Promotions and Testing

I should mention that our department has been testing for the Rescue Lieutenant position. For those who aren't familiar. The person who is in charge on the ambulance and ultimately in charge of all patient care is the Rescue Lt. For me, this would be a promotion with a HUGE raise, like a $10,000 raise. (Yes, that is ten thousand dollars)
Since, I was unsuccessful in passing the driver/operator test, and this was the next test that I was eligible for, naturally, I would test for it. Do I really want to be a Rescue Lt? Well, the money would be great, but there is a TON of responsibility and paperwork, and I'm not quite sure that I am ready for that.
So, three steps in the testing process. Step one - written exam. This consisted of 125 question multiple choice, 15 EKG strip recognition, and 20 question drug exam. An 80% is required on each section to pass, and you have to pass all three sections. So, three days after my marathon, I sit for the written exam. I got an 85% on the multiple choice, 100% on the strip recognition, and 80% on the drugs. (I really need to review my drugs!) Pretty good job, for not even reviewing any of the material.
Step two - practical exam. Again three sections; Medical scenario, trauma scenario, and pediatric scenario. Now, this is where I started to stress. Scenarios are killer - no pun intended. I went into the medical scenario which turned out to be a cardiac arrest. Not so bad, except I'm not allowed to touch the patient. I have to direct my two paramedics and one EMT to do everything. And I mean everything! Pretty difficult when you are used to doing stuff for yourself in paramedic school. I felt medium confident that I managed the scene well and my patient survived.
Moving on to the pediatric scenario-my patient was an 18 month old who had a seizure. I should mention that children scare the H-E-double hockey sticks out of me. I put her on some Oxygen, started an IV, and gave her some sugar. She starts seizing! Here is where I am grateful that I reviewed my drugs, I had to give her some Versed, an anti-seizure medication. Pediatric doses are a bitch to remember, because they are all weight-based, not like adults where you can give 1mg or 1g and be done. Push the Versed and she stops seizing. Whew, that was a close one!
Last scenario was a trauma; Motor vehicle crash with two patients. Patient one - hole in his head, brains showing, agonal respirations; he gets a black tag. Take out the phone book and scratch his name out. Patient two -he was messed up. He had abrasions on his face, a sucking chest wound, open fracture to the left arm and an amputated left foot. I managed well with only one other person to help me. We dressed the sucking chest wound, bagged his foot, put a tourniquet on his stump, backboarded him and tried to get the hell out of there. Then he starts acting agitated and his vitals start going to crap, so I listen to lung sounds and he needs to have his chest decompressed. This means, big needle into the chest cavity to release trapped air in the pleural space. I find the second intercostal space, drop the needle in and get the rush of air I am looking for. His vitals come back to normal-ish and the scenario is over.
Whew! My pits were sweating like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The final thing was I had to write a report for the cardiac arrest scenario and then I was free to leave. Free to spend the rest of the day wondering if I passed and second guessing myself is more like it.
So, fast forward to this afternoon. I get the phone call that I have been waiting for. The chief calls me and says, "Bad news. You didn't pass." It turns out I missed a critical point on the pediatric scenario. As I mentioned earlier, children scare the hell out of me, so I'm not surprised that this is the one that I missed on. Chief did mention that he was proud of me for testing.
I'm happy it's over, and I know there will be more chances to test in the future. I'm happy being a firefighter/paramedic. PS - I'm the only FF/PM female in our department. The other girls are Rescue Lts or Drivers. We do have one other female FF, but she's still an EMT.
I enjoy my job. Each testing gives me more experience and lets me see where I am strong and where I am weak.