A final test in high school can be stressful, so why would an instructor purposely make it even more nerve-wracking? For the students enrolled in our emergency medical technician (EMT) introductory program, the last day of their course was designed to be intense.
“They’re in the back of an ambulance with a live patient on a gurney to get a sense of what responding to a real emergency is like,” explained Joanne Robinson, their instructor and manager at American Medical Response (AMR) which partners with our school for the EMT program. “It’s a timed event with nurses, doctors and EMTs watching their every move. They must think on their feet and remember everything they’ve learned – it’s not easy.”
Sierra T., a senior who just completed the program, agrees. “This entire class was challenging – learning so many new things and remembering them under pressure,” she said. “But I love the hands-on learning. It’s more exciting and helps me retain the information.”
Sierra is planning a career in the medical field and figured she could jump start her education with an introductory EMT course. She came to our school because she liked their personalized learning model which allows her to progress at her own pace. “I tend to work at a faster pace than some traditional high school classes, so this is ideal for me.”
Robinson said that throughout the EMT class, students are challenged to learn, remember and translate that knowledge into action. “This is when we see their critical thinking skills emerging, which are essential for this type of career,” she explained. “It’s so rewarding to watch them grow and develop new skills in just a few months.”
In conjunction with a community college, students earn three college credits and 10 high school elective credits. AMR actively promotes high school entry-level EMT classes and offers a scholarship and paid internship for students who want to continue their education to pursue a career as a paramedic.
“This is a good steppingstone for a host of careers in healthcare, law enforcement and firefighting,” Robinson said.
According to the newly released Walton Family Foundation-Gallup survey, more than 40 percent of teens are not planning to attend college after graduation, so it’s important for high schools to offer career learning pathways to accommodate every student’s personalized plan.
The EMT programs are popular and always fill up – something Robinson is thrilled to see. “These students are our up-and-coming workforce,” she said. “We’re proud to be helping to guide these young people into careers in healthcare and first responders.”