‘Being a Paramedic is My True Love’

Jerry Smith Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa (MCT) Beth Aschenbrenner likes to get to know her patients. The paramedic for the Clear Lake Fire Department says she asks those she is transporting probing questions because she truly wants to know the person she is helping get through a bad day. She also believes the conversation is a good coping mechanism for those taking the ambulance ride. “I love older people and love being able to talk to them and hear their stories,” said Aschenbrenner, who has been an EMT/paramedic for 25 years. “We can learn so much from them. Where they grew up. What changes they’ve seen in their lifetimes.” With a quarter of a century of medical experience, Aschenbrenner has come to see that having those conversations is a way to calm the patient and make the ride a little less stressful. “We get called on a person’s worst day,” she said. “If we can help turn that around and help them not have to think about that and make them smile, we are doing our job.” The right person Laurel Yost has known Aschenbrenner since she was a little girl growing up and playing with her boys. Yost said it is amazing what her friend has accomplished. Laurel Yost has also experienced the calming effect of Beth Aschenbrenner. “In mid-September, she was one of the crew when I needed the ambulance,” she said. “It was very good to see her com...
Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News News Feed Spotlight Paramedic Source Type: news