Paramedic insight

[gober88]

If all goes as planned I will be entering paramedic school in May/June of 07'. I have been an EMT for 6 years. I would like some input on things I can do before the start of school to help me out, books classes etc. Especially books !!!

[FireMedAS]

Get yourself a good anatomy and physiology textbook and read up on cellular physiology, neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, and hemodynamics. Good luck!

[lifestar]

HI

READ up and start preparing for what you are going to find do not try to learn the stuff!!

Remeber everything in the body works as a unit not by it self and by learning bits and pieces will only confuse you not help you, stick to what you know,prep for what you wil find and let them piece it togheter for you

good luck
paramedic/fire figther

[FF162718]

In my experience, the best quality Paramedic Students are those that have a strong EMT-B didactic education, coupled with experience gained through repeated patient assessments.
My suggestion is to go back and review all of the areas that you have not routinely seen in the prehospital enviornment. And, for good measure, review your areas of strength, just to make sure you have an adequate / actual knowledge of those subjects. If you are looking for books, may I suggest your copy of the EMT-B you should already have?
Finally, as a note of advise, make sure you have the time to dedicate to reading ahead of the class schedule. If you want to succeed, you should come to class with the topic to be discussed fresh on your mind. The classroom setting is most effective when it is used as a review of what you have already read.

Great luck!

[Renoir911]

Hi there, and congratulations on your upcoming Paramedic training. I'm a full time Fire Fighter / Paramedic in Alberta, Canada. Graduated in 1978 (2 year program at SAIT). I'm a dinosaur but am still able to keep new medics in line LOL. I would do it all over again as I greatly enjoy the work, but especially as a Fire Fighter also. You asked about books! I strongly recommend you get a copy of "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology" by Tortora and Anagnostakos. That's one of the best A&P book for students. A good CPS book can be purchased cheaply at hospitals when they get rid of their old ones for new ones. Old ones are a year old and good enough for students. You'll save money there. You'll need a good Emergency proceedures book also and there are a variety out there, Google it (paramedic manuals). Anyway, I wish you success, happiness and an enjoyable career. God bless.

[nytrauma911]

Good luck with school, I'm a new medic and the hardest for me was learning the drugs. If I had to do it all over again "NOT", I would have been more up to date on drugs

[rwilliamspfd]

I worked through a good portion of the book Basic Arrhythmias before class started. I think it helped greatly when we got to cardiology/rhythm interpretation. It is a kind of programmed text, so it walks you through reading an EKG strip. For me, it was quite helpful and I got the highest grade in my class in cardiology.

[algoma44]

i like what i'm hearing here.. congrats to you guys.. i firmly believe the difference between good emt's, medics, rn's, etc is the desire to continue to learn.. i wish there were more people that actively seeked to learn... EMS is constantly changing, and the only way to stay up on things is to take some initiative, go out there and read what's new!the day you quit learning, is the day you start dying... for those that don't keep up.. are just lost!

[SPFTMEDIC]

To bring a little humor to the post, I would say the one thing you can do now to prepare for class is kiss your family and friends goodbye and say hello to your textbooks. On a serious note refresh on your assessment skills, the difference between an EMT-B & and EMT-P is your assessment. Good luck!

[MidgetStalker]

Cardiac Arrhythmias and drugs seem to get every one. Take an ACLS class if you can. Try this site for Arrhythmias...www.skillstat.co m.

STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!