How to prepare for Paramedic School

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LAXemt

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I'm currently going to start Fire Academy in January for 2 months, and I wanted to go to Medic School after I am done with the academy. Any suggestions on what to study, how to study, books, prep courses? I am a explorer with LAFD and I run calls with the medics on our rescue. Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks
 
College level Anatomy Physiology taken as 2 separate distinct courses Microbiology Chemistry Algebra Psychology Interpersonal communications and if you have the time jump into one of the Pharmacology for nurses classes they typically have the summer semester before a nursing class starts. That would be a good start
 
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I guess DrankTheKoolaid didn't DrankTheKoolaid. What DrankTheKoolaid (Corky?) said is true, however, it's way more than what you need to do to dominate in the didactic portion of paramedic school. You can easily get by without doing any preparing.

Veneficus wrote a nice thread on Resuscitation Experts, which he recommended some books. In the thread, he didn't recommend any books that covers Anatomy. He did tell me that he recommended Clinically Oriented Anatomy and to use Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body as an adjunct. I noticed a popular Anatomy & Physiology book is also Marieb, however, it studies Anatomy & Physiology as one subject.

Many paramedics will swear by "The Orange Book", Dale Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, and honestly, I mostly follow Dubin's systematic approach to 12-lead interpretation: rate, rhythm, axis, hypertrophy/enlargement, and looking at the Q-waves, ST-segment, and T-waves last, but the book is really meant to lure children. I recommend The Art of Interpretation: 12-lead ECGs by Thomas Garcia if you're at least 8-years-old.

If you do decide to invest money into these books or go to school, I would recommend studying chemistry first, biology second, and physiology third. You may study anatomy in parallel to those subjects, but it was recommended to me to study anatomy and physiology separately.

Understand that this route may be actually pretty depressing. You will not immediately be able to apply a lot of what you learn to paramedicine; it's very slow and not immediately rewarding. When you are able to apply it to paramedicine, you will likely experience the Cassandra effect frequently. In fact, taking this route may actually make paramedic school more difficult for you.

I believe that had I believed in the Holy EMS Trinity, if I believed all the aphorisms said in EMS, parrot it, I'd probably be more satisfied with this field.

May Saint Florian watch over you!
 
Aprz said:
RedPillBluePill_full.gif

I guess DrankTheKoolaid didn't DrankTheKoolaid. What DrankTheKoolaid (Corky?) said is true, however, it's way more than what you need to do to dominate in the didactic portion of paramedic school. You can easily get by without doing any preparing.

Veneficus wrote a nice thread on Resuscitation Experts, which he recommended some books. In the thread, he didn't recommend any books that covers Anatomy. He did tell me that he recommended Clinically Oriented Anatomy and to use Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body as an adjunct. I noticed a popular Anatomy & Physiology book is also Marieb, however, it studies Anatomy & Physiology as one subject.

Many paramedics will swear by "The Orange Book", Dale Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, and honestly, I mostly follow Dubin's systematic approach to 12-lead interpretation: rate, rhythm, axis, hypertrophy/enlargement, and looking at the Q-waves, ST-segment, and T-waves last, but the book is really meant to lure children. I recommend The Art of Interpretation: 12-lead ECGs by Thomas Garcia if you're at least 8-years-old.

If you do decide to invest money into these books or go to school, I would recommend studying chemistry first, biology second, and physiology third. You may study anatomy in parallel to those subjects, but it was recommended to me to study anatomy and physiology separately.

Understand that this route may be actually pretty depressing. You will not immediately be able to apply a lot of what you learn to paramedicine; it's very slow and not immediately rewarding. When you are able to apply it to paramedicine, you will likely experience the Cassandra effect frequently. In fact, taking this route may actually make paramedic school more difficult for you.

I believe that had I believed in the Holy EMS Trinity, if I believed all the aphorisms said in EMS, parrot it, I'd probably be more satisfied with this field.

May Saint Florian watch over you!
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Good post. I especially agree with the recommendation of Garcia's book and taking chemistry.
 
LAXemt said:
I'm currently going to start Fire Academy in January for 2 months, and I wanted to go to Medic School after I am done with the academy. Any suggestions on what to study, how to study, books, prep courses? I am a explorer with LAFD and I run calls with the medics on our rescue. Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks
Click to expand...
My recommendations pretty much depend upon how quickly you intend to start Paramedic school after your Fire Academy is done. If you're going to start right away, I would say there's not much you'll have time to really do any subject any justice. If you're planning on attending in about a year after you finish the Academy, you should certainly study chemistry, general biology (if possible), and take an Anatomy & Physiology series (2 semester). If they allow you to take either one first, take physiology first. If it's a combined A&P course, take them both. You'll find after completing the A&P course, you'll probably understand the body at least as well as most of your instructors, and possibly better. This is what'll cause you the most trouble in P-school. You'll overthink things.

However, as time goes on, you'll see the value of what you've learned. Somewhere along the way, you'll want to take a Gen Psych course, and a few others as well. Basically, you should eventually complete the typical allied health prerequisite courses. It's a good science-based foundation you can use to really understand the why behind what you do.

Once the "lightbulb" comes on, you'll realize that you're incredibly limited in what you can do for your patients. On the other hand, you'll have a good idea what needs to be done, and knowing what you have on hand, you'll be better able to come up with an appropriately individualized treatment plan. If it follows current protocol, great. If not, you can try to utilize OLMC to give you an order for what you want. In other words, you'll better recognize when your patients do NOT fit established protocol, and how to describe your patient to OLMC so that you can get the appropriate orders you'll need.

A downside is that once you're working as a Paramedic, your opportunities for advancement will be limited. As a Fire/Medic, advancement in your career means getting off the ambulance and your amount of patient contact decreases. As a Paramedic, your advancement means you're likely going into administrative roles, often off the ambulance.
 
I agree with everything that has been said, but I'll make one simple (and somewhat obvious) suggestion. If you want books to read, rent them from your library. Medical texts tend to be ridiculous, and you probably do not want to blow $20-$80 on some of the recommended books (many of which I have read and would recommend as well). Most college libraries will have at lease some of those titles in their catalog. If you see a chapter or something you like make a photocopy or scan.

If I had figured this out earlier I would have probably saved boatloads of money on textbooks I do not really reference anymore.....

Good luck in all you do! Most importantly enjoy the education!
 
The reason I say anatomy and physiology as separate , also note that I said anatomy first. In the anatomy course I took there was a VERY heavy concentration on histology which will make physiology make that much more sense. It will also make pharmacology and receptor sites that much easier to really understand
 
Save a lot of money, unless your FD pays for the school.

But besides that invest in cardiology books and there is a study guide available through BenchMark. If you can find a groupon for it, it's only like 25 bucks and it is worth it. Practice tests and quizzes, and other study guides.
 
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