Nicolet College First in State to Offer Flexible EMS Training to Fit Around Busy Lives

PR2021SB0091

Rutlin, Terry

Nicolet College

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English

Nicolet College has launched a new and flexible training format for Emergency Medical Responders and Technicians that’s designed to make it more convenient for individuals to learn the life-saving skills that are in high demand throughout the Northwoods. “We wanted to open that door as wide as we could to encourage more people to get emergency response training,” said Dana Baumgartner, EMS and Fire Services Specialist at Nicolet. “This new format is more flexible so it’s easier for people to fit the training in around their busy lives.” Nicolet launched the new format – the first of its kind in the state – this fall. It features more online instruction, video lectures, audio books, and online tests and quizzes. “The concept is for students to complete the online assignments before they come to class and then apply what they learned with hands-on exercises when we meet face-to-face,” Baumgartner explained. The new instructional pathway is set up in a two-part sequence. Students completing the EMR and EMT Part I course are eligible to test for their Emergency Medical Responder certificate. Students completing the EMT Part 2 course are eligible to test at the Emergency Medical Technician level towards licensure. Also, for the first time students will receive college credits when they successfully complete the EMR and EMT Part 1 course. The first class in the sequence, EMR and EMT Part 1, requires 72 hours of instruction and awards two credits. The second class, EMT Part 2, requires 108 hours of instruction that results in three college credits and a Technical Diploma as an Emergency Medical Technician. Another new component is credit for prior learning. Anyone with current Wisconsin Emergency Medical Responder certification can now apply that to the course sequence and enroll in the second course to become an EMT, Baumgartner said. “Another goal is to create a pathway for people to build on the skills they already have,” she said. “This encourages people with EMR experience to take the next step to provide a higher level of medical care to area residents.” Nicolet’s first EMT Part 2 class starts Dec. 3 and runs for 14 weeks on the Nicolet Campus just south of Rhinelander. Along with online instruction, the class will meet two nights a week for three and a half hours and for one Saturday a month for eight hours. Curriculum used to teach these courses combines both National Standards and State of Wisconsin Standards to offer a high level of pre-hospital emergency care to patients. “Coming in to the program, students need to be aware that it is very challenging,” she said. “These are life-saving skills student learn and the instructors will definitely impress upon students the importance of doing things right.” The program covers topics from anatomy and physiology to disease processes and conditions. Students will learn about the human skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and circulatory systems; pediatric and geriatric care; trauma treatment; pharmacology; ethics and numerous other aspects of delivering care. For more information, and to register for the EMT Part 2 class, call Nicolet’s Public Safety department at (715) 365-4600, 1-800-544-3039, ext. 4600. Photo cutline: Students in Nicolet College’s Emergency Medical Responder and Emergency Medical Technician programs learn a comprehensive set of skills, including patient movement.

Nicolet College News Release - Flexible EMS Training First in State

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Rutlin, Terry; trutlin@nicoletcollege.edu

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