How do you rendezvous with ALS?

[DrParasite]

I've met up with ALS on the side of a highway. We pull over, one medic hops in the back, we keep driving. Ideally though, a parking lot or area off the highway is safer for all involved. If it's a stable ALS patient, one medic drives their truck, while the other ones stays with the patient. if the patient is unstable, both paramedics will treat in the BLS truck, and the BLS crew will drive both trucks to the hospital.

But that's also agency specific; some places won't allow you to drive other agencies vehicles, so ask your employer once you get the job.

Some of the instructors literally never replied. I agree, pretty ridiculous. So I apologize for asking so many noob questions. With the course, no use crying over spilled milk.

that's unacceptable. your instructors are paid to do their job, including answering questions. I know emails can get lost, or missed, but if you are having instructors who never respond to questions, when email or whatever is their primary communication method that needs to be addressed.

Some tests questions I answered correctly, but the quiz said I was wrong. I asked the instructor, she blew me off and said to contact IT of the site. She didn't even verify that I was right or wrong or explain why I was right or wrong. I included screenshots from the test and the book to no avail.

another major issue. if the site isn't working, you can contact IT. if the questions aren't graded correctly, the instructor or the site needs to addresses with the vendor's subject matter experts.

No refunds. Before starting, I'd spoken to a program director and he took the time to explain the process and answer all questions. I thought this was going to be legit. I've spoken to other students, now that I'm in the program, and they all mention lack of responsiveness from instructors.

since you have attempted to contact the instructors, and are not getting an answer, maybe you should go higher up the chain of command.... maybe speak to the program director?

Hindsight is 20/20. But enough griping. I know my problem, and I have a solution. Refer to other EMTs and study. I even bought the non necessary physical text book, workbook, a study app and a subscription to an NREMT website. Can't let them hold me back, especially when I see this early in, I can compensate for that and make it.

Good luck. It sounds like your program isn't the greatest, but if you can pass the NREMT, more power to you.

 

[hometownmedic5]

Here’s my issue. You’re filling your head with so much crap you don’t need to know(right now), I’m concerned that there won’t any room left for the actually important information.

Stick to the course material and let your agency instruct you on how to arrange and execute an ALS intercept.

 

[DragonClaw]

Here’s my issue. You’re filling your head with so much crap you don’t need to know(right now), I’m concerned that there won’t any room left for the actually important information.

Stick to the course material and let your agency instruct you on how to arrange and execute an ALS intercept.

Well, I'm that kind of person who learns for the sake of learning. This was, like many of my questions, a curiosity question. I have a knack for picking up a lot of information. But, I understand what you're saying and I'll keep it in mind.

 

[CCCSD]

It should be in the school graduation rate information. What program are you attending?

 

[DragonClaw]

It should be in the school graduation rate information. What program are you attending?

RC health services, Texas

 

[CCCSD]

They claim 100% in 2017. Texas has an overall pass rate of 75%.

I’d look three times at their claims...

 

[DragonClaw]

They claim 100% in 2017. Texas has an overall pass rate of 75%.

I’d look three times at their claims...

Uh, I guess that's unrealistic?

 

[dutemplar]

No where can have a 100% pass rate. That's a bit of a red flag. No matter how carefully you prepare and screen everyone via assessment and selection, No matter the education, quality, mentoring, etc... the material itself and testing process itself will always produce a fail rate.

 

[DrParasite]

Uh, I guess that's unrealistic?

Not necessarily. My former program had a 100% pass rate in 2016 and 2018 on both the state and NREMT exams (per our website). We also had an 82% and 50% retention rate during those years, meaning in 2018, half the students were dropped from the course before even making it to NREMT (usually for academic reasons, they weren't passing the tests), but those that did, passed the course with no issues.

I've seen several programs boast they have a 100% pass rate; that's because the non-performing students were dropped from the program before they ever made it to the final test, so only the strongest students who completed the work took the test.

 

[DragonClaw]

Not necessarily. My former program had a 100% pass rate in 2016 and 2018 on both the state and NREMT exams (per our website). We also had an 82% and 50% retention rate during those years, meaning in 2018, half the students were dropped from the course before even making it to NREMT (usually for academic reasons, they weren't passing the tests), but those that did, passed the course with no issues.

I've seen several programs boast they have a 100% pass rate; that's because the non-performing students were dropped from the program before they ever made it to the final test, so only the strongest students who completed the work took the test.

Makes sense, how the acceptance rate to Harvard is higher than Wal-Mart (for employment). Because only top tier students usually apply to a school like that.

 

[mgr22]

No where can have a 100% pass rate. That's a bit of a red flag. No matter how carefully you prepare and screen everyone via assessment and selection, No matter the education, quality, mentoring, etc... the material itself and testing process itself will always produce a fail rate.

You're wrong about that.

 

[DrParasite]

Not exactly.

Your example of Walmart Vs. Harvard was from 2014, and was skewed by the relatively high unemployment numbers (8.7% in DC, higher than the national average, which was the Walmart that was used for the data analysis), and the large number of applicants for two local locations

A more accurate comparison is that Harvard only accepts 5.79 percent of their applicants, however it has a freshman year retention rate of 97%. Going a bit further, 97.4% graduated within 8 years.

Compare that to another Ivy League School, MIT. They also have a 98% first year retention rate, and a 7.9% acceptance. But out of 974 applicants, 6.9% didn't graduate within 8 years, and 23 students dropped out.

Compare that to Rutgers University, which accepts 58.5% of applicants, which as a 92% freshmen retention rate, and 18.4% don't graduate within 8 years (5.6%, or 326 students dropped out).

many/most EMT classes have very low barriers to entry, and accept everyone because it's in their financial best interested (more paying students = more money) , while colleges have a different business model, which being selective can lead to smaller classes, they can raise tuition prices, and lead to higher prestige.

At more exclusive school, only good candidates apply (because it costs money to apply to a school, so if you don't fit the mold, you are spending money but won't get anything from it), but in EMT classes, if you fill out the paperwork and pay for the class, your in. EMS courses tend not to be very selective, however many programs will drop people from the class for academic reasons before they even get to the NREMT exam.