‘We love this job — and it’s hurting us’: Paramedic Sophie on EMS burnout and culture change

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Sophie Fuller — better known across social media as Paramedic Sophie — joins host Rob Lawrence for a candid, energizing conversation about what it really feels like to work in EMS right now: pride, the pressure, the burnout, and the culture issues that too many providers have been taught to silently absorb. Sophie is a critical care ground paramedic, flight paramedic, educator and president of the Tennessee Association of EMS Providers (TAEMSP), and she brings a provider-first lens to everything from leadership visibility, to mental health and pay equity. Together, Rob and Sophie dig into why Sophie started creating content in the first place (hint: burnout and the need to connect), how social media can be used as a force for good, and what “healthy” EMS culture should look like in practice. Sophie shares practical advice for crews and leaders alike: Be human Say the uncomfortable thing Stop normalizing harm Build systems that “care back” for the people doing the work Memorable quotes “We're just working in systems that haven't yet learned how to care back for the provider.” — Sophie Fuller “Management by walking about. Don't be stuck in the office. Don't say my door is always open because that relies on people coming in to see you. Get out and go and see them.” — Rob Lawrence “We love this job and that distracts us from the fact that it's also hurting us.” — Sophie Fuller “Just because it's normal doesn't mean it's healthy.” — Sophie Fuller “We confuse trauma with tradition.” — Sophie Fuller Additional resources: Follow Paramedic Sophie on: YouTube Tik Tok “The Next Shift : A mentorship workbook for EMTs and Paramedics” | E-Book, by Sophie Fuller “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System” - PubMed Episode timeline 01:00 – Rob introduces Sophie Fuller (“Paramedic Sophie”) and frames the influencer vs. “effluencer” concept 02:14 – Sophie’s origin story: graphic design → hospital tech → EMT → volunteer fire → paramedic → critical care → flight 06:16 – TAEMSP: why Tennessee needed a provider-level association and the shift toward legislative advocacy 08:05 – Why she started with social media: two full-time 911 jobs, low pay, burnout and the need for an outlet/connection 09:32 – Defining EMS burnout: the “jar on the shelf” and cumulative strain that becomes chronic fatigue 13:26 – Sophie’s guidance to providers: vulnerability, telling the truth and not letting naysayers silence needed conversations 16:00 – Sophie’s message to leadership: don’t be the “Wizard of Oz” — show up, communicate and stay connected to crews 20:26 – EMS culture: self-sacrifice, silence, “earning your place through suffering,” and confusing trauma with tradition 23:10 – Sophie’s book “The Next Shift”: a field guide to “learn, lead and last” in EMS 26:03 – Mistakes and “just culture”: reporting, mentoring, anonymous reporting systems, and learning vs. blame 32:08 – Closing challenge: stop normalizing harm; speak up for culture and patient care 33:14 – Where to find Sophie online and how large her platform has become Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode.