Maslow's theory basically states that all of our actions are motivated in order to achieve certain needs. We as people are motivated to fulfill basic needs (eg: water, food, safety, air and security) before moving on to the advanced needs (eg: self-esteem and self-actualization). Maslow visually explains these needs as levels on a hierarchy, in order for one to get to the top they have to start at the bottom and work their way up. Our needs are similar to instincts and play a major role in motivating our behavior. Physiological, safety and social/esteem are deficiency needs. Those type of needs arise due to deprivation and we as people satisfy them in order to avoid unpleasant feelings and consequences. Self-Actualization is a growth need; in which, they don't occur from a lack of something, but instead a desire to grow as a person.
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) are provided to the sick and injured in medical and trauma emergencies; with most care being provided by a paramedic or EMT. I feel that in order to be successful in this career, one must have achieved all five levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Lets start with the basic physiological needs level. Everyone needs the basics; like food, water, air and sleep. Normally most people in the EMS career field do not get a lot of sleep, but we get enough to function or we learn to function on minimal or no sleep.
The second level, security and safety level can be applied to EMS in many ways. As providers in situations that most run from to call us to come assist, we have to maintain our own safety and then our partners. We do this by having radios and cell phones and wearing reflective vests while on a roadway. We also have stations and obviously the ambulance to be in if we are not on a call, to protect us from the elements. On another note of security, many people need the security of having a job/income in order to provide their basic needs. For the many in EMS, as sad as it is to say; other peoples stupidity is simply our job security. Lastly, the main thing we do is allow the public to feel safe. Unless your a first responder/public safety personnel, typically chances are you are going to run away from an emergency situation instead of run in. The citizens of the community in which we provide count on us to be there when they call and need assistance; whether someone is choking or if their house is on fire.
The social (love & belonging) level is a major thing in EMS. First of all most of us spend a minimum of forty-eight hours a week away from our loved ones with shifts being twenty-four hours a piece. So having a great partner relationship is key. For most it is not an issue, some of our best friends are our partners. Not only because we spend so much time with them, but because they know us on another level compared to what our non-EMS friends do. Your partner sometimes is the only set of hands you have and the only one there sometimes, so trust in the relationship is a huge factor. Along with EMS personnel having to have great partner relationships, we also have to have great relationships with the police officers and fire-fighters. In the end we all work together to serve the community better. There are sometimes when the fire-fighters and police officers have to trust and rely on us and vice versa. Another key social relationship is the patient to paramedic relationship. Typically we wont spend any more then thirty minutes top with a patient, but in those thirty minutes the patient tends to trust you more then anyone sometimes in the world. Someone can be in pain, because they have their leg broken with an open fracture, but the reassurance and care/compassion a medic can give can alleviate the pain better then what a narcotic could ever do.
Self-Esteem, the four level, is huge in EMS. In life nobody is ever really ready for anything, and in this job not one single paramedic whether they are brand new or have been doing it for decades is ever 100% ready for what they may face next. So having confidence in oneself is a huge deal. The ability to realize the achievements that you have done and obtained is also key to being on this level of the hierarchy of needs. Having the ability to understand you may never be ready, but knowing that you know a thing or two and with the quick thinking brain a paramedic has; it shouldn't be too awfully hard to gain the confidence in oneself and get the task done.
The final level, Self-Actualization. In order for one to be on this level they have to be able to accept things, be spontaneous and experience purpose. For a paramedic in the EMS career being on this top level of needs is key to survival. I cant count how many times that it has been on the news that someone died because the medics were lazy or didn't get their quick enough. Unfortunately, criticism is a huge thing we sometimes have to deal with. However, for the self-actualized paramedic, they would just accept it and use it as personal growth. In the EMS career there will be at least one call and time that the medic will experience purpose; let me tell you, when it happens there is no other greater feeling in the world. One also has to be open to personal growth. Sometimes we have that moment where we may beat ourselves up because of the outcome of a situation. Nevertheless, when a medic is self-actualized they learn from the experience and grow from it. Instead of beating themselves up on it they learn from the situation and move on. Unfortunately, from my observations if a paramedic or EMT is not on this level of needs they will experience a greater burn-out rate and will have many issues with facing the tasks of the job.
Overall, I think that Maslow's hierarchy of needs relates and can be applied to the EMS career very well in many forms of viewpoints.Without the basic needs, nobody can survive and the advance needs are desperate for survival of someone who is in this line of work.
