The Wind Map

It's an art project.
And one of the coolest maps ever.
http://hint.fm/wind/

Paramedic School - Overview

So it's taken me this long to get it straight in my own head, and read through all the documentation associated with our courses.  Ten months of courses, followed by clinical/field.

                                                                                                UNIVERSITY

                                                                        CLASS           CREDIT

COURSE                                                       HOURS          HOURS

A&P for Paramedic Practice                64                    3

Introduction to Advanced Practice                64                    3

Emergency Pharmacology                            40                    2

Patient Assessment & Airway Mgmt            64                    3

Cardiology                                                      112                  4

EMS Operations                                             64                    3

Trauma Management                                     64                    3

Medical Emergencies                                    66                    3

Special Populations                                       64                    3

Assessment Based Management                48                    2

Clinical – I                                                       250                  2

Clinical -II (Field Internship)                           250                  2

1150                33

The A&P class is taken "on the side" throughout the rest of the courses.  Ideally, we should use it should follow along with what we are doing in regular class.  Meaning that we should be ahead on the A&P reading (I am as yet, not ahead in this reading).  Speaking with one of the advisors, he said that in the past some people have left it for last.  We cannot start clinicals until it's done, so they seriously crammed at the last minute.  I get tachycardic just thinking about that (and getting through the rest of class will be much easier if A&P is done).

With classes on Tuesday and Thursday, I really cannot think about doing any “extra” reading between Monday and Thursday, so I guess A&P will live on the weekends.  I’m attempting to be a better student – actually setting up a schedule for studying – but that’s a constant struggle for me with my ADD/procrastination learning style.  I usually end up reading and doing quizzes on my breaks at work.

So, what does “Introduction to Advanced Practice” entail?  So glad you asked.  My life looks like this:

Class                Topic(s)

1                      Orientation and Course Overview

2                      Being a Paramedic

3                      Illness and Injury Prevention

4                      Legal Issues and Ethics

5                      Life Span Development

6                      Pathophysiology 1 (Cells and Tissues, Role of Electrolytes, Acid-Base Balance)

7                      Pathophysiology 2 (Genetics, Hypoperfusion, Types of Shock)

8                      Pathophysiology 3 (Immune System, Inflammation, Stress and Disease)

That’s a ton of work.  And about 300 dense pages of reading.  In four weeks.

I can totally do this.

Woman lives by the bible for a year...

http://rachelheldevans.com/

I will reserve any of my heathenish comments 'till I read the whole thing.

What have I gone and done? (or Paramedic class 1)

I'm a fairly busy person.  Work close to full time.  Master's degree seeking. Volunteer for EMS in local town.  Volunteer for gov. doing EMS administrative stuff.  EMT on call.

So why not add paramedic school to the mix?

I found a hybrid class - online "live" classes with a skills component where I will be flying to Massachusetts for skills training next year.

We had our first class on Thursday and I had my first (of what will likely be many) OMG-what-have-I-done? moments.

Well, maybe not my first.  The first came when I signed the loan papers for the class.  I will be paying this one off for 3 years.

Couldn't find a microphone with a mute button.  Running around like a headless chicken for 30 minutes on that one.  Got logged into the class web site.  Over 40 people signed in.  It's hard to tell the actual number since several people were logged in multiple times.

40, though.  That's a lot of students.

I thought back to some other courses I've heard about - 50% or more don't finish.  Yikes.  I have to make it.  I cannot fail this.

Some people were overly chatty - there's microphones, sure, but also a chat pane.  This isn't twitter for chrissake!  Some people would just not shut up.  Having conversations while our instructor was talking, blah, blah, blah.

We went through the basics - introductions of the instructors, what is expected, how to access the online quizzes, assignments, and tests.  The only pure moment of silence came when someone asked how much time outside of class would be needed to study.  Brad (owner/instructor) pondered this for a minute and said, "probably 15 hours."  SILENCE.  It's about what I figured, but most people probably have been out of student mode so long they really didn't put much thought into it.  Yep, folks.  2+ hours for every class hour.

I had forgotten the beginning of EMT class - it's all about EMS operations, ethics, and legal issues.  Paramedic is no different.  Not the most exciting stuff, but worthwhile.  I've got to get back at it!

Here I go...

So I'm visiting my relatives in the southwestern US, enjoying the sun and 90+ degree heat while we get a sifting of snow back home.  It's been a long time since I've been on what could be termed a vacation.  Most of my "vacations" consist of driving to a relative's house to get some sort of work done.  Moving.  House painting.  Bathroom remodeling.  This one was really no exception.

Grandpa is not doing well.  Dad needed help driving a truck and trailer south.  Vacation it is.

Three days on the road with pops.  Stop at grandpa's house in UT to get it set up for the winter.  Got to visit with my grandpa for a bit.  Unloading the truck and trailer.  Opening the 'rents house for the winter.

Today is my day.  I have done nothing but sleep in, eat, play in the pool, play on the computer.

Back to work and reality tomorrow -- a ridiculously hectic week assisting with a conference.  It will be 16+ hour days and little sleep.  Paramedic school starts on Thursday.

But today is mine.