Great Mentors Shape Better Clinicians
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This episode of Loud & Clear: EMS Guiding Principles explores the profound impact of mentorship in shaping the culture, standards, and professional identity of new EMS clinicians. Host Ross Orbit interviews Ben Tacey, a field training expert who challenges the traditional 'field training officer' model—originating from law enforcement's San Jose model—and advocates for rebranding it as 'field training mentor' to better reflect the educational, supportive, and developmental role mentors play. The conversation emphasizes that early training isn't just about skill acquisition but about instilling values, psychological safety, and a growth mindset. Ben stresses the importance of selecting passionate, mission-driven mentors who model the culture they want to create, deliver feedback with compassion and structure (using models like Pendleton and the sandwich method), and foster environments where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. The episode underscores that every trainer, regardless of title, is a leader shaping not just individual clinicians but the future of the entire profession.
Your trainer shapes more than skills—they teach culture, values, and what 'good' looks like in your organization.
Praise in public, correct in private: feedback delivered in trust builds confidence and psychological safety.
Use structured feedback models (e.g., Pendleton, sandwich) to deliver hard feedback with care and clarity.
Select mentors based on passion and alignment with department values, not just seniority or availability.
High expectations paired with belief in growth create a culture of excellence and resilience.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
The Hidden Power of Early Mentorship
“Whoever trains you early doesn't just teach you skills, they teach you what good looks like. They teach you what gets tolerated. They teach you whether mistakes are used to grow or used to shame.”
The Origins and Flaws of the 'Field Training Officer' Model
Ben Tacey traces the field training officer model back to the 1969 San Jose Police Department model, born from a tragic incident. He critiques the term 'officer' in EMS, arguing it misrepresents the educator role and reinforces hierarchical, enforcement-based language that doesn't fit emergency services.
Why Passion Matters More Than Process
“It's not just running the calls, doing the stuff you know the station chores and this net it's going above and beyond so it's I don't know it's just that mission that little fire you have inside.”
Teaching What They Don’t Know They Don’t Know
“Just tell them everything. I love this idea that your trainer is your mentor or your guide guiding you through this process of gaining experience, getting to where you need to be.”
Feedback, Culture, and Psychological Safety
“Praise in public, correct in private. That gets to the setting of the feedback. What is what setting you're in or where you give the feedback matter?”
“You're in a position to train someone. That's leadership, whether you asked for it or not. You are shaping more than just that one EMS clinician of this profession.”
“Whoever trains you early doesn't just teach you skills, they teach you what good looks like. They teach you what gets tolerated. They teach you whether mistakes are used to grow or used to shame.”
“I'm giving you this feedback because I have high expectations for you and I know that you can live up to them.”
Host
Guest
Ben Tacey
person
Ross Orbit
person
FASCAN
other
San Jose Model
other
Sandwich Method
other
Paramedic Confidence Builder Fellowship
other
Fast26
other
Pendleton Model
other
Start With Why
book
EMS World
other
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