More Than Book Smarts....

I'm realizing more and more that working in healthcare is more about people skills than anything- yes, of course there are times when you have to know all the procedures and treatments- but there is a lot to be said for being able to connect with someone who is basically putting their health and safety in your hands. We've had a lot of ride-alongs recently (EMT students seeing what it's like in the field), and the ones who are most comfortable are the ones who can easily talk with patients and build a rapport. The ones who can hold a conversation tend to also be able to apply the skills and knowledge from class- funny how that works!

There was a new EMT I worked with the other day who told me how great it was to see how I was able to connect with patients and seemed so comfortable doing the job. He said it was really helpful for him to see how I was able to talk with the patients and staff comfortably. This was one of the best compliments I've received- it really meant a lot to me that the way I do my job reflects how much I enjoy what I do.