Scary Class Mates

[MidwestFF]

What do most programs do with scary students? Let me explain by giving examples that I have heard and seen in the last few weeks of my EMT class:

"You mean we have to touch people"

“You mean we can’t score below an 80 percent on any assignment or we are dropped? What about extra credit if we don’t get our 80%”

Student who passes out when instructor demonstrates the method of inserting a Combitube on a mannequin before we all try it for the first time (student thought we were going to be practicing on each other)

"When do we get to stab people in the arm? You know, to give them water inside because their kinda dead"

"When do we get to slash peoples neck open so they can breath" different student from above


Fortunately we have had a number of students drop the class already but I’m afraid we still have several more to go. Currently the class has a mixture of teens and older adults. There is scary individuals from each group some I wonder how they managed to get out heir own front door without killing themselves or someone else. We should be getting the results back from another section exam in the next few days I’m hoping that this will weed out some more of the individuals that I would not even want counting my respirations much less actually touching me in any way.(chills)

I know I am not the only one that has seen this before, but this makes me wonder what kind of profession that I am getting myself into. The above is only the tip of the iceberg what I have seen and heard so far is beyond belief.

Just a little FYI this is going to be a second career for me and I’m not doing for the money. After reading for some time on this board I know the feelings of some but I will be heading straight into medic school next fall. This is a degree program and I already have my prerequisites completed although they are making me take A&P again since it has been more than 10 years ago. My argument was what has changed in the last 10 years regarding A&P, some of the upright individuals seen in my class make me wonder what has changed.

I guess my question is does it get any better once you get to medic school?

FF

 

[alphatrauma]

What do most programs do with scary students?

In my experience... pass them

I guess my question is does it get any better once you get to medic school?

FF

unfortunately, no


If this is what you REALLY want to do, don't get distracted by the lesser quality students/applicants... life sometimes has a way of weeding these people out, even if the schools don't. You will probably wind up working along side a few of the ones who (not so)miraculously make the cut, so plan ahead.

 

[firecoins]

I had someone in a class call everyone who as much opened the book as nerds. He was dropped.

 

[MidwestFF]

alpha,

Yes this is really what I want to do. I gave up a seat in a nursing program and changed my major to paramedic after I came to the conclusion that I would climb the walls with a job that would not allow me to go outside on a regualr basis. I love chaos and doing the impossible. Just tell me it cant be done and I will do it just to show that you that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I'm not distracted by the other students I have already found several errors in our textbook and exams. Currently I am ranked number 1 in the class, which is also why I already have a seat in the medic program.

It is a little dissapointing that we will have the undersireables but I guess this is true in any proffession. It is just the absolute lack of any common sense that scares me to no end.

FF

 

[VentMedic]

I gave up a seat in a nursing program and changed my major to paramedic after I came to the conclusion that I would climb the walls with a job that would not allow me to go outside on a regualr basis.

You failed to fully explore all the opportunities a degree in nursing could lead to.

 

[atlasD]

“You mean we can’t score below an 80 percent on any assignment or we are dropped? What about extra credit if we don’t get our 80%”

Sounds like what I heard in my emtb class, except they based the cut rate on class averages. If the students average dropped below 80% after the second or third test they were out. So ya know, someone could fail on the airway management chapter, but ace ambulance operations...



The scariest kid in my class was a week or two from making it to practicals, then got caught drawing on one of the college's desks. Hallelujah.

I found several of the people in my class scary psychologically. Based on a few things of what they would say (too soon in a career for gallows humor, I assume), and by my general observations that they seemed rather creepy - its almost like if they weren't going into ems they would likely go into serial killing. Thankfully many failed.

I imagine emt-b courses gets its share of weirdos.

 

[Seaglass]

“You mean we can’t score below an 80 percent on any assignment or we are dropped? What about extra credit if we don’t get our 80%”

Oddly enough, there were two types of people saying that in my class. The idiots, as mentioned, and the anxious overachievers who've probably never gotten below a 90% on anything in their lives.

 

[terrible one]

I guess my question is does it get any better once you get to medic school?

FF

No, also the community colleges have a hard time failing out all those that should not be there, if a certain % doesn't pass they get audited (or something similiar, not sure on the correct term).

 

[alphatrauma]

... also the community colleges have a hard time failing out all those that should not be there, if a certain % doesn't pass they get audited .

Yahtzee!

 

[VentMedic]

No, also the community colleges have a hard time failing out all those that should not be there, if a certain % doesn't pass they get audited (or something similiar, not sure on the correct term).

At least there is oversight to monitor the pass rates and to oversee some of the teaching methods.

In a "mill" that is not accredited, there may not be that oversight nor will the students have the same academic grievance procedure against bad teachers and bad EMT programs. The instructors may spoon feed the test just to keep their numbers high as well just to still out of any situation that might lead a state to question their license as a school. Some students, including the scary ones, may also feel obligated to stick it out in an expensive private school whereas the student at a community college will not be out of much of an investment if they drop out especially if it is during the first couple weeks of class. Generally a community college is not scrutinized for those who do drop out early from a tech program that has few entry requirements. In fact some community colleges break off EMS classes into a different section under an "academy" to keep them separate from degreed programs. It is when students do not complete degrees that the agencies which accredit the colleges get a little suspicious or the specialty accrediting agencies start scrutinizing when the state and national test fail rate is high from that program.

 

[mcgrubbs]

Just started Intermediate. I've got a doozy sitting next to me.

57yr old Female, really funnny, nice gal. But sorta misguided.

Wants her EMT-I so she can go with her husband on missions and help out medically. I asked her if she can get med control to work as an "I" in a foreign country?? She hadn't thought of that.


In our program when we start "I", you run thru your Basic skills and check off on them. Each time she started with "BSI", she went on to explain "because my Pt is (fill in blank), I would also be wearing (fill in glasses, gown, mask, etc)." By the third skill, the TA was sick of saying "there's no Pt, just run thru your skill. I don't need to hear anything other than BSI!"

We were rolling at his frustration, and he took it well too. He would just glance at us and grin each time.

 

[WolfmanHarris]

How do we deal with scary students?
Well it's start with admissions. Usually 500-700 applicants for 30-50 spots in the various college programs. Two year BLS program with a 70% pass required in all core courses as well as in clinical/preceptorship and a successful lift test (as per Provincial requirements). Usual attrition rate for these programs seems to vary from 40-60%. Following completion of the program the provincial exam is six hours written exam that requires a 70% grade to pass.

If they pass that far, then there's the competition for jobs, which is tight and usually involves a written exam, practical exam, lift test, interview and at some services a driving test.

The program does get it's share of people not fit to work in EMS environment, or in Health Care in general but they're either weeded out on grades or during their initial semester of observation rideouts, determine this isn't the profession for them.

 

[terrible one]

Generally a community college is not scrutinized for those who do drop out early from a tech program that has few entry requirements. In fact some community colleges break off EMS classes into a different section under an "academy" to keep them separate from degreed programs. It is when students do not complete degrees that the agencies which accredit the colleges get a little suspicious or the specialty accrediting agencies start scrutinizing when the state and national test fail rate is high from that program.

The 4 schools I am familiar with (Bako, Cuesta, Ventura, and NCTI) all have been audited for failing more than a certain percent.

 

[phideux]

Why would a school get audited for "not passing" a certain percentage???? It's not the schools fault. This past semester, the 3 Basic classes started with a total of 60 students. Out of that, 22 actually passed the class, and 18 passed the NR practicals. Not everyone has taken the CBT yet. The ones that didn't make it, failed for various reasons, but none were the fault of the school or the instructors. There were some that didn't show up alot, didn't study, didn't participate in class very well, didn't do homework. All of the failures were the students own fault.
Out of the ones that did pass though, there are a few that still scare me. And they are going all the way through to medic.

 

[VentMedic]

Why would a school get audited for "not passing" a certain percentage????

This can be for many reasons.

1. A disgruntled student may have filed a complaint with the state.

2. A review of the teaching method and materials may need to be reviewed.

3. The instructor may need to be reviewed for his/her teaching methods and classroom abilities.

4. Financial Aide sources may question the pass percentage if loans are defaulted on.

5. There may need to be a determination if the class material conincides with the test or if the class needs to be updated.

6. There may need to be a review of the entrance requirements to the program to determine if the students are able to perform at the required level. Although, the EMT is basically taught between the 8th and 10th grade level while the Paramedic is 10th grade level material in the U.S.