Paramedic Courses

The major emphasis of this course is placed on the responsibilities of the student in assessing, managing and transporting patients in stabilized conditions, emergency situations and situations that may become emergencies. Students will learn the assessment, pathophysiological processes and management of various medical and traumatic problems that may afflict pre-hospital patients.

This course is designed for students enrolled in the Paramedic, Medical Radiation Technology, and the Dental Hygiene programs. It is a general introduction to the structures and physiology that make up the human body. It provides the basis for subsequent study of pathophysiology and patient care procedures.

This course is designed to provide the student with a general and job-specific level of fitness, enabling the student to meet the physical requirements of a Paramedic. Emphasis will be placed on cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility as well as safe lifting practices and an introduction to mental health wellness. Students will also benefit from the development, implementation, and monitoring of a personal training program. Additional components include the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, highlighting nutrition and stress management through physical activity and structured exercise.

This course is designed to provide the student with the ability to apply relevant legislation and regulations enacted by Provincial and Federal Governments. The student will focus upon the accountability and responsibility of his/her own behaviours, by concentrating upon the legalities governing his/her professional duties. The student will understand his/her role as an advocate for patient rights to dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and consent/non consent to treatment.

In this course, students will develop their oral and written communication skills. Students will learn medical terminology, the principles of accurate report writing, patient interview techniques and practice effective listening and communication skills. Students will also gain the knowledge and the ability to assess, plan and intervene appropriately and effectively regarding operational communication, interprofessional collaboration and patient interactions.

In this course, the student will acquire the skills required to perform patient assessments and perform patient care in accordance with Basic Life Support Patient Care Standards. The student will apply those skills for the provision of basic emergency care in various simulated laboratory settings. This course will provide students with the skills required to assess and manage patients in more complex scenarios in Semesters II and III.

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

In this course, students will study diversity from an anti-oppression and social justice framework. Students will explore how elements of race, class, gender, sexuality, disability and age have been transformed into systems of oppression and privilege. Various forms of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and racism, as they relate to the division of cultures and classes in society, will be examined. Students will develop diversity competency skills and will explore strategies to create socially inclusive and equitable environments; skills that are in demand in today's workplace.

In this course, the student will acquire the skills necessary to perform specific assessment and pre-hospital care interventions to victims of trauma and medical crises. The student will also learn how to recognize patient complications while on scene and during transport, and adopt strategies to minimize their impact on the patient. At the end of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate the ability to perform assessments, skills, and interventions related to the following patient conditions: adult cardiac arrest and post resuscitation care, anaphylaxis, respiratory emergencies, trauma and medical emergencies, acute pulmonary edema, suspected myocardial infarction, cardiac ischemia and hypoglycemia. The expectation is that the student will integrate theory and knowledge they have gained in past Paramedic Program courses, as they begin to care for more complex patient types.

This course is a continuation of Patient Care Theory I. The major emphasis of this course is placed on the responsibilities of the student in assessing, managing and transporting patients in stabilized conditions, emergency situations and situations that may become emergencies. Students will learn the assessment, pathophysiological processes and management of various medical and traumatic problems that may afflict pre-hospital patients including all Advanced Life Support Directives.

This course is designed for students who have a general understanding and working knowledge of the structure and function of the human body. Students will study how and why a disease develops and progresses across all spans of life from conception to death. The focus will be on pathophysiology of diseases and situations requiring emergency medical care.

This course is the second part of a two part anatomy and physiology course designed for students enrolled in the Paramedic, Medical Radiation Technology, and Dental Hygiene programs. It is a continuation of the structures and physiology that make up the human body. It will complete the study of the body in preparation for the study of pathophysiology and patient care procedures.

This course is designed to strengthen and refine students' skills in the communicating effectively, in both oral and written format, in the filed of paramedicine. This course emphasizes paramedic-specific communication, conducting patient interviews, and Ambulance Call Report (ACR) completion. This course will also guide the student to be a confident and capable paramedic team leader who utilizes Crew Resource Management strategies to effectively run an team of paramedics and allied first responders. The student will also learn professional advocacy, resume and cover letter preparation, as well as strategies to protect personal safety during emergency medical service responses.

This course is designed to further develop and maintain physical fitness attained in AB 115. During this second semester, students will participate in individually designed training programs as well as work to promote back care, correct posture, and employ proper biomechanics and safe techniques when lifting, positioning, and transporting simulated patients. Additionally, there will be a focus on leadership and teamwork as it pertains to performing the job of a Paramedic.

In this course, the student will learn about, and build upon, resiliency skills which will be used in their future practice as a paramedic. The student will learn about stress, performance anxiety, and how to preserve their mental health while operating as a member of a front-line emergency team. Additionally, strategies for maintaining peak performance under pressure will be discussed. Critical incident management, stress injuries, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will be explored as will peer support and suicide prevention. Ultimately, this course prepares the student to learn positive coping skills and to have maximum career longevity as a Primary Care Paramedic.

This course is designed to further develop and maintain physical fitness attained in AB 115 and AB 218. During this third semester, the focus will be on Paramedic physical-testing preparedness so that the student will feel confident and prepared when applying for Paramedic positions that require physical testing. These tests include, but are not limited to, Physical Abilities Testing (ARCON), and the Ottawa Paramedic Physical Abilities Testing (OPPAT). There will also be a continued focus on the biomechanics of safe lifting and moving of patients, as well as leadership and teamwork.

The major emphasis of this course is placed on the responsibilities of the paramedic in assessing, applying the pathophysiological processes, managing and transporting patients in stabilized conditions, and responding to situations that have or may become environmental, pediatric, obstetric or gynecological emergencies. This course is a continuation of Patient Care Theory II.

This course is a continuation of Patient Care Skills Lab II. In this course the student will acquire the skills necessary to perform specific assessment and pre-hospital care inventions to HI-LO (high-intensity, low occurrence) patient types. This will include management of environmental, pediatric, obstetric and neonatal emergencies. The student will learn how to recognize complications of these patient conditions and manage them on scene or during transport, minimizing their impact on patient condition. At the end of the course, the student will also be able to demonstrate skills related to the following situations: heat stroke/exhaustion, burn, aquatic and hypothermia emergencies. Infectious disease and hazardous material protocols will also be taught during this course.

This course emphasizes techniques necessary to ensure driver and vehicle readiness for emergency service. Utilizing classroom and in-vehicle situations, students will acquire the skills required to: maintain emergency vehicles, prepare and safely operate an emergency vehicle, and drive defensively. The techniques required to work effectively with other emergency response personnel will be emphasized throughout the course. This course requires a Class 'G' license.

This course is designed to aid the students in understanding pharmokinetics, classification of pharmacation and correlation of common day-to-day prescription and over-the-counter medication with specific pathologies. This course is designed for pre-hospital and other health care providers.

This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills of a Primary Care Paramedic with Autonomous IV training. Building on Medical Directives learned in the second semester, the student will learn how to safely and effectively provide intravenous therapy and IV medications to simulated ill and injured patients. This course will also teach the knowledge and skills for a Primary Care Paramedic with Autonomous IV training to function as a partner to an Advanced Care Paramedic. Leadership, teamwork and professionalism will be emphasized in a learning environment that focuses on practical skills and scenarios.

Students will apply theoretical content of previous courses through observation and participation in various selected hospital departments. Students will gain an understanding of the role of hospital staff in the continuing care of pre-hospital patients. Hospital Clinical Experience:The hospital provides the opportunity for Paramedic students to determine the influence of pre-hospital care on subsequent patient care. It provides a realistic yet supervised setting for direct patient care in which learners will have the opportunity for skill development related to patient assessment, supportive care and observed treatment as well as participation with the health care team. To achieve the purposes of the hospital clinical experience, the following clinical areas may be utilized: Intensive Care Unit; Coronary Care Unit; Recovery Room; Emergency Department; Labour and Delivery - Nursery; and Pediatrics Unit. Any care given will be under the direct supervision of the clinical instructor or preceptor. Where experience is not available, objectives will be discussed in relation to both pre-hospital and in-hospital care.

This course provides the student with a concentrated period of field experience to further develop the ability to assess and meet the needs of the patient. Under the direct supervision of a paramedic crew the student will review, participate in and analyze emergency situations, which will form a basis for professional practice in the future.

As the concluding component of the program, students enrolled in this comprehensive course will consolidate key concepts of pre-hospital care. Utilizing a student-centered approach, course participants will relate and integrate the theoretical concepts previously learned with clinical situations. Challenges of the student-to-Paramedic transition will be thoroughly discussed.