EMT Intermediate Help

Tyler Thomas

Tyler Thomas

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Hello,
This is my first post. I just passed my NREMT Basic. I'm taking my intermediate course in the Spring semester. I plan on getting the books early before the class begins. What can I do to better prepare myself for this course.

Thank You
 
Tyler Thomas said:
Hello,
This is my first post. I just passed my NREMT Basic. I'm taking my intermediate course in the Spring semester. I plan on getting the books early before the class begins. What can I do to better prepare myself for this course.

Thank You
Click to expand...

With all due respect, run away, far away. Intermediate courses are of little value, especially given that they are being phased out over the next 2 years. You're better off going directly to paramedic, not passing go, not collecting $200...
 
I appreciate the warning, but I want to get as much experience as I can. I'm getting my degree in Paramedic Medicine. The school won't allow me to jump from Basic to Medic. Are there any skills or concepts that I can be looking over before the class begins?

Thank You
 
Get ahead on your anatomy and physiology. Perhaps get started on some basic EKG interpretation as well.
 
Ok Thank You very much. Is there anything I could be doing for IVs and drip calculations?
 
Search medication math on google if your really that gung ho about it. I personally would wait for class for it so you don't teach yourself wrong or develop bad habits.

IVs...I'm not sure what to say to that one.

Study your A&P, some basic pharmacology.

emt.dan I take offense to your statement seeing as I work as an Intermediate on a 911 truck. True it's getting phased out but there really isn't any difference from I to AEMT besides the name and some slight scope change...

Going through intermediate school prior to medic school is the way I would do it. By the time you get to medic you already have IVs, ETTs, needle decompression, some basic ECG, Med Math, and Med Admin skills. Reduces the amount of new concepts that are jammed down your throat in medic school.
 
NVRob said:
emt.dan I take offense to your statement seeing as I work as an Intermediate on a 911 truck. True it's getting phased out but there really isn't any difference from I to AEMT besides the name and some slight scope change...
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Rob-- I rarely admit this, but I trained as an intermediate the summer after becoming a Basic (but never got the certification because it's not recognized in my part of the state), and work with them on a regular basis. My expressions of the value was not of the course, but the certification because it's soon to change. I was discouraging the OP from taking the class only to be jostled around in two years or so.

I took the class because I knew I wasn't going to go for medic immediately, and because I wanted the education. I know I can't maintain proficiency with the skills (especially ETI), and chose not to pursue certification until I could get more comprehensive training and education as a paramedic. With that said, I am now enrolled in a paramedic program, beginning next year.

Perhaps my expression was out of exacerbation of the use (or lack) of Intermediates in my area... but they function no differently than basics, driving PB (or PI, without the ability to use their skills).
 
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Thank you for the feedback. I'll defiantly start with A/P and pharmacology. I think I'll just familiarize myself with Med math and learn the rest in class.

If anyone has any pointers for the intermediate course, I'd appreciate those as well.
 
emt.dan said:
Rob-- I rarely admit this, but I trained as an intermediate the summer after becoming a Basic (but never got the certification because it's not recognized in my part of the state), and work with them on a regular basis. My expressions of the value was not of the course, but the certification because it's soon to change. I was discouraging the OP from taking the class only to be jostled around in two years or so.

I took the class because I knew I wasn't going to go for medic immediately, and because I wanted the education. I know I can't maintain proficiency with the skills (especially ETI), and chose not to pursue certification until I could get more comprehensive training and education as a paramedic. With that said, I am now enrolled in a paramedic program, beginning next year.

Perhaps my expression was out of exacerbation of the use (or lack) of Intermediates in my area... but they function no differently than basics, driving PB (or PI, without the ability to use their skills).
Click to expand...

Gotchya. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed about that, didn't mean to come off snappy if I did. You make a fair point about the certification itself. Here we don't use basics except for special events. EMT-B cannot ride on an ambulance in my county unless we are under MCI conditions. All the trucks are I/P or P/P.
 
Looks like the OP doesn't have a choice in the matter anyway since the program requires Intermediate before Paramedic. That's how things work here as well.
 
Something I wish I had done was study the pharmocology before class. We had weekly tests on both medications in our scope and about 200 common medications encountered at patients homes. A headstart here would have been nice. Otherwise A&P and lots of it.

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A&P for sure. Make sure u know ur Bls first. People in my class were beyond rusty in that dept and suffered because of it. Those of us who were active and took the initiative to ask questions and learn in the field did fine. Do some simple things like circulation, trace a Drop of blood through the system. Understand gas Exchange and how we actually breath. Knowing this stuff makes understanding disease processes that much easier. Don't worry about pharm till you cover it in class, you'll just end up beating your head off the wall. Lol
 
I think its a very good idea that you become a EMT-I first. I am current in medic school and I think it has really given me a good knowledge base to work from and basically a leg up in alot of ways.

I got my EMT-I(85) back in January and I ran maybe 300 calls since then as the lead on the car. And i can tell you that it's really nice to have the extra skills at your disposal (even though they're limited)

Couple questions....

I am assuming you are going for your EMT-I(85) right or is it the new AEMT class?

Have you looked at your counties protocols for that level yet?


Assuming that you have your EMT-B skills down pat...

I would tell you to look at your counties protocols for the EMT-I level and see what kind of medications you'll be able to give and start becoming familiar with them. And just become familiar with the protocols as whole.

If you have already taken a A&P course, then don't worry about A&P it wont be difficult for you.

You might ask your SEI/equipment person if you can play with some of their expired IV angiocaths or whatever they use at your agency. And just become familiar with how they work and hook up to IV tubing/saline locks etc.


I found that the EMT-I course, IMO was basically a refresher of EMT-B with a few added skills and medications.

Class was alot of fun and very stress free. So don't worry I'm sure you'll do just fine!
 
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