ETCO2 to Graduation

End Tidal CO2 is where it is all at. This little $3 device can change your world as a paramedic. You can learn so much from it. So we know that CO2 reflects cardiac output and pulmonary blood flow as the gas is transported by the venous system to the right side of the heart and then pumped to the lungs by the right ventricles. This is what ETCO2 reads. Within 6 breaths it can tell you if the person has asthma, if the patient's intubation was position incorrectly, or how well the medulla is functioning on a trauma patient. We read this handout about ETCO2 and what I thought was so great was this... "BOTTOM LINE. Do you really think the medulla is measuring the rate and depth of breathing? NO!! It is measuring CO2 for the adequacy of breathing and so should you whether the patient is breathing on his or her own or you doing it for them!" This seriously is an amazing tool but yet so many paramedics do not use it. It is one of the most mistreated tools that we carry. As my teacher always says "If they are spending $1000 on a ambulance ride you might as well 'Slap the Cap' and charge them the $3 extra dollars just to make sure they are alright."

So I was on a shift the other day and I got to be with psychiatric patients. I had a great day. As a paramedic you don't have a long time with your patients. You usually don't get to know what happens to your patient after you drop them off. It was really nice to spend 12 hours with my patients and actually get to know what is going on with them and how they are being treated in the long run. I was able to see all of these broken adolescences who have so much potential and strength but yet they cant see it for themselves. I know that some of them are just acting out because they don't get attention from there families or because they have been overcome with the thoughts of sadness. I learned new coping skills, stress relief and how to better communicate with those around you. I wish I could have spent more time there. I was able to connect with the kids and hopefully show them that they can achieve anything that they put there minds to. We all have personal troubles and time when we think we cant move on but I know that we all can. You have to put your mind, heart, and trust in the Lord and those who are trained to help you. 

This semester is full of surprises. We have double the amount of clinical's it seems and we have lots of worksheets. We are in class for about 6 hours a day and spend way to much time with one another. We know each others family lives, we know each others schedule and we text each other 24/7 on a group chat. I talk to them more then I talk to my self. How has this happened??

We are getting so close to the end of school. I don't feel that I am old enough or wise enough to be graduating college. I just turned 22. At 22 aren't you suppose to be lost in the world not knowing what you want to do, how to act, and be able to go home whenever you want to. After July of this year I will be graduating. Moving to Oklahoma City where I will have to take care of myself completely. On top of all of that I will have to go out 4 days a week to go out and treat patients. I still feel like I have no idea what I am doing! How can this be at 22.