4 Things That Can Help Get You Through Paramedic Training
Are you prepared to take on the challenges of paramedic training?
Becoming a paramedic means being able to work under pressure, often in the most intense emergency scenarios. You need a solid medical background, as well as being physically capable of doing the tasks paramedics are required to do. More importantly, you must be able to remain calm, think on your feet, and make quick decisions based on sound medical knowledge.
The educational requirements and training paramedics go through can be tough. Your commitment and passion to contribute to the community and make a difference in other people’s lives is just half the battle. It’s necessary to understand and anticipate the challenges you are bound to encounter as you complete your studies. Here are some things that can help get you through paramedic training. Are you ready?
1. Be Prepared to Commit Time Towards Your Studies and Training
Don’t expect to coast through your studies. Paramedic training is intense and rigorous—the real-life scenarios you will find yourself in as an emergency first responder can be stressful and challenging, a matter of life or death. As a paramedic, you hold your patient’s life in your hands and their survival will be dependent on specific skills you will learn in school.
It takes more than simply cracking open a book and expecting to be able to make major decisions about someone’s health. While theoretical and in-classroom training are a big part of the paramedic program, practical and hands-on experience is also very important. It will take time to learn the required skills to be a good paramedic. Be realistic about what you can commit to your education when considering to pursue this field.
2. Anticipate How Physically Demanding the Job Can Be
A lot of aspiring paramedics underestimate just how physically demanding paramedic work can be; you will need to be fit, strong, and flexible. For example, getting to the scene of an emergency may require you to maneuver in tight spaces or rush up stairs.
A lot of physical effort is required. Tasks like performing CPR and moving patients onto stretchers can take a lot of strength and endurance, which you need to be prepared for. This means making an effort to stay physically fit is an important factor for your success in paramedic school.
3. Know That You Will Be Working Under Pressure
As a paramedic, you will need to make quick decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. Remember, emergency first responders like paramedics are usually the first to arrive on the scene of an emergency—you will witness trauma and need to be able to respond calmly and professionally.
The pressure of delivering sound medical intervention will rest on your shoulders and the patient will depend on your ability to evaluate the situation, understand their medical needs, and manage time and resources if there is more than one patient who needs help.
A big part of paramedic training involves making these quick evaluations in emergency scenarios through simulated, practical exercises. Even the most dedicated paramedic student can find this kind of exposure to stressful scenarios overwhelming. Therefore, it’s best to anticipate this as a part of your training to avoid panicking or freezing on the job.
4. Practicing Your Communication Skills Is A Must
Emergency scenarios are often chaotic. There will be distractions while you’re trying to do your job and assess what needs to be done. You must be able to listen and communicate with patients as well as your team members.
As a paramedic, exceptional communication skills are required, which can be honed through your paramedic training. This allows paramedics to communicate instructions and clearly articulate to patients what’s happening and what will happen next. This is a critical part of keeping the patient calm and ensuring emergency scenarios don’t escalate out of control.
Becoming a paramedic means understanding what areas of your training will pose challenges so you can equip yourself with the tools needed to get through them. Dedication, physical fitness, the ability to work under pressure, and strong communication skills are must-haves to successfully complete paramedic training. Be sure to cultivate them in your quest to become part of one of the most exciting fields in healthcare. If you’re interested in exploring what HCI’s paramedic program has to offer, check out this link here.
