Paramedic Program Goals as Defined by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP
The paramedic program will “prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains,” with or without exit points at the Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, and Advanced Intermediate levels.
WSU Paramedic Program - Professional Requirements
In order to be recommended for certification to the State of Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, a graduate of the WSU program must meet these Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Professional Requirements (or "terminal objectives").
The EMT-P provides prehospital emergency care under medical command authority to acutely ill and/or injured patients and/or transports patients by ambulance or other appropriate emergency vehicle. The Paramedic shall demonstrate at 100 percent competency:
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An awareness of abilities and limitations;
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The ability to relate to people; and
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The capacity to make rational patient-care decisions under stress.
To fulfill the role of the Paramedic, you must be able to demonstrate full competency in your abilities to:
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Recognize a medical emergency; assess the situation; manage emergency care and, if needed, extricate; coordinate efforts with those of other agencies that may be involved in the care and transportation of the patient; and establish rapport with the patient and significant others to decrease their state of anxiety.
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Assign priorities to emergency treatment data for the designated medical command
authority, or assign priorities of emergency treatment.
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Record and communicate pertinent data to the designated medical command
authority.
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Initiate and continue emergency medical care under medical control, including the recognition of presenting conditions and initiation of appropriate treatments, including traumatic and medical emergencies, airway and ventilation problems, cardiac dysrhythmias, cardiac standstill, and psychological crises, and assess the response of the patient to that treatment, modifying medical therapy as directed.
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Exercise personal judgment and provide such emergency care as has been specifically authorized in advance, in cases where medical direction is interrupted by communication failure or in cases of immediate life threatening condition.
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Direct and coordinate the transport of the patient by selecting the best available method(s) in conjunction with medical command authority.
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Record, in writing or dictation, the details related to the patient's emergency care and the incident.
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Direct the maintenance and preparation of emergency care equipment and supplies.
"Description of the Profession" from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for EMS Professions 1989 Standards.
Specific WSU Paramedic Performance (Terminal) Objectives per NSC-99, ACLS/PALS 2010 and the 2010 National EMS Education Standards.
In order to receive an endorsement/recommendation to test and certify at the conclusion of the didactic, clinical and field internship portions of the paramedic program, AT A MINIMUM a student will be expected to demonstrate at 90 percent competency (without assistance) the ability to:
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Perform basic life support according to the standards established by the American Heart Association maneuvers as necessitated by the situation
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Administer basic emergency skills including, but not limited to: splinting, bandaging, hemorrhage control, and cold application
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Establish a therapeutic patient relationship
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Communicate verbally and in writing, using fundamental medical terminology
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Obtain a history from a communicative patient including chief complaint, pertinent history of the present illness, past medical history, and mechanism of injury
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Conduct a comprehensive physical assessment (initial and detailed) on a minimum of:
- 30 pediatric patients (3 minimum in each category; newborn, infants, toddlers, school age, etc.)
- 50 adult patients
- 30 geriatric patients
AND include the following pathologies and complaints:
- 10 obstetric patients
- 40 trauma patients
- 20 psychiatric patients
- 30 chest pain patients
- 20 adult respiratory distress patients
- 8 pediatric patients in respiratory distress
- 10 patients with syncope
- 20 patients with abdominal complaints
- 20 patients with altered mental status
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Properly record and report findings, including pertinent negatives
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Maintain sterile techniques in situations which require such activity
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Identify and select the correct intravenous solution from the drug box as ordered
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Competently initiate an IV infusion on a minimum of:
- 25 patients in various age groups
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Calculate and regulate the flow rate for an IV infusion given the volume, drop factor, and time frame
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Re-establish an IV infusion that becomes compromised
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Remove air from IV tubing
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Discontinue an IV infusion
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Apply and inflate the MAST while evaluating the patient's response to the procedure
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Calculate the volume of medication to be administered when given an ordered dosage
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Read drug container labels, and identify components (i.e. name, concentration, expiration date, etc.)
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Withdraw solutions from ampoules and vials with an appropriate size syringe
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Assemble a preloaded syringe (e.g., Bristoject, Abbojet, preload cartridges, etc.)
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Correctly administer an IV push medication to a minimum of 15 patients in various age groups
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Administer IM injections: dorsogluteal, ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, and deltoid sites to 5 patients (minimum) in various age groups
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Administer subcutaneous injections to 5 patients (minimum) in various age groups
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Calculate, mix, and administer an IV medication infusion using microdrip tubing
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Maintain the patient's airway and/or provide ventilations using the:
a. Oropharyngeal airway
b. Nasopharyngeal airway
c. Pocket mask
d. Bag-valve-mask
e. Positive pressure ventilator
f. Endotracheal tube
g. Laryngeal mask assembly
on a minimum number of patients to include:
- 5 live patients for ET (5 is NSC, 12 is WSU competency, 17 is WSU confidence & 20 is WYOEMS)
-20 patients for all other airway adjuncts
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In step by step fashion, describe the generic procedure of rapid sequence intubation
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Perform the suctioning technique in the following situations:
a. Oropharyngeal
b. Endotracheal
c. Nasopharyngeal
d. Tracheostomy
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Obtain an ECG:
a. Equipment set-up
b. ECG electrode application site
(1) Standard limb leads
(2) Modified chest leads
(3) Standard 12 lead placement
c. Utilize the Quick-look feature or "combo pad" type application
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State the area of myocardial infarct or ischemia based on a 12 lead EKG tracing
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Select and administer the appropriate drug for an identified dysrhythmia according to local protocol and evaluate the patient's response to the therapy
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Recognize and provide proper treatment for the following dysrhythmias:
a. Normal Sinus Rhythm
b. Sinus arrhythmia
c. Sinus arrest
d. Sinus bradycardia
e. Sinus tachycardia
f. Atrial tachycardia
g. PAC's
h. PJC's
i. PVC's
j. SVT/PSVT
k. First degree block
l. Second-degree, Type 1 (Wenckebach)
m. Second-degree, Type 2
n. Third-degree block
o. Ventricular tachycardia and TDP
p. Ventricular fibrillation
q. Asystole
r. AIVP
s. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
t. Pacemaker rhythm
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Instruct the patient to accomplish the Valsalva maneuver
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Safely establish transcutaneous pacing, defibrillate or cardiovert as indicated
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Accomplish venipuncture using vacuum collection tubes
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Determine a blood sugar using a Dextrostix or equivalent chemical testing device
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Employ safety precautions while controlling and restraining a violent patient
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Intervene in a situation using fundamental crisis intervention techniques
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Objectively observe and report nonverbal behaviors
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Catheterize the urinary bladder of a male or female patient
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Perform nasogastric intubation
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Assign a neurological score utilizing the Glasgow coma scale
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Estimate percentage of burns using the Rule of Nines
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Monitor of the patient in labor and decide when birth is imminent
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Manage an uncomplicated delivery, including the resuscitation of the neonate
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Assess and assign an APGAR score for the neonate
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Apply primary injury prevention techniques at opportune moments
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Recognize basic terms utilized in EMS research
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State techniques that will preserve a crime scene
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Demonstrate the ability to triage in mass casualty events using both START and military triage
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State the basic functions of incident command using the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) terminology and and concepts.
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State the considerations and PPE needed for both HAZMAT and terrorism events
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Upon speaking to the lay public, be able to communicate basic concepts of wellness to include, nutrition, stress, alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs
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Demonstrate the ability to team lead in a variety of prehospital situations on a minimum of 50 ALS patients in various emergency responses
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Possess the ability to perform patient transfer techniques commonly practiced pre-and intra-hospital
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Maintain the ability to perform all skills required of the EMT
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Maintain certification at the EMT level
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Demonstrate affective domain standards that include but are not limited to:
a. integrity
b. empathy
c. self-motivation
d. appearance-personal hygiene
e. communications
f. time management (punctuality)
g. teamwork and diplomacy
h. respect
i. patient advocacy
j. careful delivery of care -
In field internship a student must complete a minimum of 480 hours and sucessfully be team leader on 50 ALS calls.
Additional requirement:
In order to be recommended to test for the National Registy, the student must prove they have applied to the WSU Graduation department for either the Institutional Certificate or AAS Degree. No student will be cleared to test until proof of that requirement has been met.