Professionals are highly educated and capable individuals that are expected to possess admirable character traits that guide their activities and interpersonal relations. Doctors and attorneys are considered professionals. There are times when a doctor or attorney who demonstrates a lack of these admirable character traits will lose their license to practice. EMS personnel are expected to emulate these professional by demonstrating the following admirable traits:

1. Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
2. Empathy – The ability to put oneself in someone else’ shoes. In other words, the EMS provider can picture themself in the same position as the patient.
3. Self-Motivation – EMS operations are generally not directly supervised and therefore most tasks are performed by the personnel as time allows.
4. Appearance and Hygiene – When a patient calls 911, they are not going to read your resume before they allow you to assess and treat them. Your appearance and hygiene goes a long way in establishing a rapport with the patient and/or the patient’s family. Having rapport with the patient will make the EMS provider’s job easier as the patient is willing to comply with the recommendation of a sharply dressed and hygienic rescuer.
5. Self-Confidence – Believing in oneself is a good trait for anyone to possess. All exemplary EMS personnel display supreme self-confidence. Self-confidence that is the result of continual training and demonstrated competency during emergency situations is the best source of self-confidence.
6. Knowledge of Limitations – There are various skill levels in the EMS profession (EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic, etc.). Some of the skills are very easy to teach all levels to perform well, but it’s not all about the provider; it’s the system. Good EMS providers know how to stay in their lane and do the job they are entrusted by the public to perform.
7. Time Management – After the call is over, the EMS crew needs to clean and restock the vehicle. Further, they may only have a limited amount of time to perform these tasks and they must perform these tasks without being told. People that need to be told what to do all the time do not belong in the EMS community.
8. Communications – EMS personnel generally communicate with three distinct parties; dispatchers, other responders, and hospital personnel. To communicate with a dispatcher, good radio communications are required. The provider who knows what they are doing and what they need will go a long way with communicating with other responders. To communicate with hospital personnel, knowing the information they need and having the ability to communicate the information clearly will win many friends at the Emergency Department.
9. Teamwork – It is impossible for one person to load a stretcher into an ambulance. It is impossible for one person to transport a patient to the hospital. It is impossible to nearly everything that an EMS provider needs to alone. Teamwork starts with knowing what to do and sometimes delegating to other responders what to do.
10. Respect – Respect is a two way street. Respect is due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. An EMS provider may be primarily employed with police, fire, ems, a private company, or a hospital. Each type of institution has it’s own values and customs. Being able to appreciate and where the other rescuers are coming from will go a long way in engendering the necessary support required to complete the mission.
11. Tact – Tact is sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. Sometimes patients will confide in rescuer. This trust should never be met with judgement. If you don’t have anything good to say, it’s probably better just to remain silent.
12. Patient Advocacy – Championing for the cause of the patient is a primary character trait. EMS providers must always work toward the benefit of the patient.
13. Careful Delivery of Care – The EMS motto is ‘Do No Harm’. Ensuring that patient care is always delivered for the benefit of the patient and never for harm will guide an EMS provider through many situations.