Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1176470
October 14–November 18, 2019 22 Working Nurse l WorkingNurse.com BOOK CLUB by Christine Contillo, RN, BSN, PHN W hile some nurses have worked as EMTs or para- medics earlier in their careers, I don't have any personal experience in that arena. I've often wondered about what's involved in being — and becoming — an EMT or para- medic. I thought Kevin Hazzard's book, A Thousand Naked Strangers, might tell me more about this unfamiliar branch of the healthcare system. Hazzard was an Atlanta journalist. After 9/11, he wanted to prove to himself that he could do something more difficult than just sitting at a desk in front of a computer. He also wanted a chance to do really worthy work — something he could be proud of, the way his friends were proud of their mil- itary service, and that would enable him to trade war stories on the same level. Becoming an EMT was his solution. I must admit I've always wondered how much training EMTs and paramedics actu- ally get. Their work seems to require good assessment skills and a lot of autonomy in fairly frightening situations, but maybe not a lot of training. Nurses who've worked as EMTs may have a different perspective, but Hazzard writes of basically scamming his way through a community college pro- gram that was neither all that long nor very difficult. Ambulance Joyrides The first position Hazzard was able to find after graduation was not with the fire department, as he'd hoped, but with a poorly run, much less professional ambu- lance service that mostly moved sick patients around. He seems to have had lit- tle respect for his fellow EMTs, and offers a view of ambulance driving that reminded me of high school: going for joyrides with your friends and hoping that your mother doesn't realize how many miles you're putting on the family car in the short errands you're supposed to be running. Quickly tiring of that, he opted to return to school for paramedic training. His goal was to work for Grady Memorial Hospital, the largest, best facility of its type in Atlanta, an objective he finally achieved. At Grady, his life became a little harder and a lot more interesting. While he found the paramedic life more satisfying than driving an ambulance, it also meant long hours and dangerous patients who might be high, carrying weapons or both. He found himself expected to do lots of think- ing on his feet even when exhausted, expe- riencing that kind of half-awake trance we've all lived through on really difficult shifts. It also meant a huge amount of person- al stress. He changed partners often due to high turnover and was paired with a few that he really disliked. The work affected his marriage and how he viewed the world. He saw a lot of ugly situations that, once seen, couldn't be unseen. Eventually, he experienced the burnout that all healthcare workers can face if we don't care for ourselves. Lacking Human Kindness I had mixed feelings about this book. Parts of it are highly entertaining, but some of it is very vulgar and often gruesome. Also, while this may sound sexist, it left me thinking about how differently men choose to write about their experiences than women do. The word "cowboy" came to mind quite a bit when reading this book. Perhaps Hazzard was hoping to impress us with his blackly comedic antics or just tai- lored his story to what he thought would sell books, but I wonder how I would feel if I were one of his patients reading it. Hazzard is a skillful storyteller, but throughout this book, I kept looking for some kindness, gratitude or expressions of wonder at how lives can actually be saved. Maybe Hazzard was also looking for that as his career came crashing to an end. Only given some space and time was he finally able to appreciate the decade he spent as a paramedic for what it was — an eyes-wide-open look at some of the most difficult moments in healthcare. A Thousand Naked Strangers by Kevin Hazzard (Scribner, 2016) _________________________________________ Christine Contillo, RN, BSN, PHN, is a public health nurse with more than 40 years of experience, ranging from infants to geriatrics. She enjoys volunteering for medical missions. WN A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back By Kevin Hazzard An entertaining but vulgar and gruesome memoir As a nurse, I've often wondered what's involved in being an EMT or paramedic.