Your new skill

If you’ve ever been the “new” guy at ANY job, you know how hard it can be to come across as confident and competent. Even more so, when everything you do in the first week is just so new and foreign. It might seem difficult to make that first “good” impression. Trust me, I’ve been there. My 7th day on the job, I decided to speed down a residential street on my neighbor’s motorcycle, only to lay it down going 85 mph, cut open my legs, arms and abdomen. Experienced a sweet cardiac contusion, then woke up to my parents checking in on me 4 hours later, telling me I should quit my new job and move back home. Not exactly the best first impression to my new co-workers shoveling me and my skin off the street and not quite how I wanted my parents to see my second week away from home. Like I said, I’ve been there, so let’s get into it.

I came up in the fire service. Started at the young age of 18 with all the energy in the world! Who were the "experienced” guys, you might ask? Some (not all) were grumpy, older fire fighters clearly affected by the years of burdensome work and undiagnosed PTSD. I didn’t know it at the time, but this made my first interactions so jaded, I considered quitting daily. But, with time, I was able to prove myself through my actions, my hard work and dedication.

Many might think it’s the “traumatic” calls we run together that bring everyone closer. Or maybe the opinion is, “work hard together to become a family.” Although, that may be true in some instances, we also bond while performing our menial tasks for the day. That’s where your hard work can truly shine. Anyone can dance for the spotlight, but what do you do when the spotlight’s off?

Many of my favorite “probies”, “new kids” have come from the service industry. I come to find that my supposed “skills” learned in the fire service, sometimes didn’t correlate directly with public interactions or running a scene. One of my closest friends, came from a truck driving job before fire/EMS. He had to talk with business owners daily and find their needs in order to better serve them. THAT was a skill I had never been taught in the fire service. I thought a badge, emblem on a shirt or licensing level was enough to portray my competence. So, what does competence/confidence look like? What are the “skills” that are needed?

Customer service! That’s what it boils down to. Too many times, we arrive on a scene, walk into a patient’s room and ask “are you ready to go?” What!? Why? Is something wrong? We haven’t even assessed the situation. Why does customer service come into play? Imagine you’re a server at a restaurant. Customer asks, “Do you have the daily specials? I’ve never eaten here before, what do you recommend?” Your response, “I really think you should just take the first item on the menu.” Doesn’t make sense, does it? Yet, we as caregivers like to offer our most “popular” option, transport and transfer of care. You’re doing it wrong. I WAS doing it wrong.

When I recognized the skills required to talk to someone can be improved with practice and interactions, I immediately knew where I had failed. Interactions don’t need to be full of “knowledge” when talking with your patients. They simply want a normal, human conversation in their mother tongue, with words they recognize. Did you work as a server at a restaurant? You have the skill. Did you work as a janitor? You have another skill. Were you a truck driver, painter, greeter? You have the skills!

I acknowledge now, I failed to recognize where value may come from, but I don’t want you to miss out. I’ve worked with many, many people over the years. MANY have impressed me. I’ve seen where they collected “training” over the years, and it usually wasn’t another fire or EMS entity that gave it to them. The ones who got out from their mom’s basements and took a break from video games to make a living, earned skills along the way. The skills of daily interactions, time management or simply learning how to clean up after others. Skills! It’s just a matter of recognizing these as your talent. Recognize it and use it! Making sure your station doors are locked, is important. People skills, important and useful. Knowing how to use a mop properly? Of course, also useful. Learning how to properly introduce yourself, your crew and shake someone’s hand… SKILLS!

Outcome: You might be the “new” kid, rookie, probie, whatever you want to call it. But using your skills will not go unnoticed. Serving at a restaurant, to sitting at your patient’s bedside. Not much difference. Use your SKILLS!

-Dave (semi-skilled)