Basic Before You Move To ALS?

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Permalink Reply by Derek on November 13, 2009 at 6:43pm

I don't think its so much the performing of the psychomotor skills that makes the difference. The difference comes from the EMT who learns how to perform a great assessment and exchange information. There is an art to assessing and being able to investigate and ascertain information from patients and than piece it all together. This foundation starts as an EMT and the more clinical experience one gathers during this time will carry over into the classroom as a Paramedic student.

I would always recommend some solid BLS experience before jumping into the realm of ALS.

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Permalink Reply by asysin2leads on November 13, 2009 at 7:08pm

Okay, now I'm confused.

Putting on a traction splint, without causing movement, without putting someone in horrible pain, or just normal splinting, or bleeding control, these AREN'T an Art that need to be practiced, what really takes the years of practice is OPQRSTU call for medics.
You know, Derek, if you had said "Well, the fact you don't do much BLS skills very often is the reason you need some years of experience in EMS" you would have had a point, but to say "you need years of EMS so you can get the same experience that a two weeks of full time candy striping would get you," is ludicrous.
And anytime I hear someone start throwing the words "its an art" around or when they do the "there's stuff you can't learn in a classroom" thing or "there ain't no substitute for the street" stuff, all I hear, is "We reserve the right to hold on to a vaguely defined, and constantly changing criteria that we can use at any time it suits us to exclude anyone we feel like from our program and then state they do not meet said undefined ." Its all a crock.

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Permalink Reply by Derek on November 13, 2009 at 7:19pm

I wasn't intending to make the skills sound unimportant because they are important. I was trying to elude to the thinking that what will help (or at least helped me the most) the most as a Paramedic student is the assessment skills (breath sounds, common S/S of diseases, how they present, etc).

I do see where you are coming from, however. As well, I do think of other professions who don't require lower levels of training or education before starting in those programs... for example you don't have to be a CNA before becoming an RN. I can't put my finger on what the difference is but I just feel there is one and that being an EMT first and getting some solid experience can help in the Paramedic program.

As I said previously, I don't feel its absolutely crucial and don't necessarily support the requirement as a mandate for program entry, but I do feel strongly that it does help. And I can usually pick out the Medic students who have no to very little experience as an EMT.

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Permalink Reply by asysin2leads on November 14, 2009 at 8:31am

Well, until someone can tell me otherwise, that intangible part will remain in the same caliber as that intangible "charisma" that gets you on the cheerleading squad in high school.
Yes I'm bitter. My legs were sooo less fat then Becky's and I was passed over.

Derek said:

I wasn't intending to make the skills sound unimportant because they are important. I was trying to elude to the thinking that what will help (or at least helped me the most) the most as a Paramedic student is the assessment skills (breath sounds, common S/S of diseases, how they present, etc).

I do see where you are coming from, however. As well, I do think of other professions who don't require lower levels of training or education before starting in those programs... for example you don't have to be a CNA before becoming an RN. I can't put my finger on what the difference is but I just feel there is one and that being an EMT first and getting some solid experience can help in the Paramedic program.

As I said previously, I don't feel its absolutely crucial and don't necessarily support the requirement as a mandate for program entry, but I do feel strongly that it does help. And I can usually pick out the Medic students who have no to very little experience as an EMT.

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Permalink Reply by dr-exmedic on November 14, 2009 at 1:18pm

Derek said:

As well, I do think of other professions who don't require lower levels of training or education before starting in those programs... for example you don't have to be a CNA before becoming an RN. I can't put my finger on what the difference is but I just feel there is one and that being an EMT first and getting some solid experience can help in the Paramedic program.

Here, let me help your finger: the difference is, all of those other programs assume they're going to have to give you all the education and experience you need to be an entry-level RN/MD/DO/PT/OT/dentist/chiropractor. There's no reason a good paramedic program can't run the same way (and IIRC, the new education blueprint specifically allows for paramedic without being an EMT first--or was that in an early draft and got taken out?), though most do not.

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