Haha! Excited but nervous......

[MendezEmt]

I start my emt course oct22 this Monday! I'm not going to lie I'm a little nervous. It's a 21 day course 3x a week M W F from 900-1500, idk what to expect! Which me luck! I shall be asking a lot of questions on here soon !

 

[firemedic0227]

Holy Hell that is a fast EMT Class. I went through 2 quarters of EMT 2 days a week for 4 hours. Be sure to study a lot since it looks like everything will be force fed to you through a Large Diameter Hose!

 

[NYMedic828]

Expect a basic middle school level vocational program that won't provide you with enough knowledge and understanding to function as a respected medical provider in the healthcare community.

But best of luck if you need help we are here for you.


(Sorry, I'm not in the most optimistic of moods)

 

[ayblinkin]

Gotta agree with NYMedic828, I'm currently in a Semester EMT class ( 2 days a week/4 hours each class) and we have prior nursing students struggling. I'm getting the material just fine not having any medical background other than being in and out of the ER one too many times.

But good luck and message me if you need any help. What book are you guys using?

 

[NYMedic828]

Gotta agree with NYMedic828, I'm currently in a Semester EMT class ( 2 days a week/4 hours each class) and we have prior nursing students struggling. I'm getting the material just fine not having any medical background other than being in and out of the ER one too many times.

But good luck and message me if you need any help. What book are you guys using?

Are they struggling because they failed nursing and are incapable of learning the material? It's pretty hard to not grasp basic first aid, in its simplest form at that.

 

[ayblinkin]

I dont know if they flunked out or what. One girl said she started and had to stop, whatever that means. It's more of a struggle where they don't pass the test the first time and have to retake each one. When it comes down to our final, there's no retakes so not really sure what they're going to do then.

Overall though our class isn't bad, just a few people still over thinking assessments and what not.

 

[NYMedic828]

I dont know if they flunked out or what. One girl said she started and had to stop, whatever that means. It's more of a struggle where they don't pass the test the first time and have to retake each one. When it comes down to our final, there's no retakes so not really sure what they're going to do then.

Overall though our class isn't bad, just a few people still over thinking assessments and what not.

There shouldn't be retakes on anything...


Sounds like a program that is concerned with the statistics of their attrition

There's no retests when treating a patient.

 

[eprex]

There shouldn't be retakes on anything...


Sounds like a program that is concerned with the statistics of their attrition

There's no retests when treating a patient.

I'm a fellow New Yorker (not NYC) and I was a little concerned with my class. Nobody really had the book even by the 2nd week and apparently the class bombed one of the quizzes- it was subsequently thrown out.

It was pretty tough, particularly because of how they like to give 2-3 seemingly correct answers, but I was annoyed I read and prepped for something to be thrown out.

 

[eprex]

I start my emt course oct22 this Monday! I'm not going to lie I'm a little nervous. It's a 21 day course 3x a week M W F from 900-1500, idk what to expect! Which me luck! I shall be asking a lot of questions on here soon !

Read a lot and use note cards if need be! The book is pretty good at presenting things ad nauseam so it usually sticks. Using a highlighter to mark key words and concepts, NOT whole sentences, seems to work fantastic for rote memorization.

Understand that you will probably need to know everything for the state/national exams so don't gloss over anything thinking it's irrelevant or useless!

Even though I'm in the class too I would probably recommend finding a way to practice techniques on a mannikin in your spare time because honestly I got one lab for airway techniques. It's all very basic but if you make one mistake during the practical it's over.

 

[leoemt]

Are they struggling because they failed nursing and are incapable of learning the material? It's pretty hard to not grasp basic first aid, in its simplest form at that.

When was the last time you took an EMT class? Not all classes are created equal and not all classes are "first aid". Just because Basics don't push drugs doesn't mean your smarter than us or that the class is "easy".

My EMT class was very heavy on the A&P and Pathology. There is a reason we spent 280 hours in class instead of the legally required 180.

I don't claim to know everything or that EMT class even prepared me for the real world, but to call it an "easy" class or to dumb it down is not only an insult to Basics but also to you as well. I am sure you didn't go to school to be an "ambulance driver" but I promise you that some people think that of you. Basic skills are used far more than ALS skills and having a competent basic will do better for a patient than an incompetent medic.

To the OP: Holy cow that is a really fast class. If you pay attention, the class isn't that hard. If you get behind expect it to be very difficult. For this reason you need to make sure you understand the topic as its being covered. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Your class is really fast and I feel that will be a huge disadvantage for you as I don't think you will be getting the best education.

Finally, remember Basic is ONLY a foundation. There are a lot of classes you can take and skills you can learn. Even if you can't do something doesn't mean you can't learn about it. I can't push narcotics but I still like to learn as much as I can about them. Same with EKG's.

Good luck.

 

[VFlutter]

My EMT class was very heavy on the A&P and Pathology. There is a reason we spent 280 hours in class instead of the legally required 180.

I don't claim to know everything or that EMT class even prepared me for the real world, but to call it an "easy" class or to dumb it down is not only an insult to Basics but also to you as well. I am sure you didn't go to school to be an "ambulance driver" but I promise you that some people think that of you. Basic skills are used far more than ALS skills and having a competent basic will do better for a patient than an incompetent medic.

An EMT class that is anything more than first aid and dumbed down basic science is the extreme exception to the rule. That does not make the rule any less true. And I would be very surprised if that "very heavy A&P and pathology" was anything more than high school level.

My EMT class was through a university and was substantially better than other courses I have seen and I can honestly say it was the easiest class I have ever taken (content) . At times it was almost an insult to my intelligence. EMS education is horribly substandard. It's not an insult to EMTs it's just a fact.

And many people go to nursing school and drop out their first semester. It's usually students who went to smaller community colleges and got straights As but were never challenged or never really learned the information. Nursing school is cut throat, an 80% is the minimum passing score and they will fail you for getting a 79.9999%. Also the first semester you must pass a med math test with a 100% or you get kicked out (3 tries). We lost a good amount of students from that alone. Having said that, if they actually got accepted into a decent nursing school they should have no trouble with an EMT course.

 

[NYMedic828]

When was the last time you took an EMT class? Not all classes are created equal and not all classes are "first aid". Just because Basics don't push drugs doesn't mean your smarter than us or that the class is "easy".

My EMT class was very heavy on the A&P and Pathology. There is a reason we spent 280 hours in class instead of the legally required 180.

I don't claim to know everything or that EMT class even prepared me for the real world, but to call it an "easy" class or to dumb it down is not only an insult to Basics but also to you as well. I am sure you didn't go to school to be an "ambulance driver" but I promise you that some people think that of you. Basic skills are used far more than ALS skills and having a competent basic will do better for a patient than an incompetent medic.

To the OP: Holy cow that is a really fast class. If you pay attention, the class isn't that hard. If you get behind expect it to be very difficult. For this reason you need to make sure you understand the topic as its being covered. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Your class is really fast and I feel that will be a huge disadvantage for you as I don't think you will be getting the best education.

Finally, remember Basic is ONLY a foundation. There are a lot of classes you can take and skills you can learn. Even if you can't do something doesn't mean you can't learn about it. I can't push narcotics but I still like to learn as much as I can about them. Same with EKG's.

Good luck.

This has nothing to do with paramedic vs EMT. Paramedic is overly easy too. Our educational standards in EMS, which is always a big debate on this forum, are a joke by comparison to any college level healthcare provider.

The truth is anyone who believes the delusion that their program was sufficient is blind. College level courses in most EMS institutions would result in 90% attrition rates and be devastating to their EMT/Medic mill business.

 

[ayblinkin]

There shouldn't be retakes on anything...


Sounds like a program that is concerned with the statistics of their attrition

There's no retests when treating a patient.

My class is through a college with a very good medical program. Our retakes are on bookwork exams. Not really sure why you wouldn't be able to retake a book exam. When it comes to practicals or skills testing I could understand not getting a retake.

Maybe not all of us have the luxury of going to whatever high and mighty training you went through.

 

[NomadicMedic]

It's EMT class. Basic first aid at a 5th grade level. You need retakes for that?

 

[Veneficus]

It's EMT class. Basic first aid at a 5th grade level. You need retakes for that?

In all fairness, it is 8th grade level for basics.

10th grade for medics.

Of course those grade levels were established when a highschool degree was meant to get people ready to enter the workforce, not pass a proficency tests and get all A's on their report cards.

Multiple choice is the death of an educated society.

 

[Anjel]

In all fairness, it is 8th grade level for basics.

10th grade for medics.

Of course those grade levels were established when a highschool degree was meant to get people ready to enter the workforce, not pass a proficency tests and get all A's on their report cards.

Multiple choice is the death of an educated society.

Ya none of our tests are multiple choice. All short answer/fill in the blank.

 

[ayblinkin]

It's EMT class. Basic first aid at a 5th grade level. You need retakes for that?

#1 the grading scale is ridiculous, answer a couple questions wrong and you fail. We take our tests on EMStesting.com and the way the school has their grading set is

94-100% A
87-93% B
80-86% C

..anything less than 80% you have to do a retake.

While it may seem like Jr High level first aid, learning about different traumas and medical issues was completely foreign to me and lots of other people. While I am a quick learner and understand it, I can also understand why some people are behind the curve. Not everyone learns at the same pace.

 

[NYMedic828]

My class is through a college with a very good medical program. Our retakes are on bookwork exams. Not really sure why you wouldn't be able to retake a book exam. When it comes to practicals or skills testing I could understand not getting a retake.

Maybe not all of us have the luxury of going to whatever high and mighty training you went through.

I assure you my training is equally laughable.

FDNY's EMS academy is a tainted operation that only exists to mass produce paramedics. FDNY can claim they put out the best all they want but in reality they fudge the system to make you pass. As long as you can legitimately pass the state written exam and come close to passing your class work, you won't fail out.

In my class half of our tests were "revised" because too many people would fail if they weren't. That wouldn't be too good for statistics now would it.

Just because your class is at a medical school doesn't make it a medical level program. It is only the facility being used for the program, which is profitable. The school itself holds no other reason to offer it than the sole fact that it makes them money. EMT classes don't contribute to anyone's degree other than maybe an elective in some places.

#1 the grading scale is ridiculous, answer a couple questions wrong and you fail. We take our tests on EMStesting.com and the way the school has their grading set is

94-100% A
87-93% B
80-86% C

..anything less than 80% you have to do a retake.

While it may seem like Jr High level first aid, learning about different traumas and medical issues was completely foreign to me and lots of other people. While I am a quick learner and understand it, I can also understand why some people are behind the curve. Not everyone learns at the same pace.

Agreed, some people do have a harder time learning but at some point it's not for you/them.

Catering to the lowest common denominator (which seems to the majority) is what got us to be such an incompetent workforce to begin with.

Med students I know are not permitted to fail a single exam for a class.
Nursing students I know are not permitted to fail a class or they drop out of the program.

EMS classes say no worries here is a tissue, we got you covered and you'll do better next time.

 

[ayblinkin]

Agreed, some people do have a harder time learning but at some point it's not for you/them.

Catering to the lowest common denominator (which seems to the majority) is what got us to be such an incompetent workforce to begin with.

Med students I know are not permitted to fail a single exam for a class.
Nursing students I know are not permitted to fail a class or they drop out of the program.

EMS classes say no worries here is a tissue, we got you covered and you'll do better next time.

Our final in the class you is the one you cannot retake. I understand where you're coming from, I'm just saying because we get retakes doesn't necessarily relate to the competency of the class. My instructors are current Medics with over 30 years on the job and make sure to beat everything in us. Compared to the other programs around mine is very reputable.

 

[VFlutter]

. My instructors are current Medics with over 30 years on the job and make sure to beat everything in us. Compared to the other programs around mine is very reputable.

30 years of experience is great but not a substitute for a properly educated instructor with a degree. You can learn the "street knowledge" from senior medics once on the job, you need an educator in the classroom.