Being a paramedic who works in central London, I certainly get to spend most of my time in the bus lane. Whether it be on my way to a patient or stuck in a traffic jam en route to hospital, it certainly gives me time to reflect on this past year and all the changes with it. I've now been with London Ambulance Service for 10 months and although I feel I plod from each day to the next, I am proud of what I have accomplished so far.
I can remember feeling so nervous when I started as an NQP, and although that feeling has eased, I am still getting used to that great sense of responsibility. I completed my first shift with an emergency ambulance crew member the other week and was called to a major trauma; suddenly I was the adult, and with no one watching over my shoulder, I let my training kick in. It's quite a sensation—that sink or swim moment—and with the assistance of my excellent crewmate, it went well, and I swam. Although I have this experience under my belt, there are still plenty of situations to experience (I am still yet to have a baby named after me for one instance).
Despite the numerous positive moments I have encountered, there remain aspects of the job that I am yet to fully adjust to. On a particular shift, I remember assisting a patient who was vulnerable—it threw me off guard when she started shouting insults towards me. It was challenging to remain professional in this situation which affected me on a personal level, and after a chat with my crewmate, I learned it's ok to be human in our job.
I do miss the structure of university life, being on the relief rota, but it has been made bearable by my partner having the same rota as me. Being able to go off on holiday at the same time together certainly has its perks. One benefit working as a relief NQP is being able to work with the different people in and around complex, and I have worked with some brilliant colleagues. I do enjoy learning their different work styles and invaluable knowledge on various subjects, making friends in the process.
As part of my NQP training, I am required to become a Practice Educator. It feels weird moving into the role of an assessor when I was only recently a student, but it is a challenge I look forward to. My mentor from my time as a student has motivated me to teach and inspire the next generation of student paramedics, including how to make the perfect cup of tea.
A lot of change has happened this year, and it shows a lot to look forward to over my coming career. Going back to university to complete short courses is on the agenda, but there is no rush. I have time to enjoy my career as a paramedic, and that is all that matters.