EMS-230 Advanced Standing Paramedic Original I
Advanced Standing Paramedic Original I establishes the foundational knowledge, skills, and professional expectations required for advanced life support practice. The semester begins with program orientation, review of policies and clinical requirements, professional wellness, and AHA BLS CPR validation, setting the framework for academic and clinical success.
Instruction focuses on preparatory concepts, anatomy and physiology, and pathophysiology as they relate to patient assessment and clinical decision-making. Students develop proficiency in comprehensive adult and pediatric assessment, differential diagnosis formation, and evidence-based treatment planning.
Core clinical content includes vascular access (IV/IO), pharmacology and medication administration, advanced airway management including rapid sequence airway, ventilation and shock management, cardiology with 12-lead ECG interpretation, and resuscitation consistent with current AHA ACLS standards. Trauma management is delivered in accordance with ITLS principles, alongside instruction in respiratory, neurologic, psychiatric/behavioral, and toxicologic emergencies.
Didactic instruction is reinforced through structured laboratory sessions, skills validation, and scenario-based simulations designed to develop clinical reasoning, technical competency, and team-based performance in preparation for advanced field and clinical practice.
Prerequisite
Students must meet all of the following requirements to register:
1. Current NYS EMT certification valid for the entire course;
2. Current unrestricted licensure as an RN, PA, MD, DO, NP, CRNA, or Nurse Midwife;
3. Current American Heart Association BLS CPR certification;
4. At least one year of clinical experience in an acute or emergency setting; and
5. Instructor permission.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Apply foundational knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology to explain disease processes and guide advanced clinical decision-making.
- Perform comprehensive patient assessments for adult and pediatric patients, including scene size-up, primary and secondary assessment, history taking, reassessment, and formulation of differential diagnoses.
- Initiate and manage vascular access and medication administration, including IV and IO access, safe pharmacologic interventions, accurate medication calculations, and use of patient monitoring devices.
- Demonstrate advanced airway management skills, including basic and advanced airway techniques, rapid sequence airway (RSA), ventilation strategies, CPAP, and management of the difficult airway.
- Interpret cardiac rhythms and 12-lead ECGs, including identification of life-threatening dysrhythmias and advanced electrocardiographic concepts to guide treatment decisions.
- Manage cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions using current AHA BLS and ACLS guidelines, including effective team-based resuscitation and post-resuscitation care principles.
- Assess and manage traumatic injuries in accordance with ITLS principles, integrating rapid trauma assessment, hemorrhage control, shock management, and transport decision-making.
- Recognize and manage common medical emergencies, including respiratory, neurologic, psychiatric/behavioral, and toxicologic conditions, utilizing evidence-based treatment protocols.
- Demonstrate clinical reasoning and critical thinking through scenario-based simulations integrating assessment, intervention, and reassessment in complex patient presentations.
- Exhibit behaviors consistent with paramedic wellness and professional resilience, recognizing the importance of mental health, stress management, and professional sustainability.