Didactic (505 hrs.)

The Didactic or classroom portion is 505 hours in length. The Paramedic didactic course is broken into six divisions. The paramedic student must successfully complete each division before continuing on to the next successive division. The Didactic Phase is a 24 hour a week commitment.

Division I: PREHOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT

In this introductory course, the student will be introduced to the roles, responsibilities, and medical-legal considerations of the Paramedic. Course content also includes orientation to the Emergency Medical System structure and communications. The student will be instructed in the basic principles of response to individual emergencies and major incident events and on how to cope with the stressors involved in these situations.

Module II: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY FOR PARAMEDICS

This course related to advanced emergency care will prepare the student to develop increased understanding of the human body, as well as its functions, development, and disease processes. The course content will include anatomy and physiology of the body’s systems from the chemical level to the organism level.

Module III: PREHOSPITAL Preparatory Principles & Skills

This course will provide the student with the fundamental principles and skills involved in patient care. Content includes medical terminology, general patient assessment techniques; human relationships; leadership principles; psychological, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual variables related to patient care; advanced airway management and ventilation; pathophysiology of shock; and general pharmacological principles.

Module IV: TRAUMA & BURNS

This course presents the advanced concepts of trauma and burn care as they relate to the prehospital environment. Content includes the kinematics of trauma assessment, resuscitation, management, monitoring and transportation of the trauma patient. The burn component of the course discusses the anatomy, physiology of the integumentary system, pathophysiology, assessment, resuscitation, and management of various types of burns.

Module V: MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

This course in advanced medical emergencies prepares the student with the didactic material and skill sessions necessary to assess and manage patients presenting with a medical emergency. The course includes anatomy; physiology; pathophysiology; and assessment and management of respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and nervous systems. The course includes anatomy, physiology, and electrophysiology of the cardiac system. The student will be instructed in identification of normal and abnormal cardiac rhythms, and their significance and management. Specific topics address the identification, prevention, assessment, and management of toxicological, alcohol, drug, infectious disease, environmental, geriatric and behavioral emergencies.

Module VI: OB/GYN, NEONATAL, and PEDIATRIC EMERGENCIES

This course in advanced emergency care will prepare the student for obstetrical, gynecological, neonatal, and pediatric emergencies as they relate to prehospital care. The course content will include anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system; and assessment and management of the obstetrical/gynecological, neonatal, and pediatric patient. 

Professional Pre-Hospital Medicine Certificate Program (56 Hours)

n addition to the above core curriculum, students are challenged with extra non-degree courses offered in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno College of Extended Studies. The coursework prepares them for a career path in Emergency Medical Services with emphasis on communication skills, leadership, medical and legal coursework, documentation, and ethics. Upon successful completion of the 56 hour additional training, the paramedic student is granted a certificate of completion by the University of Nevada, Reno College of Extended Studies. This coursework is provided to students enrolled after August 2005 and is also available to prior graduates of the program. 

Clinical (292 hrs.)

During the clinical portion of the paramedic program, the student will be assigned to various clinical settings for a total of 292 hours. The Clinical locations provide the student with a controlled environment to practice psychomotor skills, apply didactic knowledge, and receive valuable clinical instruction. REMSA’s Paramedic Program utilizes established clinical sites and makes all the necessary arrangements for the students.

Field Internship (480 Hrs.)

The field internship combines practical application of didactic knowledge, psychomotor skills, and clinical instruction. The field internship represents both an instructional and evaluative phase of the program. During the field internship, the student will be under direct supervision by a paramedic preceptor. The field internship phase is a 36 hour a week commitment.

The Field Internship is a step process to slowly adjust the Paramedic Student into a dynamic EMS environment.

The Field Internship hours will be spent entirely in the REMSA system.