What do you bring to the table?

Ah, Thanksgiving! That wonderful time of the year, full of gluttony and uncomfortable family gatherings. It will be here before you know it. Each year, my family requests that I bring my famous apple pie as, apparently, I’m good at making them. I hate anything pumpkin, so it’s a win for me. This got me thinking: what do you bring to the table? Hypothetically speaking, of course. What can your co-workers look forward to when you come to work each day? Is it your dazzling smile or award-winning personality? Or, more importantly, what’s your forte in patient care? Are you really good with pediatric patients? Perhaps mental health patients are your flex?

I find that sometimes when someone figures out their strong suit, they end up downplaying it or not owning it.

STOP SELLING YOURSELF SHORT!

Now, I’m not suggesting you become a Braggy McBragerton, but don’t shy away from your talents. Are you good at logistics? Use that to your advantage on calls-we’ve got to get creative sometimes! Sometimes, one of us is more empathetic to a person’s situation. Sometimes, it’s easy to become apathetic to patients and their issues. You and your partner need to know this about yourselves. If your apathy meter is pegged and you have a patient who is going to test your patience (and let’s face it, sometimes patient care), let your partner take the patient if it’s feasible. There’s that whole EMT BLS vs Paramedic ALS business, but you get it. So, if you’re a medic and it’s a BLS call, that means sucking it up and sparing your EMT this time. Your patient will thank you for it and so will your partner!

So, what do you bring to the table? What can you do to improve your partner’s or patient's situation? It’s not rocket science; just do you. Oh, and I will need you to bring the potatoes, too.

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