This program offers a rewarding and challenging career for those individuals interested in providing emergency medical services to the sick and injured in a prehospital care environment. Primary Care Paramedic (formerly known as Emergency Medical Technician-Ambulance) training utilizes the facilities at NAIT, active treatment hospitals, basic and advanced life support ambulance services and other allied emergency services.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

In this certificate program students will learn about providing basic emergency care, including assessment and treatment of patients with a variety of medical disorders and injuries. The student learning environment will consist of lectures, labs, clinical simulations and practicum. Areas of learning will be focused on but are not excluded to:

• Introduction to emergency medical services and pre hospital care • Human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology • Basic life support skills including medical and trauma management • Pharmacology • Diverse patient populations including management of some pediatric disorders and assisting with childbirth

Students will also be trained in physical and mental health self-care, to ensure they are prepared for a demanding patient care environment.

Practicum will consist of placement with an ambulance service and one week in an acute care hospital emergency department. Students will be expected to work shifts including evenings, nights and weekends, and they may be required to travel outside of Edmonton for their practicum placement.