Critical Care Paramedic

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michael150

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3 days, 2 in the ICU and one in the CCU. They gave you the option to either do them there at their trauma center, or find one closer to you as long as you could get it approved through your program manager/ hospital site, and have the paperwork signed off on.

You can't get a certificate of completion, course credit, or CE without the clinical portion.

This may be insignificant but I know a couple of the students in the paramedic program there (not CCP) and they have to do ICU and CCU rotations as well. The thing is, they say when they go to the ICU they aren’t allowed to touch patients much less hang meds and be involved in patient care. VentMonkey, was this the case when you went through the program as well?

My girlfriend is graduating from their BSN program shortly and it seems like the “Creighton” title holds a lot of weight. To me, that doesn’t matter, just that there is good education and I learn what I am supposed to.
 

VentMonkey

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This may be insignificant but I know a couple of the students in the paramedic program there (not CCP) and they have to do ICU and CCU rotations as well. The thing is, they say when they go to the ICU they aren’t allowed to touch patients much less hang meds and be involved in patient care. VentMonkey, was this the case when you went through the program as well?
No, not a whole of touching the patients in the ICU. I mostly made it a point to try and round with the surgical attendings, and ask questions when appropriate. I poked in on a couple of RT's and asked questions as well. I wasn't concerned with hanging gtts, or doing hands-on procedures (they tell you you're not going to do any invasive procedures beyond your expanded scope cadaver lab). I really just wanted to gain an in-depth clinical base, and I felt the program did an excellent job with that.

The charge nurse in the CCU seemed to think that I was a brand new paramedic who had never done things such as push meds, or be part of the RRT; he dragged me down to a code in med/ surg that was nothing more than a seizure, and was excited to show off his EZ-IO. By the end of the day I'd had about enough of him, however the nurses under him were all sweet, and made it a habit not to abuse my "student" status. When asked why the CCU? My instructor said mainly to follow them to, and sit in on cath lab procedures. I didn't go to cath lab once, but I've seen enough caths placed for my own liking. The coolest part of my CCU day was sitting in on anesthesia doing TEE.

As far as the title they hold...//shrugs//...honestly, I couldn't tell you. Not being from around there meant that it was a whole new--yay, uber-humid Summers--experience for me. Everyone overall was welcoming, and courteous. The surgical attendings I rounded with were all helpful, willing to explain, and obviously knowledgeable. Like anything it is what you make of it and how you approach the experience.

I will say, if you're going to do their course, you're planning on doing clinicals there, and it's scheduled to end around June, make sure to either book hotel reservations early or plan on making a commute from an outlying part of the city/ county. The CWS added a bit of a pickle when trying to book a hotel for the week I was there.
 

StCEMT

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3 days, 2 in the ICU and one in the CCU. They gave you the option to either do them there at their trauma center, or find one closer to you as long as you could get it approved through your program manager/ hospital site, and have the paperwork signed off on.

I could probably swing it with the hospital site. I'd just have to get in touch with my EMS liaison. That would just reduce it down to a couple days for the skills lab and I wouldn't mind making a small trip for that.

I think I could keep up with the reading. If something isn't clicking, I know plenty of people I could go to for help.
 

StCEMT

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Just realised the Creighton course closed two days ago, I'd have probably registered had I known sooner.

I am debating just doing the UMBC course in Maryland this summer.

Edit: After further looking, I think I'll pass on that.
 
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michael150

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Just realised the Creighton course closed two days ago, I'd have probably registered had I known sooner.

I am debating just doing the UMBC course in Maryland this summer.

Edit: After further looking, I think I'll pass on that.

Why do you think you’re going to pass on it?
 
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michael150

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No, not a whole of touching the patients in the ICU. I mostly made it a point to try and round with the surgical attendings, and ask questions when appropriate. I poked in on a couple of RT's and asked questions as well. I wasn't concerned with hanging gtts, or doing hands-on procedures (they tell you you're not going to do any invasive procedures beyond your expanded scope cadaver lab). I really just wanted to gain an in-depth clinical base, and I felt the program did an excellent job with that.

The charge nurse in the CCU seemed to think that I was a brand new paramedic who had never done things such as push meds, or be part of the RRT; he dragged me down to a code in med/ surg that was nothing more than a seizure, and was excited to show off his EZ-IO. By the end of the day I'd had about enough of him, however the nurses under him were all sweet, and made it a habit not to abuse my "student" status. When asked why the CCU? My instructor said mainly to follow them to, and sit in on cath lab procedures. I didn't go to cath lab once, but I've seen enough caths placed for my own liking. The coolest part of my CCU day was sitting in on anesthesia doing TEE.

As far as the title they hold...//shrugs//...honestly, I couldn't tell you. Not being from around there meant that it was a whole new--yay, uber-humid Summers--experience for me. Everyone overall was welcoming, and courteous. The surgical attendings I rounded with were all helpful, willing to explain, and obviously knowledgeable. Like anything it is what you make of it and how you approach the experience.

I will say, if you're going to do their course, you're planning on doing clinicals there, and it's scheduled to end around June, make sure to either book hotel reservations early or plan on making a commute from an outlying part of the city/ county. The CWS added a bit of a pickle when trying to book a hotel for the week I was there.

Well it seems like you had a pretty good experience minus the annoying charge RN! I have another question for you! Is it rigorous enough that it’s the only thing I should be in or do you think I can carry a college load as well?
 

VentMonkey

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Is it rigorous enough that it’s the only thing I should be in or do you think I can carry a college load as well?
Without knowing your own study habits, level of self-motivation, home life/ work like balance, I really can’t offer much.

My experience with it was one as a full-time ground CCT paramedic, (then) FT flight-paramedic-in-training, husband, and father who hadn’t done college-level coursework in ages and I did ok.

Again though, you do have to take it somewhat seriously. You’re held to deadlines, papers, assignments, finals etc.

Ultimately it all boils down to your level of time management and ambition. If you’ve done plenty of online college classes in the past you should be fine.
 

hometownmedic5

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While I find it unlikely anybody would think ventmonkey was providing us with incorrect information, I had written to Creighton with the same question before posting it here and they responded confirming the information posted here, so in case anybody had the same question/concer as I did, it has been confirmed.
 

CANMAN

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Just realised the Creighton course closed two days ago, I'd have probably registered had I known sooner.

I am debating just doing the UMBC course in Maryland this summer.

Edit: After further looking, I think I'll pass on that.

Why you passing? I will be instructing at both skills days again this year.
 

StCEMT

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Why you passing? I will be instructing at both skills days again this year.
I've heard iffy things about my local one, which make UMBC and Creighton the next two options. I haven't seen great things about UMBC either in the reading I did last night. Creighton seems like a good in between. What I've read says it is a solid program, it is spaced out at a pace that is closer to what I'd prefer so I can actually go over the material in depth, and I wouldn't have to worry about the out of state logistics as much.

The intent isn't to get a quick cert out of the deal, so time isn't much of a priority.
 

FiremanMike

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I think A&P for this is a must.. I didn't know it wasn't a requirement to get into medic programs.. I have a hard time understanding how anyone could grasp most paramedic concepts without A&P. I'm glad I took it before my medic course but CCP has got you looking at lab values and other in depth medicine. You should have a solid foundation so you don't get overwhelmed. Just my 2 cents.

I went to medic school before it was required. Medic school was just different then and they intertwined the pertinent A&P topics within the paramedic curriculum.
 

VentMonkey

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Sorry, I have not heard anything about it.
Well then, I guess an email is in order. It seems strikingly similar to the course that I took. The service itself is also somewhat intriguing.

I’ve also been enjoying the video samples they’ve posted on their website. Bonus: they use the same ventilator at their service as we do at ours:).
 

cruiseforever

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Well then, I guess an email is in order. It seems strikingly similar to the course that I took. The service itself is also somewhat intriguing.

I’ve also been enjoying the video samples they’ve posted on their website. Bonus: they use the same ventilator at their service as we do at ours:).

The class does look interesting. What website are you looking at where they are using the vent? Life Link3?
 
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