The Profession of Paramedic - Essay Example

Professional Studies (paramedic) Professionals in paramedical fields treat various types of patients in sophisticated life support. Most paramedics are health professionals working in pre-hospital settings. Professionals in paramedical fields contribute the uppermost level of medical care and service. The profession of paramedics requires handwork, self management, assertiveness, empathy, co-operation and effective interpersonal relationships. A paramedic’s professional requires both professional and personal qualities such as self responsiveness, compassion, boldness and effective interpersonal communications skills. The patients and other people expect more care and service from the part of a paramedical professional. Assertiveness is an approach used in various fields of interactions among the people. It is a key expression put on military ground. Assertive engagement is an essential or necessary requirement to meet the troubles inside paramedical field. Positive change of a tolerant needs a bold attitude; so assertiveness towards any patient from the part of a medical team is an obligatory one. According to a tolerant, assertive tactics of a medical worker is aided to keep away from the tensions of bad health conditions. A professional assertive stand is helpful to change health standard of all patients. The web article entitled”. What is Assertive Engagement gives helpful remarks for the reader. Author Christian Thomas states that; “That lives can be changed for the better and that professional support workers can be a part of the process towards change” (Christian Thomas, 2010, Para 7). Above words of the author, brings the significant role of medical care workers and express the belief in the capacity of the Para medical service personnel’s. At the same time, courage of the medical workers facilitates themselves. Development of the days of a long-suffering man is a divine work that assists not only any one but whole community. This truth should provide more confidence to the medical care workers. Employee’s interpersonal skills are important factors in an assertive engagement towards a tolerant person. A paramedical worker should not express any kind of aggressive approach that defeats intention of the treatment. Incorrect communication is the passing through the aggressive stance of a medical care staff towards patients. The online journal, “How assertive are you” underlines the significance of assertiveness in the profession of a paramedic. It comments that;” Assertiveness is the ability to formulate and communicate ones own thoughts, opinions and wishes in a clear, direct and non-aggressive way.” (How assertive are you? 2010, Para 2). Absence of assertiveness or presence of aggressiveness spoils possibilities of a paramedical worker. Without assertive stands, there is the chance of passiveness or aggressive approach in someone. This situation makes difficulties in medical service profession because it cannot provide any positive results among patients. In order to give constructive condition in a tolerant and to recognize a medical worker, assertiveness quality may be accepted. So, assertive approach is an indissoluble attribute of medical care, provides recognition for a successful profession. Assertive approach is an approach which can be used in the time of troubles as it offers our own way to solve any kind of difficulty. “The real first step toward assertiveness is self-confidence.” (Marano, 2007, Para 6). Here, the researcher says that self confidence is the primary quality to achieve assertive stand. Confidence is the background to develop any bold step that surely provides assertive engagement. This attitude of assertiveness brings positive thoughts among the patients and it gives assurance to the tolerant people they are under the direct control of medical care. Positive thoughts are generated with the help of confidence and assertive approaches. Security feelings grow due to the positive and bold approach that is an important stage to limit the health troubles. Here assertiveness works has a psychological mind-set to produce a healthy condition for a patient. Healthy mental condition is better to develop the diseases of a patient. It is essential for the success of a paramedical professional to have both self-awareness and awareness about patient’s rights. When caring emotionally, disturbed patient’s caretakers should consider complex emotional status of the patients. Generally, paramedics should always be ready to face crucial situations and sometimes it needs decision taking ability. Awareness about their duty helps them to serve the disturbed people without hesitation. A person who suffers from depression may show the symptoms of aggression and behavior disorder. Empathy assertiveness helps paramedics to handle complex situations. The online journal entitled Description of the Profession Paramedic comments that;” Paramedics strive to maintain high quality, reasonable cost health care by delivering patients directly to appropriate facilities” (Description of the Profession Paramedic, n.d. Para. 3). In official discussions paramedic play a vital role to inform the problems and needs of the patients to the higher authority. Effective interpersonal relations help them to create their own stand. Brian Wat remarks that; “Historically, a number of the paramedical groups are splinter groups from either medicine or nursing who have established an independent existence” (Watkin, 1975, P. 335). Paramedics must have good knowledge about paramedical field and they practice medical treatment and other specific skills. The web article entitled Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Science states that; “This area of assessment is intended to enable assessment of actual physical and interpersonal practice skills” (Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Science, n.d. p.7). The Paramedical Science Program ensures the development of specific skills for the particular profession. Effective interpersonal relationships and self-management are considered essential for safe and competency in the paramedical profession. As compared to other professionals in medical field, one can find that paramedics are fully involved in their works and they try to behave very freely with people. Patients with severe behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression or an introvert need sympathy and emotional support. Here, patients need both medicinal and emotional supports. The role of relatives is crucial in these cases. An efficient professional in paramedical field can give awareness to others about the patient. Paramedics often work as a link between the patients and hospital settings. To give information for patients about medical procedures are significant and it needs effective interpersonal connections. Paramedics maintain polite behavior of their patients and other people in paramedical fields. The journal article entitled, Why Paramedics Require “Theories-of-Practice” explains that; “For paramedics to more fully establish their own unique identity, they need to demonstrate professional self-reflection, and formal occupational research represents an important method of doing so.” (Dr. Campeau, 2008, p.2). A large number of paramedical professionals have worked in the field of driving conventional ambulances as a result of which they have to maintain positive communication skills. Many professionals in paramedical field have stated this during their profession and have faced various difficulties such as accident cases, cancer and other serious diseases, and the death o f children. They are experiencing pain and distress. Judy Hughes rightly comments that;” Those confronted with the death of a child were most likely to report experiencing distress (78.0%), while 35.6% of those who experienced the death of a patient in their care and 33.3% of those faced with multiple casualties reported feeling distress” (Hughes, et al. 2002, p. 507). Generally, patient needs social, cultural, economical and emotional consideration in their difficulties. Unfortunately, existing hospital settings fails to maintain these values. Doctors and other professionals in medical field consciously ignore patient’s rights. Empathy and other human values help the paramedical professionals to understand the problems of others and they can handle the issue as their personal matter. Paramedics play a vital role in various medical procedures and they have often made good quality relation towards the patients. Effective communication and inter personal relations and communication skills help them to act as a bridge between the patient and a hospital setting. These relations are very helpful to boost up their job. The self awareness, empathy, assertiveness and good interpersonal communication skills are carrying to their day to day affaires. Empathy is one of the important qualities of paramedics or other health care professionals. In case of a paramedical professional, self-awareness and empathy are interrelated terms. Through the sense of self-awareness, they realize and comprehend patients’ needs by giving help and protection in that critical situation. They always keep a positive attitude towards the patients and other persons in medical field. Socially or culturally, backward people often create violence in hospital because of emotional reasons. A person in paramedical field can handle these difficult situations through his self-awareness and effective interpersonal relations. The profession of paramedics requires positive attitude and a pessimist approach towards medical procedures because this profession includes complex and heart breaking situations. Understanding and accepting other’s pain and frustration is essential for a healthcare professional. The web article entitled Do You Want To Be A Paramedic? Training Course Overview evaluates the interpersonal relationship of a paramedical professional. It clearly remarks that; “Not only are they faced with the needs of the patient, often they must deal with the family and friends that are following the patient to the hospital” (Saurlton, n.d. Para 6). It is clear for a reader to understand the fact that it necessitates empathy as well as inflexibility in supporting the difficult situations in control. Interpersonal relations and effective communication skill are another important professional quality of a paramedic. Paramedics always communicate very freely and they give more comfort to the patient. Patient with both physical and emotional frustration needs support and help. Paramedics try to make them happy and feel comfort about the treatment. As an effective link between hospital settings and the patient, paramedics can ensure maximum care and protection to the patients. Self-awareness promotes sympathy and co-operation through which the characteristic features of paramedic can considers patients questions and they try to give proper answer to their question. The online article entitled Paramedical sciences: courses with great scope states that; “Communication Skills: Being a paramedic is all about being good with patients & put them at comfort.” (Para medical sciences: courses with great scope, 2004, Para 8). It is crystal clear that if a paramedic needs to be good to their patients and try to make them cheerful comfortable about the treatment with their words and work. In many cases patients never reveal their needs because of physical pain or other socio-economic reasons. But one can find that patient’s face reveals the request. Empathy and other soft human values help the people to handle these kinds of difficult situations. The online article Unspoken thoughts of a patient to a health care professional argues that; “There are also circumstances in which patients are afraid to ask for help, but the request is evident in their faces” (Cynthia, et al. 2001, p. 34). To conclude, the profession of paramedics strives for quality service and co-operation and they ensure humanity and care for the patients. Patients with severe diseases require support and care. Both professional and personal values help a paramedical professional to maintain the spirit in their filed of work. Emotionally disturbed patients like depressed persons, people with excessive anxiety, and persons with Schizophrenia; need kind attention and empathy. Good interpersonal relations help the workers in paramedical fields to adjust their duty to connect both the patients and the hospital settings. Assertiveness is essential for paramedics to engage in a variety of medical procedures. The profession of a paramedic always considers the emotional, physical and socio-economic backgrounds of the patients and one can find the fact that various behavioral qualities such as self-awareness, empathy, assertiveness and good interpersonal relations promote desired outcome in their profession. Reference List Christian Thomas, M. (2010). What is assertive engagement. Ezine articles. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Assertive-Engagement&id=2241305 Cynthia, S. et al. (2001). Importance of Communication in Nursing Care: Unspoken thoughts of a patient to a health care professional. Paramedical, 1(3), 34, Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://laico.org/v2020resource/files/commninnursing_jul-sep01.pdf Description of the Profession Paramedic. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/ems/EMT-P/disk_1%5B1%5D/Intro-A.pdf Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Science. (n.d.). The University of Northampton: School of Health. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/health/docstore/pagedocuments/studentadministration/paramedicpracticeportfolio.pdf Dr. Campeau, A. (2008). Why paramedics require “Theories-of-practice”. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care, 6(2), 2. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www.jephc.com/uploads/AC9902962.pdf How assertive are you? (2010). Queendom. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=675 Hughes, J.et al. (2002). Exposure to Human Tragedy, Empathy, and Trauma in Ambulance Paramedics. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72(4), 505-513. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www.ncaintegration.amedd.army.mil/articlesofinterest/paramedicstrauma.pdf Marano, H. E. (2007). Assertive not aggressive. Psychology Today. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200402/assertive-not-aggressive Para medical sciences: courses with great scope. (2004). MG The Milli Gazette. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Jul04-Print-Edition/011507200436.htm Saurlton, W. (n.d.). Do you want to be a paramedic? Training course overview. Aff sphere. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://www.affsphere.com/Science/Do-You-Want-To-Be-A-Paramedic-Training-Course-Overview-1.html Watkin, B. (1975). Documents on health and social services, 1834 to the present day. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved April 26, 2010, http://books.google.co.in/books?id=hHsOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA335&dq=paramedical+p rofession&hl=en&ei=mPfSS4OxBc64rAfq1snfDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAQ# Read More