Paramedic Technical Diploma

Employment Potential

A graduate of the program will have the potential for employment as a Paramedic, Emergency Room Technician, EKG Monitoring Technician, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Technician,Cardiac Catheter Lab Technician, or other healthcare settings.

Requirements for Program Entry

• Completed application
• Currently licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the state of Wisconsin
• Maintain a current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider certification on a two-year renewal cycle to comply with affiliating agency requirements
• Students are required to complete their field experience throughout the duration of the program that would permit the completion of field experience necessary to qualify for licensure
• Aptitudes required for work of this nature are good physical stamina, endurance, and body condition that would not be adversely affected by frequently having to walk, stand, lift, carry, and balance at times, in excess of 125 pounds

Curriculum

Curriculum: Students following the study plan below will complete the Paramedic technical degree in the number of semesters shown.

First Semester

10-890-101

College 101

1

Credit for Prior Learning Available »

10-890-101 COLLEGE 101 ...Students will utilize digital tools and resources to assess, explore, practice, apply, and evaluate both employability and learning skills. By establishing NWTC cultural values as hallmarks of success in academic, career, and personal settings the course encourages reflective, personalized development of a growth mindset and emphasizes the importance of making wise choices. To maximize the return on investment, students should take this course in their first semester as it identifies key expectations (hidden rules) of higher learning and professional employment.

Course Typically Offered: Summer/Fall/J-Session/Spring

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10-531-911

EMS Fundamental

2

10-531-911 EMS FUNDAMENTALS ...this course provides the paramedic student with comprehensive knowledge of EMS systems, safety, well-being, legal issues, and ethical issues, with the intended outcome of improving the health of EMS personnel, patients, and the community. The students will obtain fundamental knowledge of public health principles and epidemiology as related to public health emergencies, health promotion, and illness/injury prevention. Introducing students to comprehensive anatomical and medical terminology and abbreviations will foster the development of effective written and oral communications with colleagues and other health care professionals. (Prerequisites: Acceptance in the Paramedic or Fire Medic program; completion of Health Assessment; Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-912

Paramedic Medical Principles

4

10-531-912 PARAMEDIC MEDICAL PRINCIPLES ...this course addresses the complex depth of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of major human systems while also introducing the paramedic students to the topics of shock, immunology, and bleeding. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-913

Adv. Patient Asses. Principles

3

10-531-913 ADVANCED PATIENT ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES ...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate scene and patient assessment findings with knowledge of epidemiology and pathophysiology to form a field impression. By utilizing a structured and organized assessment process with knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, life span development, and changes that occur to the human body with time, the students will learn to develop a list of differential diagnoses through clinical reasoning, along with the ability to modify the assessment as necessary to formulate a treatment plan for their patients. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-914

Adv. Pre-Hospital Pharmacology

3

10-531-914 ADVANCED PRE-HOSPITAL PHARAMACOLOGY ...this course provides the paramedic student with the comprehensive knowledge of pharmacology required to formulate and administer a pharmacological treatment plan intended to mitigate emergencies and improve the overall health of the patient. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-915

Paramedic Respiratory Mgt.

2

10-531-915 PARAMEDIC RESPIRATORY MANAGEMENT...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate complex knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology into the assessment to develop and implement a treatment plan with the goal of assuring a patient airway, adequate mechanical ventilation, and respiration for patients of all ages. Specific knowledge pertaining to the respiratory system is also provided to ensure the student is prepared to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment plan for a patient with a respiratory complaint. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-916

Paramedic Cardiology

4

10-531-916 PARAMEDIC CARDIOLOGY ...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate assessment findings with principles of cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment plan for a patient with a cardiovascular complaint. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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10-531-917

Paramedic Clinical/Field 1

3

10-531-917 PARAMEDIC CLINICAL/FIELD 1 ...this course provides the student with the opportunity to enhance his or her learning through the practice of paramedicine in field and health care environment experiences with actual patients under the supervision of instructors or approved preceptors. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in formal high-fidelity human patient simulator experiences as a part of this course. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in the current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Fall

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Semester Total

22

Second Semester

10-531-918

Adv Emergency Resuscitation

1

10-531-918 ADVANCED EMERGENCY RESUSCITATION ...by teaching Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) methodologies and protocols, this course prepares the paramedic student in the integration of comprehensive knowledge of causes and pathophysiology into the management of shock, respiratory failure, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and peri-arrest states with an emphasis on early intervention to prevent respiratory and/or cardiac arrest if possible. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: J-Session

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10-531-924

Paramedic Clinical/Field 2

4

10-531-924 PARAMEDIC CLINICAL/FIELD 2 ...this course provides the student with the opportunity to enhance his or her learning through the practice of paramedicine in field and health care environment experiences with actual patients under the supervision of instructors or approved preceptors. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in formal high-fidelity human patient simulator experiences as a part of this course. Successful completion of this course requires the student to meet all clinical and field competency requirements at the paramedic level as defined by WI DHS EMS. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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10-531-922

EMS Operations

1

10-531-922 EMS OPERATIONS ...this course provides the paramedic student with the knowledge of operational roles and responsibilities to ensure patient, public, and EMS personnel safety. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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10-531-920

Paramedic Trauma

3

10-531-920 PARAMEDIC TRAUMA ...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate assessment findings with principles of anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment plan for an acutely injured patient. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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10-531-921

Special Patient Populations

3

10-531-921 SPECIAL PATIENT POPULATIONS ...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate assessment findings with principles of anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment plan for patients with special needs. Gynecological emergencies, along with special considerations in trauma are also included within this course. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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10-531-919

Paramedic Medical Emergencies

4

10-531-919 PARAMEDIC MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ...this course teaches the paramedic student to integrate assessment findings with principles of anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment plan for a patient with a medical complaint. (Prerequisites: completion of prior semester coursework; Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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10-531-923

Paramedic Capstone

1

10-531-923 PARAMEDIC CAPSTONE ...this course provides students with a final opportunity to incorporate their cognitive knowledge and psychomotor skills through labs and scenario-based practice and evaluations prior to taking the National Registry written and practical examinations. Technical skills attainment (TSA) for each student will be compiled and/or documented within this course as required by the DHS-approved paramedic curriculum. (Corequisites: all 10-531-XXX courses in current semester)

Course Typically Offered: Spring

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Semester Total

17

Total Credits

39

Curriculum Note: Students must earn a "C" or higher in all 10-531-XXX courses. A student who withdraws or receives a grade lower than a "C" in a program course may apply for re-entry into the program

The credit for 10-890-101, College 101, is an institutional requirement for graduation. It is not part of the program credits, but must be passed with a "C" or better

Program Outcomes

• Prepare for incident response and EMS operations
• Integrate pathophysiology principles and assessment findings for a variety of patient encounters
• Demonstrate paramedic skills associated with established standards and procedures for a variety of patient encounters
• Communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and through written documentation with clients, coworkers, other agencies, and supervisors
• Demonstrate professional behavior
• Meet Wisconsin state and national competency requirements for paramedic credentialing

Industry Credentials

Students who complete the Paramedic program have the opportunity to be certified by NREMT to achieve eligibility for EMS licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services EMS Section.

Wisconsin Caregiver Law

NWTC is required to comply with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law (1997 WISCONSIN ACT 27). The completion of a caregiver background check includes the review of criminal records for convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behavior. Students accepted into this program must complete a background check through www.castlebranch.com AND complete a Background Information Disclosure (BID) form disclosing any acts, crimes, or convictions prior to program entry. The information provided in the BID form must be truthful and match any findings on the criminal record check. Information regarding this process is provided to students immediately upon acceptance into the program. Students with a criminal history may be denied access to placement at the discretion of the clinical or practicum site. Consequently, should a student have a history of convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behaviors, NWTC cannot guarantee clinical/practicum placement or guarantee graduation within typical program timing.

Note

• Transfer of credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis only.
• Graduates of the Paramedic technical diploma who complete their coursework with a "C" or better and meet the program benchmark scores for the Fire Medic program, may qualify for advance standing within the Fire Medic Associate Degree program
• Graduates of the Paramedic technical diploma who complete the following courses with a "B" or better, meet the program benchmark scores for the Nursing-Associate Degree program, AND successfully complete the General Studies courses for the Nursing-Associate Degree program may apply to that program for advanced standing: 10-543-127, Paramedic to ADN Theory 1, 3 cr. 10-543-128, Paramedic to ADN Theory 2, 3 cr. 10-543-129, Paramedic to ADN Clinical, 2 cr. 10-543-130, Paramedic to ADN Skills, 2 cr. Refer to the program information for Nursing-Associate Degree on this website for benchmark scores and required General Studies courses.