Tynisha Arrendell is another person that is being profiled in light of the Ambulance Department commemorating Emergency Medical Services week to highlight what emergency responders engage in on a daily basis.
Tynisha has been working at the Ambulance Department for the past 5 years as an Ambulance Nurse. After studying in Curacao and later in the Netherlands, she decided it was time to return to St. Maarten and begin her career in Nursing and EMS, a career field that she followed from other family members. "I can’t see myself doing administrative work," she says. "It was a calling."
Over the last 5 years when Tynisha entered the field, she said that it hasn’t been as easy as people may think. "We deal with all sorts of patients, mental, diabetic, traumatic, and even those who just need a listening air." Other types of patients are stroke, heart, and accident-serious patients that need immediate care. With this in mind, accurate information is essential.
As shift leader, she has to make sure that the shift runs smoothly, and also to make sure that the ambulance has all the equipment that are necessary for that day, i.e. oxygen, infusions, and medication are up to date, among other tasks.
And the job is not easy, Tynisha said. We have the tools of the trade, and we use them in dealing with patients when necessary. However, when dealing with the public, the Ambulance personnel have to be empathetic.
In addition, what is important for the public to know is that when they call in to Ambulance services 912, exact information has to be given, for the better the information the better, and more informed the medics will be in order to deal with the situation.
For example, the correct and exact address has to be given; a reachable phone or cell number in case the medics need to reach the caller for more information; and how the patient is—this information serves to assist the Ambulance personnel on the way to the scene to be more prepared to deal with the patient.
Tynisha pointed out that it would be good and crucial for family members to be more proactive in the health of family members. It is better to be preventive, and to be strict and persuasive as well. You have to keep your family members in check, and help them out.
About her work experience, Tynisha said, "I am first a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), a Registered Nurse, and a SOSA Qualified Ambulance nurse for 4 years now. I have various work experiences besides in the Ambulance Department; namely, I have worked at the St. Maarten Medical Center (medical ward), SVB, Sister Basilla Center on St. Maarten. I also worked with the mentally challenged children and adults in Curacao and Holland, and did district nursing here and in the Netherlands.
"I must say," she says, "that I am an all-a-rounder. But I think I found myself at home at the Ambulance Department. My lesson that I have learned in Curacao and in Holland while studying is that you are as strong as you allow yourself to be. No matter what people say, it is up to you if you going to let them break who you are."
"My finally words," Tynisha said, "would be when you see an EMS worker passing by do appreciated him or her for the hard work they do on a day to day basis."
Tynisha said that her hobbies are "reading, singing (could have been the next Beyonce, Alica Keys… haha), dancing, spending time and educating my very energetic daughter of 3,5 years.