Who thinks being a SCDF paramedic is easy?
I thought it was.
I AM SO WRONG.
I'm pretty sure the training is going to be worse than the three years in nursing diploma.
And that's with ten years of nursing experience, which gives me a leg up on A&P.
So first up, three weeks of basic training at CDA.
If you've never been in a uniform group or have any idea about the NS life, this will be a definite culture shock. Waking up for basic training and PT at 5.30am, 15 mins for mealtimes, foot drills, lights out/last movement... That was a whole new world for me during the first few days of camp. It was interesting, having a regiment to stick to after years of having lots of leeway.
But ohhhhh boy, I now get why the NS men are so excited about booking out, and dread booking in. All the discussions about what we're gonna eat/drink once we book out, all the cravings etc... Yea, I totally understand now, haha!
Foot drills though.
I am so, SO sorry for my sergeants who had a tough time trying to teach an uncoordinated klutz the basics. I honestly don't know who struggled more, me or the sergeants. Glad that I'm a source of entertainment to Fahmee though during those drills! I think a decade of being a nurse and trying to look small and unintimidating is like second nature to me - how the hell do you "lock" your arms and body so you don't look like a flapping sotong during turns?!
5bx would have been fine if I didn't have cough/URTI to mess with my right ear.
And I learnt that I cannot run with someone infront of me. The effort it takes to regulate my strides tire me out faster than a 5km run apparently. And I need my music to run to!
Just a side note :
If your inner ear is messed up and you have intermittent giddiness from it, try to avoid making too many sharp turns and stamping during foot drills. That wasn't fun at all, especially when you're so focused on the kiris and kanans to notice the initial warning signs! -_-;
Yea, yea, I felt my age - OLD.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
This is the first year I'm not a nurse for Nurses' Day.
I guess I feel kinda lost? Being a nurse was kind of an identity for me.
Now that I'm out of it (but with plans to renew my license annually), I feel like I've lost a sense of belonging.
Maybe I'll start feeling like a part of the SCDF family soon?
I want to be a paramedic, but ehhh, maybe I still haven't got the proper frame of mind yet.