Comments on: Education vs Training: The “Professional Ambulance Cleaner” http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/ This blog is about EMS, and one Paramedic's quest to make this the profession it deserves to be. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:50:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: NateEMT_B http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 NateEMT_B Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:42:34 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-1092 the short answer for me would be this: The "YOUR" understands what the hell he's doing through the education and understands why he is doing it, and can also gain a sense of appreciation for it. Which will lead to healthy patients because of the "YOUR"'s education and respect for a clean ambulance. Where as the "HIS" is just going through the motions, making it a monotonous task and a chore, where he'll probably eventually slack off on doing because he doesn't grasp why it's so important. Which will then lead to sick patients because the "HIS" lacks competence, knowledge, and full understanding as to why he's cleaning the ambulance other than because "he's supposed to"... Apathy kills patients, which is what "HIS", I think, would be doing in the long run. the short answer for me would be this: The “YOUR” understands what the hell he's doing through the education and understands why he is doing it, and can also gain a sense of appreciation for it. Which will lead to healthy patients because of the “YOUR”'s education and respect for a clean ambulance. Where as the “HIS” is just going through the motions, making it a monotonous task and a chore, where he'll probably eventually slack off on doing because he doesn't grasp why it's so important. Which will then lead to sick patients because the “HIS” lacks competence, knowledge, and full understanding as to why he's cleaning the ambulance other than because “he's supposed to”… Apathy kills patients, which is what “HIS”, I think, would be doing in the long run.

]]> By: NateEMT_B http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-1091 NateEMT_B Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:42:34 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-1091 the short answer for me would be this: The "YOUR" understands what the hell he's doing through the education and understands why he is doing it, and can also gain a sense of appreciation for it. Which will lead to healthy patients because of the "YOUR"'s education and respect for a clean ambulance. Where as the "HIS" is just going through the motions, making it a monotonous task and a chore, where he'll probably eventually slack off on doing because he doesn't grasp why it's so important. Which will then lead to sick patients because the "HIS" lacks competence, knowledge, and full understanding as to why he's cleaning the ambulance other than because "he's supposed to"... Apathy kills patients, which is what "HIS", I think, would be doing in the long run. the short answer for me would be this: The “YOUR” understands what the hell he's doing through the education and understands why he is doing it, and can also gain a sense of appreciation for it. Which will lead to healthy patients because of the “YOUR”'s education and respect for a clean ambulance. Where as the “HIS” is just going through the motions, making it a monotonous task and a chore, where he'll probably eventually slack off on doing because he doesn't grasp why it's so important. Which will then lead to sick patients because the “HIS” lacks competence, knowledge, and full understanding as to why he's cleaning the ambulance other than because “he's supposed to”… Apathy kills patients, which is what “HIS”, I think, would be doing in the long run.

]]> By: fire33medic http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-831 fire33medic Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:27:45 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-831 Interesting that you should bring up professional athletes, tclemans, as I recently heard an interview with Andre Agassi that immediately came to mind when I read your post. Sure, athletes do not need to become egghead academics on all the factors that affect their performance, but they do need some level of education beyond skills repetition.<br><br>Agassi was already a phenomenal tennis player by the time that he met Gil, the person that would become his coach for the majority of his professional career. Gil's genius was in questioning every aspect of Agassi's intense training routine - a routine that he had been following for years. For instance, why was Agassi running five miles daily if he never ran five miles in a tennis match? Weren't there better ways to train his muscles? Ways that would be directly applicable to the practice of his craft? Agassi says of this revelation: "all of sudden it occurred to me that, you know, I had this asset in my life or access to this asset of understanding my body and being kind of guided and navigating those waters of becoming stronger and fitter."<br><br>Ultimately, a fine balance must be struck between being technically proficient and being armed with the knowledge to make decisions that matter... whether they be patient care decisions, or why and how to clean the ambo after a call. Both are important, and repetition does increase skill, but it is crucial to have a basic level of education in order to use one's skills to maximum effect.<br><br>Stay safe! Interesting that you should bring up professional athletes, tclemans, as I recently heard an interview with Andre Agassi that immediately came to mind when I read your post. Sure, athletes do not need to become egghead academics on all the factors that affect their performance, but they do need some level of education beyond skills repetition.

Agassi was already a phenomenal tennis player by the time that he met Gil, the person that would become his coach for the majority of his professional career. Gil's genius was in questioning every aspect of Agassi's intense training routine – a routine that he had been following for years. For instance, why was Agassi running five miles daily if he never ran five miles in a tennis match? Weren't there better ways to train his muscles? Ways that would be directly applicable to the practice of his craft? Agassi says of this revelation: “all of sudden it occurred to me that, you know, I had this asset in my life or access to this asset of understanding my body and being kind of guided and navigating those waters of becoming stronger and fitter.”

Ultimately, a fine balance must be struck between being technically proficient and being armed with the knowledge to make decisions that matter… whether they be patient care decisions, or why and how to clean the ambo after a call. Both are important, and repetition does increase skill, but it is crucial to have a basic level of education in order to use one's skills to maximum effect.

Stay safe!

]]> By: fire33medic http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-473 fire33medic Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:45 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-473 Interesting that you should bring up professional athletes, tclemans, as I recently heard an interview with Andre Agassi that immediately came to mind when I read your post. Sure, athletes do not need to become egghead academics on all the factors that affect their performance, but they do need some level of education beyond skills repetition.<br><br>Agassi was already a phenomenal tennis player by the time that he met Gil, the person that would become his coach for the majority of his professional career. Gil's genius was in questioning every aspect of Agassi's intense training routine - a routine that he had been following for years. For instance, why was Agassi running five miles daily if he never ran five miles in a tennis match? Weren't there better ways to train his muscles? Ways that would be directly applicable to the practice of his craft? Agassi says of this revelation: "all of sudden it occurred to me that, you know, I had this asset in my life or access to this asset of understanding my body and being kind of guided and navigating those waters of becoming stronger and fitter."<br><br>Ultimately, a fine balance must be struck between being technically proficient and being armed with the knowledge to make decisions that matter... whether they be patient care decisions, or why and how to clean the ambo after a call. Both are important, and repetition does increase skill, but it is crucial to have a basic level of education in order to use one's skills to maximum effect.<br><br>Stay safe! Interesting that you should bring up professional athletes, tclemans, as I recently heard an interview with Andre Agassi that immediately came to mind when I read your post. Sure, athletes do not need to become egghead academics on all the factors that affect their performance, but they do need some level of education beyond skills repetition.

Agassi was already a phenomenal tennis player by the time that he met Gil, the person that would become his coach for the majority of his professional career. Gil's genius was in questioning every aspect of Agassi's intense training routine – a routine that he had been following for years. For instance, why was Agassi running five miles daily if he never ran five miles in a tennis match? Weren't there better ways to train his muscles? Ways that would be directly applicable to the practice of his craft? Agassi says of this revelation: “all of sudden it occurred to me that, you know, I had this asset in my life or access to this asset of understanding my body and being kind of guided and navigating those waters of becoming stronger and fitter.”

Ultimately, a fine balance must be struck between being technically proficient and being armed with the knowledge to make decisions that matter… whether they be patient care decisions, or why and how to clean the ambo after a call. Both are important, and repetition does increase skill, but it is crucial to have a basic level of education in order to use one's skills to maximum effect.

Stay safe!

]]> By: el quirk http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-465 el quirk Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:30:28 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-465 I am a "why" person. But most, I think, are "what" people. As in, "What do I do"? I tend to need to know, "Why should I do that?"<br>Some look at history and say, "I need to know what happened." I need to know what happened and why it did. However, with the why-ism comes an inevitable set of questions....I sometimes envy "what" people. I am a “why” person. But most, I think, are “what” people. As in, “What do I do”? I tend to need to know, “Why should I do that?”
Some look at history and say, “I need to know what happened.” I need to know what happened and why it did. However, with the why-ism comes an inevitable set of questions….I sometimes envy “what” people.

]]> By: el quirk http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-464 el quirk Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:30:28 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-464 I am a "why" person. But most, I think, are "what" people. As in, "What do I do"? I tend to need to know, "Why should I do that?"<br>Some look at history and say, "I need to know what happened." I need to know what happened and why it did. However, with the why-ism comes an inevitable set of questions....I sometimes envy "what" people. I am a “why” person. But most, I think, are “what” people. As in, “What do I do”? I tend to need to know, “Why should I do that?”
Some look at history and say, “I need to know what happened.” I need to know what happened and why it did. However, with the why-ism comes an inevitable set of questions….I sometimes envy “what” people.

]]> By: roadtoparamedic http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-459 roadtoparamedic Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:12:40 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-459 Except that at no point in the above scenario are the educated cleaners actually shown how to clean, or expected to do it!<br><br>Good education is essential, but so is learning practical skills. Except that at no point in the above scenario are the educated cleaners actually shown how to clean, or expected to do it!

Good education is essential, but so is learning practical skills.

]]> By: roguemedic http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-458 roguemedic Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:40:42 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-458 Not only are the educate ambulance cleaners likely to understand the importance of cleaning in the corners and places out of sight, they are likely to come up with ways of improving the way they do their job. Not only are the educate ambulance cleaners likely to understand the importance of cleaning in the corners and places out of sight, they are likely to come up with ways of improving the way they do their job.

]]> By: Greg Friese http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-456 Greg Friese Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:56:00 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-456 I am guessing that at YOUR ambulance service no one will ever get into the driver's seat and while still wearing the same gloves they used to help assess and treat the patient drive to the hospital. I am guessing that at YOUR ambulance service no one will ever get into the driver's seat and while still wearing the same gloves they used to help assess and treat the patient drive to the hospital.

]]> By: totwtytr http://lifeunderthelights.com/2009/11/education-vs-training-the-professional-ambulance-cleaner/comment-page-1/#comment-453 totwtytr Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:20:15 +0000 http://lifeunderthelights.com/?p=485#comment-453 In the end, the real question becomes which paramedic makes more money? Do employers find that the better educated paramedic is worth more money for his theoretical understanding of the science of ambulance cleaning? <br><br>Which reveals the real problem in EMS education and training. In the end, the real question becomes which paramedic makes more money? Do employers find that the better educated paramedic is worth more money for his theoretical understanding of the science of ambulance cleaning?

Which reveals the real problem in EMS education and training.

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