The paramedic profession is evolving at a mindblowing pace, with increasing knowledge, skill, scope and responsibility. But there is something to be said for the humility that embodies being a paramedic—the down-to-earth way in which they comfort patients by talking to them, sometimes using mild humour to put them at ease, making them a hot cuppa in their kitchen.
Historically, I would argue there has been a societal undervaluing of nurturing roles. Nursing is one such example, with the profession moving away from the image of bedside handmaiden and towards a highly educated and skilled clinical workforce, innovating practice, carrying out research and applying the growing evidence base to patient care. This is positive to be sure; however, ‘a little bit of old-fashioned “hands-on care” goes a long way’ (Jerrett, 2020)—and this is no different in paramedicine.
On p. 54 of the current issue, Lynda Sibson, makes an argument for the ‘humble telephone call’ in an increasingly distant climate of communication, while on p. 85, student columnist, Jolyon Price discusses the importance of accepting one's limitations and reaching out to others. On p. 76, Costello and Downs present a reflective and critical exploration of a student paramedic's decision-making during a patient interaction. This case demonstrates a more experienced practice educator's approach in not only empowering the student paramedic to take the clinical lead in the patient's treatment decision, opening up his own hypothesis for further interpretation, discussion and revision, but also, in valuing the student's input and his commitment to his own continued learning. It shows the importance of humility over ego and the value of a multi-professional approach to putting the patient's care and wellbeing first.
Not only should paramedics—all health professionals, and all people for that matter—be open to the evolution of their own ideas, but they should also be humble enough to acknowledge when errors are made to achieve a greater aim of improving practices, care and outcomes. Of course, this requires a supportive workplace culture with a no-blame problem-solving approach to care.
One of the saddest stories I have heard is of a nurse who witnessed substandard care on his night shift at his second job as a nurse's aide. A patient whose stoma bag was full was ringing for her nurse to come and change it, and clean her stoma. Her assigned nurse was chatting at the nurse's station, seemingly ignoring the call. When the aide told her, she said the patient would be fine and could wait. The nurse with whom she was chatting also seemed indifferent, and when the aide offered to change the bag for the patient, the patient said she wanted a female nurse to do it. He reassured her that one would be on her way soon, told the assigned nurse that he tried to complete the care task but that the patient preferred a woman, and uncertainly and uncomfortably waited for her to attend to the patient as no nurse managers were present. The next day, the aide came in to find out that the patient had just died from what appeared to be an infection of her stoma. Sadly, the organisation was not supportive of people who shone a light on such incidents.
There are times when experience and seniority can lead to complacency and superiority; a lack of humility. Not only is this detrimental to one's professional development, but it can be harmful to the profession—and to the patient.