I'm in paramedic school right now and just finished cardiology. I barely passed, feel like an imposter, and don't know if I should quit.
Hey everyone,
Currently in the paramedic cohort, and the cardiology block just wrapped up. Honestly, the feeling is one of being completely overwhelmed. The written exam resulted in a 79% (the minimum cutoff is 78%).
The whole block was crammed into literally 3 weeks. It went by incredibly fast, and there was so much content that it is hard to tell if it was all retained. On top of that, 12-leads remain a significant struggle.
During practical testing, one scenario required a retake. It was for stable ventricular tachycardia. Everything was set up correctly, but when it came time to perform a synchronized cardioversion( Pt became unstable) the shock button was just tapped instead of being pressed and held. Because that one detail was missed, the station was a failure. A re-test on a different scenario was successful, but the experience was a major hit to confidence.
It feels like barely scraping by since day one of this program. There is a constant feeling of lagging behind everyone else.
The course is moving straight into ACLS and PALS next, leading to a lot of questioning. Is it normal to feel like this? Is this a sign that it’s not the right move, or should the program be finished?
It would be great to hear from anyone who felt like this during school but made it through. Thanks.