u/dontpeckmygeck

I’ve been working as an EMT for a year now, first on an IFT ambo, but for the most part in an ER, then moved states and went to a Level 1 ER. I know how to do my job, and I’ve not done anything that endangered someone’s life or harmed anyone, but I keep finding myself after shifts feeling like a fraud. Maybe it’s cause I’m new and there’s so much to learn and experience and it feels like every day I am approached with something new. But it feels like every time I start to think I’m getting the hang of it BOOM a situation occurs or something happens where I feel like I’m back at square one because I didn’t know something or had never done something before.

It is definitely taking a toll on me. Some days I feel like a rockstar and that I learned and succeeded so much on a shift. Then the next one I feel like I have no idea why they hired me. I know I’m thinking in dramatic terms- I’m not going to be fired for not knowing how to do something I’ve never done before or had the situation to learn it, or not knowing where a specific niche supply was that is used twice a year. But for anyone that’s been in the gig for a long time, does it ever fade? I’m sure over time I’ll be more comfortable and have adjusted to know so much more. But I’d love to know that at some point I’m going to at least have steady confidence in myself and this itching feeling of actually not knowing shit (which is true, in the grand scheme of things as I’m literal a fresh EMT) might go away. Or at least advise on how to deal with it when it comes so it doesn’t linger and damage the confidence and comfort I have built over the past year.

Hey! I live in a studio apartment and have two cats, so I’m very particular about keeping it clean because smells travel fast in a limited space. Their litter rarely smells bad unless one of them has an especially nasty poop before I get home to clean it, but the smell really comes in after anyways. I live on a high floor and have to go down several flights and down an alleyway to get to my apartments dumpster, so safe to say, it’s impractical if not impossible sometimes with the weather, to make that trek every day if not multiple times a day just for a bag of dirty litter. Does anyone know of a storage method/trash can that can lock in the smell if im unable to get down to the dumpster during a day? It’s awful when I come home after a long shift and the weathers terrible and the choice is either have my trash smell like cat poop or get soaked walking to the dump in the dark. Any advice?

Thinking about going to get my paramedic license (already an EMT) and have been looking at programs near me. My city is fairly competitive unfortunately and I also wanted something with a bit more flexibility since I will have to work full time through school as well. My old EMT instructor had mentioned School of EMS, and that in his case, it involved staying at a location for a few weeks for the classes, then doing clinical at home. The program varies by state it seems so I’d be looking at Illinois. Does anyone have experience with the school and its quality?

Im new to the city and a major nerd and want to look into the ttrpg and comic space. I’ve seen things about Drinking and Dragons and was interested but hesitant. Has anyone been to an event? For context, im a woman in my 20s so if the demographic is drastically far from that then I might feel a bit like a fish outta water. Also it’s been a minute since I’ve played, so im rusty. How is it to newcomers or to those relearning the games?

Im working as an ER tech have been for about a year. Im planning on going to paramedic school but a lot of them either require or heavily suggest ambo experience for the application. Though I did work IFT for a few months, Ive not done anything extensive. But where I am the only place that pays enough for me to live is the ER, as most ambulances max out at $18/hr, especially since im pretty fresh. Does anyone know if staying with the ER will hurt my chances?

Im living in Chicago now working as an ER Tech, but really would prefer to move to an ambo. I live in the city so I don’t particularly want to have to drive out to the suburbs but I feel like my options are limited, especially if I want to do any 911 calls. Does anyone know services in the city that hire newer EMT’s and do anything other than just IFT? And more importantly, ones that are half decent with their treatment of employees?

This might sound stupid, but does it matter? Obviously making sure you eat your basic nutrients and more protein and such for muscle growth, but say in theory i ate all my daily calories from burritos. Or a giant tub of ice cream. Not consistently, but for one day. Would that affect weight loss or is it, simplified of course, more about the calories itself than anything?

Im trying to move more and lose some weight (not a ton, maybe ~10 pounds) and do a mix of yoga, Pilates, and HIIT. I also work in healthcare and get 16,000 steps a day during a shift so I count that as its own exercise really. But I genuinely like HIIT? Tbf I do it at home and in shorter sessions, about 10-15 mins and usually a dance form. It’s fun to move vigorously and though it definitely uses energy, I feel good afterwards. But I see all these people talking about HIIT making it hard to lose weight or spiking cortisol. But is it really that different from an exercise like dance, running, or other physically demanding hobbies where you are expending energy in high intensity? I like it and it helps with my endurance too, but I don’t want it to negatively impact my goals. Any advice for a newbie?

I got my EMT cert last year and have been working in an ER for most of that time. I did have a stint on an IFT service, but long story short, the company was poorly ran and it was extremely unsafe and didn’t last long. But I did really enjoy my time on the ambo and felt in my element (outside of not having many emergent situations or patients which I found more of in the ER).

The part where I struggle is that I want to advance my education and skills, and lean heavily towards being a medic. But my main contenders is 1. The pay and 2. The jobs available. I live in Chicago and paramedics make at times over $10 less than nurses in an ER starting out. As well as options to work 911 are limited due to Chicago Fire limiting applications and also not hiring new grads Ive heard. So im stuck between doing what most excites me and I have the passion for but be paid less and possibly be sequestered to IFT for an undetermined amount of time, or go to nursing for the ER, make more money, but also not be in my ideal situation.

Im sort of in a rut trying to figure out what I’d like to do and what might be an option that fits best. Idk if any medics/EMTs or nurses from Chicago might have some pointers but I’m lost in the sauce of choices rn.

Just moved to the north part of South Shore and am figuring out all my errand spots. Ive gone to the Aldi in Woodlawn and it was okay, but in typically Aldi fashion is was a bit cumbersome and had very limited options, tho the prices are fantastic. I also am near a Jewel Osco but the prices can flip on affordability, but they have a ton of deals and coupons, but Ive heard people have issues with them working consistently. They definitely have more options than Aldi, and is a few minutes closer to where I live. Anybody have the Schtick? I also just moved from Indiana, so we don’t have Jewels over there so I’m completely unfamiliar.

I parked along Jeffery Blvd (northbound) to get to my apartment. The next morning I had a rush hour traffic ticket but there are no signs on my street restricting parking and as far as I could tell, no cars around me had tickets too. I can’t see the road from my apartment so I have no idea is everyone moved their car during the rush hour but im confused. Do I have to move my car completely off of Jeffery? Just stay away/out of bus lanes? I tried looking on my street and online to see if the specific postings are listed but I can’t find any. I don’t want another ticket, does anyone know where I can find/know themselves the specific rules in rush hour traffic?

I just moved to the city and my job is switching up my scrub colors. Does anyone know any good brick and mortar stores in the city i can get affordable (tight budget after this move boooo ) and quality scrubs? Honestly even if it isn’t a scrub store, but a brand that any store sells you can point me to. Im located close to Hyde Park, but can travel wherever if need be.