Paramedic school

[YO_Doc]

Congrats on P-school man. I took that plunge many years ago and now run a staff of around 400.. Who knows where this choice will lead you. The choice has taken me to several different countries, Columbine and many other interesting events.

Like the advice above take all of the extra training that you can get be it the required ACLS and PALS add in PHTLS/ITLS, AMLS, any geri med classes that you can get into any cadaver lab, any time you walk past a airway mannequin take 2 minutes and drop an OPA and NPA King and intubate the dam thing, work on just using a BVM and NPA then try it in strange places, under a chair, laying on your side and with the lights turned off.

Remember regardless of how long you stay a Paramedic you will never stop learning, this is a life long learning commitment.

[citizensoldier16]

Congrats on getting into P-school! Pay particular attention to cardiology and respiratory. These two chapters will cover about 90% of your patients. Learn everything you can. Study 12-leads, capnography, and know how respiratory and cardiology work in tandem with one another. I STRONGLY suggest the book "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" by Dale Dubin.

http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Interpre.../dp/0912912065

If you can, look into a Bob Page class in your area. Check out his website:

http://www.multileadmedics.com

And for goodness sakes...get a subscription to JEMS!

http://www.jems.com/

[NinjaMedic]

Disagree, use the Garcia 12-Lead book . . .

[SteveL]

Congrats on acceptance and good luck with it.

[jwfuhrman]

It was just over a year ago I was asking for flashlight recommendations for EMT class. Well, it's been an interesting year of volunteering with an ambulance service, ski patrol and now attending fire academy! I've learned tons and had a great time.

Last week I received my acceptance letter to paramedic school, so the 18 months starting in January are going to be intense!

Thanks for all of the information, suggestions and support that you have all provided. This is a great community!

18 months, shit, our certification course was done in 11..... I wish it was 18 months, I wouldn't have felt so brain dead

[Caduceus]

18 months?!? Where I used to be an EMT, paramedic was 6-7 months of schooling. Check out Daniel Freeman or Mt. SAC programs in California ...

Missed that somehow on my first pass read. Thanks, btw, on the AMLS update - google'd it, just never replied a few weeks back when you took the time to answer.

[chuckman]

My cert program was about a year long with classes, about 20-24 months with clinical and precepting. We had a lot more clinical time than the local 2-year AS degree program.

[ar911d]

Good luck and have fun. I had a lot of fun in medic class. Just remember to be brave and try to do all you can. Now is the time to get in over your head and screw up because you have someone watching over your shoulder to take care of you and the patient if things go sideways. I know it's embarrassing to screw up in front of people, but it's a lot worse to do it in the truck by yourself when your patient needs you.

[Brian Hagler]

Caduceus, I am curious like you. When I went it was 9 months, 57.5 credit hours. Of course things change, that was back in 1991.

[reiswigt]

Caduceus, I am curious like you. When I went it was 9 months, 57.5 credit hours. Of course things change, that was back in 1991.

The core paramedic classes are 55 credits. These are spit up as follows, 8 the first quarter (2 lab, 6 lecture), 9 the next 4 quarters (3 lab, 6 lecture) and 2 credits the last quarter. The two year AA degree requires a total of 105 credits. Not all states require the AA degree, but some do. Oregon does and I'm only 10 miles from the state line.

Fortunately for me, due to five years of college 20 years ago, I only have to take two classes (8 credits). Our rotation and internship hours range between 1,500 and 2,000.