Hey there,
I recently got a PM from someone asking what I am doing to prepare for paramedic school. My program has a required pre-course that serves as a weeding out process to select candidates for the course. I wrote out what I had to do to prepare so I thought I would share it here.
I have found that the most important thing is the EMT Curriculum. You need to know it front to back and have solid patient assessments. Being able to name the signs/symptoms of every condition found in the EMT and Paramedic curriculum is also helpful.
A solid basis of math is important as well. I would review and make sure that you are able to do addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication by hand of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions; also knowing the metric conversions is important as well, i.e. 1 fl oz=29.6 mL.
The next portion you need to know is Anatomy and Physiology. You cannot cover it enough. You need to know everything.
Medical Terminology is also vital - knowing definitions of all the words in the EMT and Paramedic book. Word parts fall in here as well - knowing that "hepato-" is referring to the liver or "dia-" means to bear through.
The class I am taking is not really to teach (they do offer those) - but it is a weeding out process and a requirement to get accepted into this paramedic program. I will list the books they had us buy and other books I bought that I have found helpful.
Required for my pre-course:
"Calculation of Drug Dosages" by Ogden - I worked through Chap. 1-8 to solidify my basic math skills.
"Anatomy and Physiology Paramedic" by AAOS - I learned every bit of info in this book it covers A and P for everybody system and includes some pathophysiology.
"Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured - 10th Edition" by AAOS - This is my EMT book that I review and learn everything in it front to back. I also study the words in the glossary.
"Essentials of Paramedic Care - 2nd Edition" by Brady - This is the current paramedic text - for now I just learned the glossary but we will also use it in the course.
Other books I have and am reading to prepare for school:
"Pharmacology for the Prehospital Professional" by Guy - This is a great book to cover pharmacology. I have found that skimming it makes the pharm lectures easier to learn.
"Rapid Interpretation of EKG's" by Dubin - As someone who is starting paramedic school without an ALS background this easy to read book is a great introduction to cardiology.
I am just a mere student but thought it might help others!
Thanks,
-Andrew
I recently got a PM from someone asking what I am doing to prepare for paramedic school. My program has a required pre-course that serves as a weeding out process to select candidates for the course. I wrote out what I had to do to prepare so I thought I would share it here.
I have found that the most important thing is the EMT Curriculum. You need to know it front to back and have solid patient assessments. Being able to name the signs/symptoms of every condition found in the EMT and Paramedic curriculum is also helpful.
A solid basis of math is important as well. I would review and make sure that you are able to do addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication by hand of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions; also knowing the metric conversions is important as well, i.e. 1 fl oz=29.6 mL.
The next portion you need to know is Anatomy and Physiology. You cannot cover it enough. You need to know everything.
Medical Terminology is also vital - knowing definitions of all the words in the EMT and Paramedic book. Word parts fall in here as well - knowing that "hepato-" is referring to the liver or "dia-" means to bear through.
The class I am taking is not really to teach (they do offer those) - but it is a weeding out process and a requirement to get accepted into this paramedic program. I will list the books they had us buy and other books I bought that I have found helpful.
Required for my pre-course:
"Calculation of Drug Dosages" by Ogden - I worked through Chap. 1-8 to solidify my basic math skills.
"Anatomy and Physiology Paramedic" by AAOS - I learned every bit of info in this book it covers A and P for everybody system and includes some pathophysiology.
"Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured - 10th Edition" by AAOS - This is my EMT book that I review and learn everything in it front to back. I also study the words in the glossary.
"Essentials of Paramedic Care - 2nd Edition" by Brady - This is the current paramedic text - for now I just learned the glossary but we will also use it in the course.
Other books I have and am reading to prepare for school:
"Pharmacology for the Prehospital Professional" by Guy - This is a great book to cover pharmacology. I have found that skimming it makes the pharm lectures easier to learn.
"Rapid Interpretation of EKG's" by Dubin - As someone who is starting paramedic school without an ALS background this easy to read book is a great introduction to cardiology.
I am just a mere student but thought it might help others!
Thanks,
-Andrew