Paramedic Program Description
This course is designed to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.
The Paramedic program offered by Emergency Training Academy (ETA) is based on the curriculum set forth by the United States Department of Transportation. This 1100-hour paramedic program employs three methods of teaching: Cognitive, Affective, and Psychomotor. The student must successfully pass each phase of the Paramedic program, which covers, didactic, hands-on training, hospital rotations, and field internship that is addressed in the student handbook.
The ETA 1100-clock hour paramedic course is structured using the National EMS Education Standards and the standards set forth by the Florida Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Its purpose is to prepare students to be the initial EMS responder in a pre-hospital setting of a medical, trauma or catastrophic incident. Students will be instructed, trained and evaluated on the following: to initiate initial scene assessment, triage and safety, patient care, advance airway adjuncts, respiratory intervention, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, control bleeding, wound care, stabilization of spinal injuries, splinting of fractures, assist with normal childbirth, administer medications, use of the statewide EMS communication system. The paramedic student is expected at course completion to demonstrate in an efficient and effective manner his/her ability to initiate advance care for medical and traumatic emergencies by performing the following; surgical cricothyrotomy, intravenous therapy, cardioversion, defibrillation and endotracheal intubation. In addition, the paramedic student will be prepared for different aspects of being a paramedic involving hospital and aero-medical atmospheres.
Paramedic Program Objectives
Student is expected to exhibit comprehension and demonstrate command of clinical information regarding his/her role as a Paramedic (evaluated by comprehensive course exams, state exam and by employer’s survey).
Student is expected to exhibit comprehension and demonstrate understanding of all technical ability in all skills necessary to perform the role of entry level Paramedic (evaluated by final written and practical exam(s), hospital and field externship evaluation(s)).
Student is expected to demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectation for the Paramedic (evaluated by graduate and employer survey).
Prepare the Paramedic graduate to successfully complete the state exam and provide support by assisting student with tutoring after course completion.
To assist the Paramedic graduate in recognition of his/her need for continuing education and facilitate student needs by offering additional courses for the student after course completion.
Paramedic Course Structure
Upon successful completion of this Paramedic course, the student shall be able to:
- Recognize the nature of a patient’s illness or the mechanism of injury, evaluate its seriousness, and determine the need for care, assistance, and mode of transportation.
- Give the appropriate emergency treatment necessary to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and determine whether further interventions are needed.
- Use proper lifting techniques to move the patient in order to minimize patient discomfort and injury.
- Transfer the patient safely to the appropriate medical facility and give an accurate account of patient’s ailment and status to the health professional who is taking over the patient care.
- Obtain a relevant history of the patient’s illness or injury, perform a pertinent physical examination, and reach an appropriate conclusion regarding the implications of the clinical findings for appropriate treatment on the scene.
- Manage both trauma and medical patients properly in the pre-hospital setting.
- Give accurate verbal and written reports, communicate via emergency radio, know the standard operating procedures for emergency vehicle and medical equipment, and the ability to properly control the emergency scene and perform basic extrication.
- Provide advance life support as necessary.
- Must demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and evaluate information relevant to their role as entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate personal behavior that is consistent with the expectations of professional employers within their prospective field of certification.
- Recognize the nature of a patient’s illness or the mechanism of injury, evaluate its seriousness, and determine the need for care, assistance, and mode of transportation.
- Give the appropriate emergency treatment necessary to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and determine whether further interventions are needed.
- Use proper lifting techniques to move the patient in order to minimize patient discomfort and injury.
- Transfer the patient safely to the appropriate medical facility and give an accurate account of patient’s ailment and status to the health professional who is taking over the patient care.
- Obtain a relevant history of the patient’s illness or injury, perform a pertinent physical examination, and reach an appropriate conclusion regarding the implications of the clinical findings for appropriate treatment on the scene.
- Manage both trauma and medical patients properly in the pre-hospital setting.
- Give accurate verbal and written reports, communicate via emergency radio, know the standard operating procedures for emergency vehicle and medical equipment, and the ability to properly control the emergency scene and perform basic extrication.
- Provide advance life support as necessary.
- Must demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and evaluate information relevant to their role as entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate personal behavior that is consistent with the expectations of professional employers within their prospective field of certification.
Upon successful completion of this Paramedic course, the student shall be able to:
- Recognize the nature of a patient’s illness or the mechanism of injury, evaluate its seriousness, and determine the need for care, assistance, and mode of transportation.
- Give the appropriate emergency treatment necessary to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and determine whether further interventions are needed.
- Use proper lifting techniques to move the patient in order to minimize patient discomfort and injury.
- Transfer the patient safely to the appropriate medical facility and give an accurate account of patient’s ailment and status to the health professional who is taking over the patient care.
- Obtain a relevant history of the patient’s illness or injury, perform a pertinent physical examination, and reach an appropriate conclusion regarding the implications of the clinical findings for appropriate treatment on the scene.
- Manage both trauma and medical patients properly in the pre-hospital setting.
- Give accurate verbal and written reports, communicate via emergency radio, know the standard operating procedures for emergency vehicle and medical equipment, and the ability to properly control the emergency scene and perform basic extrication.
- Provide advance life support as necessary.
- Must demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and evaluate information relevant to their role as entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate personal behavior that is consistent with the expectations of professional employers within their prospective field of certification.
- Recognize the nature of a patient’s illness or the mechanism of injury, evaluate its seriousness, and determine the need for care, assistance, and mode of transportation.
- Give the appropriate emergency treatment necessary to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and determine whether further interventions are needed.
- Use proper lifting techniques to move the patient in order to minimize patient discomfort and injury.
- Transfer the patient safely to the appropriate medical facility and give an accurate account of patient’s ailment and status to the health professional who is taking over the patient care.
- Obtain a relevant history of the patient’s illness or injury, perform a pertinent physical examination, and reach an appropriate conclusion regarding the implications of the clinical findings for appropriate treatment on the scene.
- Manage both trauma and medical patients properly in the pre-hospital setting.
- Give accurate verbal and written reports, communicate via emergency radio, know the standard operating procedures for emergency vehicle and medical equipment, and the ability to properly control the emergency scene and perform basic extrication.
- Provide advance life support as necessary.
- Must demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and evaluate information relevant to their role as entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate personal behavior that is consistent with the expectations of professional employers within their prospective field of certification.
PMD102 Clinical Rotation Hours – 200 Clock Hours
Students will complete supervised hospital externship rotation(s) with a ETA instructor in a hospital emergency department. This portion of the course is designed to familiarize the student with the role a paramedic assumes in a hospital emergency department. The emergency department rotation allows the student to perform skills learned in the classroom on actual patients. These skills include but are not limited to:
- Patient assessment
- Obtaining vital signs
- Bandaging
- Assisting doctors and nurses
- Overall Patient care
- Intravenous Access
- Phlebotomy
- Concept of team-work
PMD103 Field Rotation Hours – 180 Clock Hours
Students are to complete supervised externships assigned at local Fire-rescue departments and ambulance service providers. This course is designed to introduce and establish awareness regarding the role a Paramedic assumes in a field setting. The rescue/ambulance rotation allows the student to perform skills learned in the classroom setting on actual patients. These skills include but are not limited to;
- Patient care
- Obtaining vital signs
- Immobilization
- Intravenous Access
- Endotracheal Intubation
- Surgical Cricothyrotomy
- Intraosseous (IO)
- Working in an uncontrolled environment
- Proper documentation
- Concept of team-work
PMD103E Field Rotation (Capstone) – 140 Clock Hours (44 Hours Prep/ 96 Hours Capstone)
Upon successful completion of this Paramedic course, the student shall be able to:
- Exhibit proficiency in being a Team Leader under the supervision of a preceptor.
- Recognize the nature of a patient’s illness or the mechanism of injury, evaluate its seriousness, and determine the need for care, assistance, and mode of transportation.
- Give the appropriate emergency treatment necessary to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Evaluate the patient’s response to treatment and determine whether further interventions are needed.
- Use proper lifting techniques to move the patient in order to minimize patient discomfort and injury. *Transfer the patient safely to the appropriate medical facility and give an accurate account of patient’s ailment and status to the health professional who is taking over the patient care.
- Obtain a relevant history of the patient’s illness or injury, perform a pertinent physical examination, and reach an appropriate conclusion regarding the implications of the clinical findings for appropriate treatment on the scene.
- Manage both trauma and medical patients properly in the pre-hospital setting.
- Give accurate verbal and written reports, communicate via emergency radio, know the standard operating procedures for emergency vehicle and medical equipment, and the ability to properly control the emergency scene and perform basic extrication.
- Provide advance life support as necessary.
- Must demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, analyze and evaluate information relevant to their role as entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry level Paramedic.
- Must demonstrate personal behavior that is consistent with the expectations of professional employers within their prospective field of certification.
Total Paramedic Training Program Hours
Course Code | Course Title | Contact Hours | Semester Credits |
PMD100 & PMD101 | Paramedic Lecture | 420 | 28 |
PMD100L & PMD101L | Paramedic Laboratory | 150 | 5 |
PMD102, 103, & 103E | Paramedic Externship | 560 | 12 |
Total | 1100 | 45 |
Paramedic Training Program Outcomes
Fiscal Year | Total Graduated | Total Credentialed | Total Placed |
07/2022 to 06/2023 | 42 | 38 | 38 |
07/2023 to 06/2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
07/2024 to 06/2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Total | 42 | 38 | 38 |