Paramedic School 101:
Surviving the fast paced
world of Paramedic School
Scott A. Matin, MBA, NREMT-P
Vice President
MONOC Mobile Health Services
Before you begin,
ask yourself:
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Is this right for me?
Do I really want this?
Do I have the time to succeed?
What am I in for?
Choosing the right program
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Which is the right program for you?
– Certificate vs. credit
– Traditional vs. hybrid
– Nationally accredited
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CoAEMSP
Develop a Knowledge Base
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Read & review
– EMT book
– EMS journals
– Paramedic text
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Refine your hands on BLS skills
Use doctors, nurses, paramedics as
mentors
Follow up on your patients
Keys to success for the
first time college student
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Be prepared to feel overwhelmed
Develop discipline
Take responsibilities for yourself and your
actions
Control your time
Night school is the ultimate challenge
Things aren’t always black or white
“Medicine is a Practice”
Deal with your stress
Juggling
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School
Work
Family
Everything else
Tips From
The “Experts”
Note Taking Tips
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Information written on white boards
Repeating of points
Sit towards the front of the room
Don’t rely on other people’s notes
Audio tape lectures
Write legibly
Compare notes with a classmate
Study Tips
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Everyone has their own style
Budget your study time
Review material right after class
Find a comfortable quiet place
Learn general concepts first
Space out your studying
Study Tips (continued)
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Don’t just read, understand
Rewrite your notes
Choose your study groups
Utilize workbooks & study material
Test yourself before the actual test
Utilize down time to study
– Flash cards, cell phones, MP3 players
Reducing Test Taking
Anxiety
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#1 – Be well prepared
Come to class early
Get a good night’s sleep
Don’t cram the night before or before
the test
Maintain a positive attitude
Exercise
Test Taking Tips
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Stay relaxed through the entire test
Don’t stay on a question that you are
stuck on
Read the directions carefully
Read each question carefully &
completely
Pace yourself
Test Taking Tips (continued)
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Ask for clarification if necessary
Don’t worry if others finish before you
When finished, review your answers
Be wary of changing your initial
answer
When things aren’t going
as planned
How to rebound when things
aren’t going as planned
1. Take a deep breath
2. Try to determine what the problem is
and fix it
3. If unsure, seek help
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Your instructor
Other resources & experts
4. Don’t give up
Take a deep breath
Try to determine what
the problem is and fix it
If unsure, seek help
Don’t give up
Now
Tips From
The “Real” Experts
The dos and don’ts
according to
former students
who made it…
Do:
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Be prepared
– Read before
– Read after
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Be organized
Find and use a mentor
Ask questions
Study 3 hours for every hour of class
Utilize study groups
– Find people with similar schedules
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Get involved in skill Labs
Don’t:
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Be late for class
Fall behind
Just rely on your past experience
Medicine Requires
Lifelong Learning
The Culture of EMS:
People want you to succeed
Questions???
Thank You!
Scott A. Matin
Vice President of Clinical & Business Services
MONOC Mobile Health Services
4806 Megill Road
Wall, NJ 07753
732-919-3045 x1168
scott.matin@monoc.org
www.monoc.org