that giving in to these feelings will only make things worse and doing so might even increase the probability of it happening again.
Those interested in pursuing a career as a paramedic should be able to learn from their mistakes and move on from them. A good way for a paramedic to ensure that he or she does not make the same mistake twice is to take time to reflect on it and think about the ways in which it could have been avoided or corrected.
Do you have what it takes to succeed as a paramedic? Find out more about the paramedic training program at CTS.