Paramedic training never delved that deep into the nuances of biochemistry, microbiology, pharmokinetics, or pharmocology. The focus was more hands on, follow protocol, follow procedure, fine tunes motor skills, and so on. I found my base of knowledge was vastly added to when I began working on car full-time. Conditions manifested in real life, with tangible details, are rarely forgotten. These cases of injuries and illnesses described in textbooks could now be taken out of context and literally be seen, heard, and palpated. It is one thing to read about paradoxical chest motion, to see it with your own eyes though, is quite another. Patient after patient, month after month, these cold hard facts begin to crystallize with the ever-growing base of experience. This combination emboldens your confidence, but as more time goes by, you come to understand that there is an absolutely vast amount of information you haven't learned. You shift your focus from perfecting what you already know, to acknowledging your own ignorance. This realization signifies that learning and mastering is a never-ending process, a life-long undertaking.
This is the phase I've entered into now, and am more excited than ever to throw myself entirely into my goal of becoming a doctor. Whatever the workload, the odds, the lack of sleep, or the difficulty, I know that this is the right path(although I'll probably bitch and moan about it).
