Emergency Medical Services, AAS

Courses in emergency medical services (EMS) prepare students with the skills necessary for a career as an emergency medical responder (EMR), emergency medical technician (EMT), or paramedic (PM). Emergency medical services coursework provides graduates with progressive levels of knowledge and skills to deliver care for medical and trauma emergencies prior to arrival at a hospital.

Technical Standards

Upon successful completion of a course in emergency medical services, students will be able to:

• Critical Thinking
  • Apply knowledge and experience in the determination of appropriate emergency patient care.
  • Evaluate and monitor patient’s objective and subjective responses to emergency care.
  • Interpret, prioritize, problem solve, and demonstrate critical thinking in emergency protocols.
• Direct care
  • ​Apply knowledge and experience in the assessment of patients and emergency scene to provide appropriate and safe patient care.
  • Utilize equipment according to squad protocols.
  • Perform direct patient care based on evaluation of specific emergent situation utilizing established squad protocols.
  • Perform CPR and other life support functions.
  • Transport and transfer patients/clients.
• Collection of Patient Information
  • Apply knowledge and experience in the assessment of patients to provide emergency care.
  • Maintain accurate medical records.
• Communication
  • Effectively communicate in English both verbally and in written form with patients, patient families, and other health care professionals.
• Professional Attitude and Behavior
  • Demonstrate a commitment to an environment of mutual respect, trust, integrity, and reliability in interactions with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals.
• Safety
  • Apply knowledge and experience in the assessment of safety in patient care treatment and environment.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in and strict adherence to squad protocols for the provision of care.
  • Perform Quality Control Procedures.
  • Ensure infection control.

Program Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:

• Use an appropriate level of interpersonal skills to interact with patients, family members, and members of the health care system.
• Integrate an enhanced knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in responding to emergencies and traumatic injuries.
• Manage medical and traumatic emergencies in clinical and field settings.
• Coordinate appropriate response to complex emergency situations including ground and air ambulance operations, multiple casualty incidents, hazardous materials, crime scenes, terrorist attacks, and accidents in rural and remote locations.

Prerequisites

• Current National Registry or Nebraska EMS, EMT, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), or Intermediate licensure in good standing.
• Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card from state board approved agency maintained throughout the entire program.
• Copy of current immunization records.
• Proof of recent physical examination completed by a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner.
• Students must complete the FISDAP Paramedic Entrance Exam with a grade of 70% of higher.
• Should two (2) or more students seek the last available seat and have equal scores on the FISDAP Paramedic Entrance Exam, admission to the program will be based on the date and time of registration for the program.
• All students provisionally accepted to the program are required to undergo a criminal background check as part of the admissions process.
• Full admission to the program is contingent upon completion of the background check, immunization, and physical examination requirements.

Associate of Applied Science

AAS.5109B (65.5-66.5 credits)

The Associate of Applied Science in emergency medical services couples the 42 credits required for the Paramedic certificate (see below) with the 15-17 hours of general education requirements of the AAS. Two academic pathways are offered - one for the student who is currently registered/licensed as an EMT/AEMT/Intermediate EMT and one for the student who needs to secure this licensure.

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Paramedic written and psychomotor skills examination.