Another live webinar, more great feedback from attendees, further impact made.
I should be pleased right?
I hosted + presented an hour long session with the College of Paramedics on Monday 30th January 2023 to a live online audience. I was punctual, professional, and a lot of the feedback received labelled the content powerful.
But I still felt disappointed afterwards.
Excellence
Why?
It’s challenging condensing huge topics into such short time, and frustrating when there’s so much more knowledge + experience you want to share, particularly when they concern issues that are instrumental to the professional practice of my colleagues.
In many ways it’s fair to say I’m a perfectionist, striving for excellence, so after such sessions I’m always brewing with ideas for improvement. But yes, I agree, I should take heart and praise myself for my efforts to empower my colleagues and more, on my own and in my unpaid free time.
Political Culture in the UK
For instance, I can see the development already from previous sessions and will build on this. Amidst the political and economic instability here in the UK, it was only right I gave attention to system level dynamics that shape the wellbeing + performance of practitioners like me on the frontline of emergency health services.
In the past my focus was solely on patient encounters, but I now firmly know I can’t leave wider dynamics beyond the front stage of our performance untouched. They have a HUGE influence, yet I think part of the reason why I never explored this further was the political culture in the UK permeating settings like the emergency services. In such spaces it’s almost like there’s an apathy and fear to discuss and challenge policy + politics, and just accept things for the way they are. That’s unacceptable and unsustainable, it needs to change.
The Matrix
It annoys me when others can’t see what I see, the dynamics I see at play, unfolding at individual and system level. I was honed this way, nurtured through years of experience and learning. I often feel like Neo in The Matrix, trying to show others code. People don’t necessarily need to agree. Heck, CHALLENGE ME! Let’s have the conversation!
Yet discussions around emotional wellbeing + performance in prehospital care aren’t seen as sexy. You’re not going to get as many reads, views, attendees, participants, as something around trauma, critical care, airway management, or something else that’s purely clinical.
Journey
At the same time, I know progress can often be a process, so it’s a matter of patience, of letting things build + grow. I just have to keep building, believing and growing with this. What’s most important is I fully believe in what I’m sharing and trying to achieve, and my vision will only evolve with time.
Next Steps
Speaking of vision, I have plenty more ideas in the pipeline and look forward to having the time + energy to put them into action. I’m going to keep working towards bringing them to fruition, persevering, for myself and others who continue to inspire what I do. I know I’m only getting started.
Recording
College of Paramedics UK members can access the recording of my webinar by following this link: https://collegeofparamedics.co.uk/COP/CPD/CPD_Items/The_Elephant_on_the_Road_Emotions_in_Paramedic_Practice.aspx
drBACKPACK 