Education Needed to Become a Paramedic
Have you been wondering what it takes to become a Paramedic? The education needed to become a Paramedic does not take as long as other medical professions, and you can become a Paramedic in as little as 12 months.
What do Paramedics need to learn
Paramedic education includes learning the roles and responsibilities of emergency medical services, medical legal issues, the well-being of the paramedic, illness and injury prevention, ethics, and medical terminology review.
You also learn about patient assessment, airway management, venous access, medication administration, therapeutic communications, life span development, pathophysiology, management of shock, and general pharmacology.
The next level theory courses cover more advanced-level medical care. You learn how to treat various medical emergencies, such as cardiorespiratory, communicable diseases, and trauma injuries like burns and broken bones.
Paramedics in training will learn how to protect themselves from bloodborne pathogens, what to do when helping patients who are victims of assault or abuse, and rescue awareness and techniques.
Getting a Paramedic education
The education needed to become a Paramedic starts in the classroom but eventually includes hands-on simulated labs for students to get experience. The labs help Paramedics to apply the things they have learned in their theory courses.
Finally, Paramedics will participate in an externship. For 540 hours, the Paramedics will work alongside EMTs and Paramedics in an ambulance and at the emergency room. This real-life experience is invaluable for when you become certified and become a Paramedic.
You will need to put in the time to study the material. As a Paramedic, you have to rely on your knowledge and be able to respond in a fast-paced environment. Making the right medical decisions means understanding the material that you learn in your theory courses and knowing how to apply them in appropriate situations.
As a Paramedic, you will be entering a career field that is in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gives EMTs and Paramedics a job outlook of 15 percent, which is much higher than the average.
