Paramedic Course Syllabus Instructor: Stephen Kershaw; NREMTP Anita M. Lindsay; MAED, BSHS, NREMTP Instructor Contact Information: (504) 496-7678, Email: alindsay@medexpress.net Instructor Office Hours and Location: One half hour before and after class or by appointment Course Meeting Days and Times: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 4:00 pm-10:00 pm (One-Half Hour Lunch) Course Location: Louisiana College Room 209 Cavanaugh Hall, (Nursing Education Building Course Description: The Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic course prepares the Paramedic student to provide prehospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of Paramedics, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the prehospital setting, and providing patient transportation. Teaching-Learning Methods: Teaching-learning methods in this course may include, but are not limited to, assigned readings, presentations, discussion, critical thinking exercises, labs, and class activities. Evaluation procedures include quizzes, written examinations, and assignments. Supplemental information to assist in your learning will be posted on Course Compass. Please check Course Compass daily. All students are required to register in Course Compass. Course Compass is an excellent resource for both students and educators. We will use this website for quizzes, some assignments, communication, and course announcements. As a reminder, be sure to check it daily. In the first semester students will be required to write a case study on a patient he or she attended while in clinical rotations. This paper will count as one of the assignments listed below. During the second semester students will write one research paper (7-10 pages). The topic of the paper must be approved by the instructor and be relevant to the course objectives. Requirements for both of these are at the end of the attached course schedule. 1
Course Objectives At the completion of this program you should be able to: 1. Describe the roles of Paramedics in the health care system. 2. Demonstrate the professional attributes expected of Paramedics. 3. Perform the roles and responsibilities of a Paramedic with regard to personal safety and wellness, as well as the safety of others. 4. Perform the duties of a Paramedic with regard for medical-legal and ethical issues, including functioning under medical direction and within the scope of practice. 5. Apply principles of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, life-span development, and therapeutic communications to the assessment and management of patients. 6. Identify the need for and perform immediately life-saving interventions to manage a patient s airway, breathing, and circulation. 7. Assess and manage patients of all ages with a variety of complaints, medical conditions and traumatic injuries. 8. Apply principles of emergency medical services operations, including considerations in ambulance and air medical transportation, multiple casualty incidents, gaining access to and extricating patients, hazardous materials incidents, and responding to situations involving weapons of mass destruction. Course Textbook: Bledsoe, B., Porter, R., Cherry, R. (2011). Essentials of Paramedic Care, 2nd edition Update. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Brady Books. Course Completion Requirements: Successful completion of this course requires adherence to course policies, maintaining a course average of 70 %, a minimum score of 70% on the course final examination, successfully demonstrating all required skills and successful completion of hospital clinical and field internship hours. Students must successfully complete all requirements for Semester 1 to be eligible for Semester 2. Course Attendance Policy: Student attendance is required at all scheduled classes, including lab sessions. Students may be dropped from the course for excessive absences of any kind. Prompt arrival is expected at all class activities. It is the student s responsibility to sign in on the attendance roster. Students will sign in the time of arrival and time out at the end of the day or when he leaves class early for any reason. Three tardy and/or leaving early three times will be counted as one unexcused absence; these may be combined, for example, one tardy and leaving early two times will count as one unexcused absence.
The Louisiana Bureau of EMS mandates that students be present in class for 90% of scheduled class hours not including clinical rotations and field internship time. Those are in addition to the required classroom hours. Excused absences may be granted by the course instructor for extenuating circumstances. If 3 or more absences occur for any reason, the status of the student will be reviewed by the faculty to determine a disposition. Course failure is likely under these circumstances. If a student misses any class, he/she is responsible for any missed examinations, and material covered in that class session. Students have 48 hours to make up exams. It is preferred that a student makes up the exam on the first day back in class. All quizzes will be online though Course Compass. Quizzes will be placed on the website and students will have 48 hours to complete them. Any student missing a quiz will receive a 0 for that quiz,;no exceptions. Comportment: Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the professional expectations for Paramedics at all times. Students are reminded that they are representatives of the MedExpress Training Center whenever and wherever they are involved with course-related activities. Professional conduct is essential to a successful course experience and EMS career. Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate dismissal from the Program and other administrative action by the Program. Examples include, but are not limited to: Cheating in any form Falsification or forgery of academic documents, applications, clinical evaluations, lab evaluations, etc. Plagiarism (including copying and pasting of electronic text into assigned work) Course Grading and Grading Scale: Semester 1 Quizzes 15 each worth 10 points Assignments 26 each worth 10 points Exams 4 each worth 100 points Case Study 1 worth 30 points Final Exam 1 worth 100 points Skills Exam 1 worth 50 points Total 1000 points 3
Semester 2 Quizzes Assignments Exams 15 each worth 10 points 26 each worth 10 points 3 each worth 100 points Research Paper 1 worth 70 points Final Exam 1 worth 100 points Skills Exam 2 each worth 50 points Total 1000 points Grading Scale 90 to 100% A 80 to 89% B 7 to 79% C 60 to 69% D Below 60% F Hospital Clinical Rotation Requirements: (Hospital and Ambulance) Semester I Anesthesia 12 Critical Care (ICU/CCU) 24 Emergency Department 60 IV Team 12 Lab 12 Morgue 4 Operating Room (Trauma) 8 Triage 4 Ambulance 60 Total 196 Semester II Cardiac Cath Lab 6 Respiratory Therapy 6 Emergency Room 60 Geriatrics 24 Labor and Delivery 12 Pediatric Emergency 24 Pediatric OR 4 PICU/NICU 24 (12 hours each Unit) Psychiatric Unit 12 Ambulance 60 Total 228
Semester III Ambulance 120 Total Didactic Hours 576 Total Clinical Hours 664 Total Course Hours 1240 5
Course Schedule Semester 1 Date Chapter Assignments, Tests, Quizzes Week 1 Day 1 Welcome Students, Introductions, Course Overview, Ice Breaker (1 hour) EMT Study Skills and Time Management Seminar (5 hours) Day 2 Chapter 1 Introduction to Advanced Prehospital Care Chapter 1 Assignment Chapter 2 Medical/Legal Aspects of Advanced Prehospital Care ( 4 hours) Ethics Week 2 Day 1 Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 2 Assignment Day 2 Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology Week 3 Day 1 Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology Begin Clinical Rotations, (CR): Morgue
Day 2 Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology Labs Week 4 Day 1 Chapter 4 General Principles of Pathophysiology Day 2 Chapter 4 General Principles of Pathophysiology Labs Chapter 4 Assignment Summary (30 min) Review Ch. 3 & 4 (1.5 hours) Week 5 Day 1 Chapter 5 Lifespan Development Chapter 5 Assignment Chapter 9 Assignment Chapter 9 Therapeutic Communication Day 2 Exam I Chapter 1-5 & 9 ( 2 hours) Medical Math 7
Review Exam I (1 hour) Chapter 6 Pharmacology (5 hours) Week 6 Day 1 Chapter 6 General Principles of Pharmacology Day 2 Chapter 6 General Principles of Pharmacology Chapter 6 Assignment Review Medical Math Labs Week 7 Day 1 Chapter 7 Intravenous Access and Medication Administration CR/ Lab (12 hours) IV Team (12 hours) Day 2 Chapter 7 Intravenous Access and Medication Administration (5 Hours) Medication Administration Lab (21 Hours) Labs Chapter 7 Assignment
Week 8 Day 1 Chapter 8 Airway Management and Ventilation Chapter 8 Assignment Day 2 Chapter 8 Airway Management and Ventilation Labs BLS ALS Week 9 Day 1 Exam II (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9) CR/ Anesthesia (12 hours) (Two 6 hour shifts) Airway Labs Day 2 Chapter 10 History Taking Chapter 11 Physical Exam Techniques CR/ED (60 hours) ICU/CCU (24 hours) Field Internship/ Ambulance (180 hours) Labs Chapter 10 Assignment Chapter 11 Assignment Week 10 Day 1 Chapter 12 Patient Assessment in the Field Chapter 12 Assignment Chapter 13 Assignment Chapter 13 Clinical Decision Making 9
Day 2 Chapter 14 Communications (2.5 hours) Chapter 15 Documentation (2.5 Hours) Chapter 14 Assignment Chapter 15 Assignment Review Chapters 10-15 (1 hours) Exam Review of Exam (1 Hour) CR/ Operating Room Case Study Due!!! Chapter 16 Trauma and Trauma Systems Week 11 Day 1 Chapter 17 Blunt Trauma Chapter 16 Assignment Day 2 Chapter 18 Penetrating Trauma Chapter 17 Assignment Chapter 19 Hemorrhage and Shock Chapter 18 Assignment Week 12 Day 1 Chapter 20 Soft Tissue Trauma Chapter 19 Assignment
Day 2 Chapter 21 Burns Chapter 20 Assignment Labs Chapter 21 Assignment Day 1 Chapter 22 Musculoskeletal Trauma Splinting Lab (2 Hours) Week 13 Day 2 Chapter 23 Head, Facial, and Neck Trauma Chapter 22 Assignment Chapter 24 Spinal Trauma Chapter 25 Thoracic Trauma Day 1 Chapter 26 Abdominal Trauma Week 14 Chapter 23 Assignment Chapter 24 Assignment Chapter 25 Assignment Chapter 26 Assignment Day 2 Exam Review of Exam (1 hour) Lab- All Skills Labs (Skills Review) 11
Day 1 Labs (Skills Review) Week 15 Day 2 Labs (Skills Review) Review for Semester Final Day 1 MCI Day Week 16 Final Exams Semester Final Examination Day 2 Semester Final Skills Examination Semester Final Skills Retest, (If needed)
Course Schedule Semester 2 Date Chapter Assignments, Tests, Quizzes Week 1 Day 1 Welcome Introductions Ice Breaker (1 hour) First half exam and review Skills review Medicine administration Airway management Patient Assessment Trauma Skills Day 2 Chapter 27 Pulmonology Begin CR/ ED (60 hours) Field Internship/Ambulance (180 hours) Pulmonology (7 hours) Week 2 Day 1 Chapter 27 Pulmonology Chapter 27 Assignment Pulmonary Scenarios Day 2 Chapter 28 Cardiology CR/ Cardiac Cath Lab (12 hours) Chapter 28 Cardiology (6 Hours) Chapter 28 Assignment Week 3 Day 1 Chapter 28 Cardiology EKG Assignment 13
Day 2 Chapter 28 Cardiology EKG Assignment Chapter 28 Cardiology (4 Hours) EKG Assignment Week 4 Day 1 Chapter 28 Cardiology EKG Assignment Day 2 Chapter 28 Cardiology ACLS Chapter 28 Cardiology ACLS Week 5 Day 1 Chapter 28 Cardiology ACLS Written Exam ACLS Skills Exam Day 2 Chapter 28 Cardiology (5 hours) Review Chapters 27, 28 (1 hour)
Exam Review of Exam (1 hour) Cardiology Scenarios Week 6 Day 1 Chapter 29 Neurology Day 2 Chapter 29 Neurology Chapter 29 Assignment Chapter 30 Endocrinology (6 Hours) Chapter 30 Assignment Week 7 Day 1 Chapter 31 Allergies and Anaphylaxis Chapter 32 Gastroenterology Day 2 Chapter 32 Gastroenterology Chapter 33 Urology and Nephrology Chapter 31 Assignment Chapter 32 Assignment Chapter 33 Assignment 15
Chapter 34 Toxicology and Substance Abuse Chapter 34 Assignment Week 8 Day 1 Chapter 35 Hematology Chapter 35 Assignment Day 2 Chapter 36 Environmental Emergencies Chapter 36 Assignment Chapter 37 Infectious Disease Chapter 37 Assignment Week 9 Day 1 Chapter 38 Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders Chapter 38 Assignment CR/ Psychiatric Unit (12 hours) Day 2 Chapter 29 Gynecology Chapter 29 Assignment Chapter 40 Obstetrics Chapter 40 Assignment Week 10 Day 1 Exam Review of Exam (1 hour) Medical Emergencies Scenarios CR/ Labor and Delivery (12 hours)
Day 2 Chapter 41 Neonatology Chapter 41 Assignment CR/ NICU (12 hours) Chapter 42 Pediatrics ( 7hours) Research Paper and Week 11 Day 1 Chapter 42 Pediatrics (7 hours) CR/ PICU (12 hours) Pedi ER (24 hours) Pedi OR Day 2 Chapter 42 Pediatrics Chapter 42 Assignment PALS (7 hours) Week 12 Day 1 Chapter 43 Geriatrics Chapter 43 Assignment CR/ Geriatrics (24 hours) (One day and one night shift) Day 2 Chapter 44 Abuse and Assault Chapter 44 Assignment Chapter 45 The Challenged Patient Chapter 45 Assignment Research Paper Due!!! 17
Week 13 Day 1 Chapter 46 Acute Interventions for the Chronic Care Patient Chapter 46 Assignment Day 2 Chapter 47 Assessment Based Management (5 hours) Chapter 48 Incident Command Chapter 47 Assignment (1 hour) Assessment Based Scenarios Chapter 48 Assignment Week 14 Day 1 Chapter 48 Rescue Operations Rescue Operations Assignment Day 2 Chapter 48 Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Assignment Crime Scene Awareness Week 15 Crime Scene Awareness Assignment Day 1 Chapter 49 Responding to Terrorist Acts Chapter 49 Assignment Day 2 Exam Review of Exam (1 hour) Rescue Operations Scenarios
Skills Practice Review for Final Exam Day 1 Week 16 Final Exams Final Program Written Examination Day 2 Final Program Skills Examination Final Skills Retest, (if needed) In the event of inclement weather or a natural disaster the class may have to be rescheduled to meet the needs of the company and community. Therefore, the schedule is subject to change or adaptation as needed to meet the needs of the class, company, and community. Case Study Requirements: 1. The case study must be about a patient the student has seen during the hospital clinical rotations, (ICU/CCU); and must be approved by the instructor. (DO NOT use information that will identify who the patient is. {No names, dates of birth, social security numbers, etc} in order to prevent the possibility of violating confidentiality laws.) 2. The patient must present with a significant medical and/or multi-system trauma problems. 3. The case study must include the following: a. A description of the chief complaint including events leading up to the incident. b. A detailed medical history including family and social history. c. The patient s signs and symptoms with an explanation why these occurred. d. A detailed list of the patient s medications including prescription, over the counter, and herbal supplements the patient takes regularly. e. A detailed list of the patient s allergies including the effects of the allergens. f. A detailed physical assessment including vital signs, pupil response, skin temperature color and condition, and a complete head to toe exam. g. Any treatments or interventions provided both in the field, ED and ICU/CCU (if applicable), with rationale for the interventions and treatments administered. h. The patient s anticipated hospital stay and prognosis including recommended post hospital care or rehabilitation. 19
4. The case study should be a minimum of 3-5 pages not including the title and works cited pages. 5. Follow the same requirements as the Research Paper for typing and formatting your case study. 6. DO NOT make copies of the patient s medical record. You may make notes regarding the condition of the patient for the case study. Research Paper Requirements: 1. The paper must be relevant to the subject matter taught during the semester. 2. The topic must be approved by the instructor. 3. There is a minimum of 5 pages required; the suggestion is 7-10 pages (not including the title and reference pages). 4. There must be a minimum of five (5) references; one may be your textbook. 5. The paper must be typed, double spaced, and grammatically correct. 6. The papers are due by the end of week 12 during the semester, no exceptions. You have plenty of advance notice for this assignment. 7. You may turn in the case study/ research paper at any time before the deadline. (No extra credit will be given for turning it in early).