What to Do

Two calls. A woman who tripped and possibly tore a hamstring and a man in a nursing home with altered mental status.

I was talking with a long time medic today, who is also precepting a new medic, and he says he is losing interest in the job -- both as a preceptor and a medic. He is thinking about going to a national conference or taking some special training, such as pediatric critical care transport -- something to get him excited again. He says even though he is doing some decent calls -- three codes this month -- he just feels like a robot. He is working a lot of overtime while trying to get money to start a small business.

He also mentioned the company is going to be requiring preceptors to take a special course as well as writiten and practical tests and that there is already a union grievance against it. He says most of the exciting preceptors want to be grandfathered in. I have mixed feelings. It does seem to be a violation of the union contract. Precepting was put into our union contract a few years ago, which I think was a mistake. We are chosen based on defined criteria. We get a $1 extra an hour when we are precepting and 50 cents extra when we are not. Precepting is also now done a rotating basis so you get whoever is next up on the list as opposed to preceptees and preceptors matched up for compatibility. While I like the extra money, I don't think precepting should be done the way it is. I now have to decide whether to join with others in boycotting the process by not resubmitting an application or going ahead and signing up for the training. What to do.

Before I have had a minute to ponder what to do, the tones go off and we are off to a stroke. Another late call, another 7:45 punch out.