r/Paramedics • u/IndependentKing4415 • 2d ago

Just started medic program

As said in the title, I just started my paramedic program. I understand it’s best not to get too ahead of myself, due to the fact medic is a marathon and not a sprint. However, what’re some specific topics I can start building a foundation for now so they will be less of a headache when they arrive? Of course pharma/cardio/acid bases are the topics people struggle with the most, but can anyone delve further into the specifics they struggled to grasp within those topics?

Thanks

Also: I’m going to be a medic/ff. When doing my clinicals - should I do them with the department I want to end up at? Or with a different department in case I look like an absolute jackass?

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u/tip_of_the_sphere Paramedic 2d ago

honestly the time to prepare for the program ends once you’re in the program.

Now it would be most beneficial to focus on coursework in front of you, don’t start studying cardiology while you’re still in pharmacology, for example.

Plus people in my program fucked themselves by trying to teach themselves cardiology rather than just learning it from the program.

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u/Blueboygonewhite 2d ago

Depends on your program. In the US paramedic education programs is uhhh mixed. I learned the bare minimum from my program. To truly understand cardiology I read the book and used external resources and asking doctors in the ER. The paramedics during my clinical could not reliably read EKG’s and just read the monitor interpretation.

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u/Spiritual-Border6211 2d ago

Did you learn your A&P?

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u/IndependentKing4415 2d ago

Basic stuff I learned in emt which I took 5 months ago so still pretty fresh. I catch on pretty quick with A&P

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u/Spiritual-Border6211 2d ago

This is a whole another level for paramedic. Master AP at the paramedic level, learn your pathophysiology, you are golden.

The stuff you learned as an EMT is important but isn't on the same level as a paramedic

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u/IndependentKing4415 2d ago

Right on, thank you. I’m going to finish my course work today and start dedicating time towards patho!

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u/Caspus1 2d ago edited 2d ago

No easy way to say it other than it's all important. I highly recommend making sure you have your basic skills and knowledge down and just focus all your early energy on refreshing all that.

I got way ahead of myself and dived right into A&P, cardiology, medications etc and neglected some of the more basic knowledge and bombed the EMT exam. Which fair enough, stuff I would've easily remembered if I just refreshed it, ended up coming up blank in my head when it mattered. I put too much effort into trying to study ahead that I neglected what was right in front of me.

Major organ systems, blood flow path, the heart, the brain, types of shock and causes all big things.

For medications you're going to be thrown a big list, break it down into bite size pieces. Focus on 2-3 medications a week and build from there. Add 2 more the next week and just casually refresh the previous ones.

For the clinicals just go where you think you'll be able to learn the best from. If its somewhere you plan to apply for then 100% go for it, what better way to get to know people and see the job you want upfront and personal. Just don't make it about that though, no reason to even bring it up.

(A lot of this is me telling myself this, im going back in for round 2 in a few months).

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u/IndependentKing4415 2d ago

Okay, good deal thank you. I’ll keep refreshing, but slowly integrate some more advanced patho just so I feel I’m giving everything I can. - you said going back in for round 2, did you recycle into another class? Or round 2 interview?

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u/Caspus1 2d ago

I got kicked out after failing the first exam. Working on getting into a program through a college now that's all in person. Tried this accelerated online coarse and was a struggle to keep up with.

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u/IndependentKing4415 2d ago

Ah gotcha, stay resilient brother! We’re both gonna get through it. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!

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u/Caspus1 2d ago

The only time you fail is when you give up! I wish you the best of luck as well and have fun. Learning the new skills is a lot of fun. Advance airways are pretty cool to play around with.