American Heart Association (AHA) Classes

• Bloodborne Pathogen Training
• Hands Only CPR
• HeartSaver CPR/AED/First Aid

For Healthcare Professionals

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS)

National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Courses

• Emergency Vehicle Operator Safety (EVOS)
• Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
• EMS Safety
• Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS)
• EMS All Hazards

Initial Certification Courses

• Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST)
• Emergency Medical Technician initial training
  Mental Health

Mental Health First Aid

• Specialty Courses
• Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AMLS)
• Difficult Airway Management Course

All courses are taught in accordance with guidelines set forth by their governing bodies (AHA, NAEMT, State of Connecticut etc.). EMT-initial certifications are taught using the Brady textbook by Pearson. Wherever possible instructors’ endeavor to supplement the material provided with real world examples and best practice, evidence-based articles. Courses are designed and instructors encourage critical thinking and discussion on all topics.

All courses taught by NHEMS adhere to the hourly requirements as set forth by the governing body of that course. No course taught by NHEMS will exceed eight hours in length in one day. Students are expected to attend the course in its entirety in order to receive credit or certification. Failure to meet the expected hourly requirements will result in no credit or certification being issued.

Section 1- Overview

1.01 All educational offering taught

Norwalk Hospital EMS (NHEMS) offers a wide array for educational opportunities all of which adhere to the following policy.

Section 2-Class Rules/General Student Conduct

2.01 Program Hours

All courses taught by NHEMS adhere to the hourly requirements as set forth by the governing body of that course. No course taught by NHEMS will exceed eight hours in length in one day.  Students are expected to attend the course in its entirety in order to receive credit or certification.  Failure to meet the expected hourly requirements will result in no credit or certification being issued.

2.02 Syllabus

A class syllabus will be provided at the beginning of every course outlining the course content, timeline of the course, and student expectations.  The syllabus is intended as a guide and may be subject to change at the sole discretion of the Lead Instructor.

2.03 Class Cancellations

Cancellations to any class will be made at least 24 hours in advance.

2.04 Attendance

Attendance for all classes is considered mandatory.  However, is a class must be missed to illness, life event etc. the Lead Instructor must be notified prior to the missed class.

2.05 Professional Conduct

It is the intent of all instructors to provide students with an environment that is conducive to learning.  Conduct disrupting the classroom or showing lack of respect for instructors, or other students, will not be tolerated.  Instructors have the right to remove any student from the classroom who they deem to be disruptive, engaging in distracting behavior, or showing lack of respect or sensitivity.

2.06 Dress Code

Professional and appropriate attire is required for all sessions, practical stations, and clinical rotations. Appropriate attire includes uniforms issued by you service, close toes shoes, pants (no spandex in nature), and t-shirts/polo shirts either devoid of any logos or with service logos/level of service.

2.07 Use of Cell Phones/ Pager/Computers/Recording Devices

Although NHEMS recognizes that constant access to technology is normal in today’s society, it can also be disruptive and distracting in the classroom.  All cell phones, pagers, radios, and other electronic communication devices must be turned off or place in a silent mode during all classroom/practical sessions unless otherwise directed by the lead

Instructor.  Students are prohibited from sending/receiving text messages or engaging in other forms of electronic communication (ex: posting to Facebook, updating Twitter, reading/sending email, making/ receiving phones calls etc.) during class or clinical rotations.

Students are prohibited from bringing personal cells phones, pagers, radio, computer or other into written and practical examinations and quizzes. 

Student are allowed to use electronic devices and computers for note taking during class, however, students are prohibited from accessing the internet during class sessions unless directed to do so by their instructor as part of the lecture/lesson plan.

2.08 Emergency Responses during Class

Students, faculty, staff, and evaluators who are affiliated with emergency response agencies are not allowed to respond to calls during class time.  Pagers, radios, and other forms of notifications must remain off during scheduled class time.

2.09 Students with Disabilities

Students with any type of learning disability who require extra time for written exams or other accommodations must have a letter from a recognized authority documenting their disability and must provide such a letter to the Lead instructor on or at the first class.  Students with physical disabilities who require reasonable accommodations for participating in the program must have a letter from a recognized authority (i.e., healthcare provider) documenting their disability and must submit both eh letter and a written request for reasonable accommodation to the Lead instructor before or at the beginning of class.  The determination as to whether or not a requested accommodation is reasonable and can be provided shall be in the sole discretion of the Norwalk Hospital EMS Educator/Clinical Coordinator.  Practical exams are an integral part of the program and must be attended in conjunction with the written exams; a student’s performance on practical exams will be taken into consideration during evaluation of the completion of the program requirements.

2.10 Academic Dishonesty (Cheating)

Academic dishonesty/cheating will not be tolerated.  Any student who submits false documentation concerning any requirement of this program including didactic examinations and clinical rotations will result in immediate dismissal from the class.  All allegations of academic dishonesty will be investigated and if evidence of such is found, the student will be subject to immediate dismissal from the current class without the benefit of a refund of any course tuition or fees.

2.11 Complaints/Grievances

Complaints should be brought to the attention of the lead instructor.  If the lead instructor is not available or the person believes it would be inappropriate to make the complaint to the Lead Instructor, the person should immediately contact the EMS Educational Coordinator.  All complaints/ grievances will be investigated.  The final determination of all complaints/grievances shall be in sole discretion of the EMS Educational Coordinator.

Section 3 Safety

3.01 Participant Safety

The safety of the program participants is of the utmost importance at all times.  Each student should address any problems or concerns that he or she may have regarding his or her safety immediately to the individual directly involved

 

with the training in progress.  Directions given by the program personnel should be followed and if no understood, should be confirmed with the person giving the instructions prior to proceeding with the activity to prevent problems and misunderstandings.  All students will perform with normal regard for personal safety as well as the safety of patients and other involved with patient care.  At no time will the student perform any act that he or the preceptor deems unsafe or that student/preceptor feels is an inappropriate action for the student to take.

2.02 Student Injury

Any time a student suffers an injury while partaking in any education program, he or she will immediately report the occurrence to the Lead Instructor, or if the Lead Instructor is unavailable, to another program instructor or EMS Educational Coordinator.  A written incident report must be filed with the EMS Educational Coordinator within 24 hours of the occurrence.

3.03 Weapons

In accordance with Federal and State laws and regulations, no weapons of ANY kind will be allowed in the classroom, with the exception of ON-DUTY law enforcement personnel.  No weapons of ANY kind will be allowed at clinical rotation sites.

Section 4- Course Requirements

4.01 Reading and Homework

All lectures and other assignments are designed to supplement and not replace reading assignments.  The dates and reading assignments are listed in the class syllabus.  Specific reading assignments, if any, will be indicated on the syllabus next to the corresponding lecture.  Homework assignments, if any, will be given in class; due dates for any homework assignments will be announced at the time a homework is given.  Student should come to class having completed the assigned reading and any assigned homework on that date.  Students are responsible for all study materials presented whether they attend class or not.

4.02 Exams and Quizzes

All exams both written and or practical are mandatory.  Missed practical and written exams cannot be made up.

4.03 Ongoing Evaluation

The lead instructor will be evaluating student attendance and performance (both written and practical) throughout the entire length of this course and they will have the authority to withdraw a student’s candidacy from the class if a student does not meet standards in accordance of this policy.

If a student’s grade average had fallen under the requirement for needed to pass the course, a meeting with the Lead Instructor will be scheduled to discuss course action.  Students will need to meet the requirements for passing at the time of the written final.

4.04 Program /Class Extensions

The EMS Education Coordinator many upon request for good cause shown and in their sole discretion, grant an extension to a student who needs to make up the final written and practical examinations.  Requests for extensions must be made in writing.  Exceptions will be granted on an individual case-by-case basis.

Students will an approved program/class extension will have 30 days to complete all of their exams.  No further extensions will be grated.  Failure to complete the final written and practical exams writing the 30-day extension will in an incomplete grade and subsequent termination from the program/class.

Section 5- Clinical Observation

5.01 Clinical Observation Time

For programs that require clinical observation time, observation or ‘ride time’, must be completed at Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Services.  Students who need to complete ‘ride time’ as part of a course not affiliated with Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Services or not employed by Nuvance Health should see the Ride Time Contract.  Students are not allowed to be compensated for any course required clinical observation time.  Regularly scheduled shifts with a student affiliated service or employer shall not count towards the student’s clinical observation time.

Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Services is located at 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06850.  Student should enter through the Norwalk Hospital Emergency Department and report to the security officer.

5.02 Reporting for Clinical Observation Time

When reporting for clinical observation time, students should introduce themselves to the supervisor and crews when they arrive.  The student will be observing multiple on-duty crews. Clinical observation time is for students to learn about pre-hospital medicine and emergency care.  Students should assist as much as possible with vital signs and other skill as directed by the paramedic or EMT.

5.03 Clinical Observation Participation and Scope of Practice

Students are expected to be awake and alert thought the duration of their clinical rotation.  Students are also expected to be respectful, polite, and eager to assist with skills that they learned in class.  When participating in clinical observation time, students should remember that they are guests at the clinical site and should conduct themselves accordingly.  Students are responsible for knowing and informing on-duty crews at the beginning of each clinical rotation what skills, if any, they are allowed to perform on patients (the extent of such skills is determined by the students’ progress in class and their scope of practice).  If a skill is outside of the student’s scope of practice the student SHOULD NOT perform the skill and advise the provider that they are with.

5.04 Clinical Observation Scheduling and Verification

An electronic schedule will be provided to students via getsling.com to sign up for clinical observation time.  It is the sole responsibility of the student to provide the clinical site with a Clinical Observation Time form.  The clinical site does NOT keep blank Clinical Observation Time forms on file.

5.05 Professionalism

If students are deemed to be disruptive, engaging in distracting behavior, or showing lack of respect, they may be removed from the clinical site by the EMS Educator or Shift Supervisor.

If any complaints, either written or verbal are received from personnel at a clinical site regarding a student during their clinical observation time the student many be subject to immediate dismissal from the clinical site.  If the students program requires clinical observation for course completion the student will receive an incomplete in the course and will not be afforded an opportunity to receive a refund of their tuition and fees.

5.06 Use of cell phones/cameras/recording devices/ social media

The use of cell phones, cell phone cameras, and other types of cameras or recording devices are expressly prohibited during clinical rotations.  The taking of photographs or recoding patient’s and/or emergency responses will not be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal from clinical observation and the students program.  Furthermore, students engaging in such activity may be subject to disciplinary and/or legal action including but not limited to action by the State of Connecticut and/or judicial proceedings.

Students are prohibited from accessing the internet and all forms of social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube etc.) during their clinical time for the purpose of informing others as to their clinical observation activities.  Furthermore, the posting or blogging of any information obtained during clinical observation time at any time either during or after clinical observation time is a direct violation of Federal legislation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPAA) and is expressly prohibited and will result in the student’s immediate dismissal from their program.  Students engaging in such activity may be subject to legal action including but not limited to action by the State of Connecticut and/or judicial proceedings.

5.07 Clinical Observation Time Dress Code

During clinical observation time students will wear their class polo, volunteer agency shirt, white polo, or white oxford shirt with navy EMS/uniform pants with black belt, and black boots.  Students will be provided with a fluorescent reflective OBSERVER vest and/or jacket.  Students with long hair should have their hair pined up and off of their collar.  All students shall be free from heavy jewelry, perfume of inappropriate make-up.  No visible body piercings jewelry (except for small, non-dangling earrings) is allowed during clinical observation time.  The shift supervisor reserves the right to prohibit a student from participating in clinical observation time if the required dress code has not been met.

5.08 Clinical Hours

Norwalk Hospital EMS clinical hours are reserved from 0800-2300.  Students will be allowed to ride outside of these hours with the exception of a “late call”.  A late call is defined as an ambulance is dispatched at 2300, the student will remain on the active call until the ambulance returns to the hospital.  Clinical shifts will be from 0800-1300, 1300-1800, 1800-2300.  Only one student is scheduled at a time.  Due to the number of requests for clinical shifts, students should take into consideration of the shift he/she is requesting.  A student is required to stay the duration of the entire shift.  Due to the nature of Emergency Medical Services, students may not have the opportunity to leave at the exact time for the end of their shift.

If a student must miss a clinical shift, the student must notify the Lead Instructor as soon as possible prior to eh start of the shift.  Excessive cancellations of clinical shifts may result in the inability to complete clinical hours.  Clinical shifts re subject to the attendance policy of the class in which the student is enrolled.

In the rare occasion that two students arrive at the clinical site for observation purposes, it is the discretion of the shift supervisor to determine which student will remain on site.  The dismissed student must notify the lead instructor to reschedule their clinical time.

5.09 Completion of Clinical Observation Time

Students must complete their clinical observation time in accordance with their program requirements.  All clinical observation documents must be submitted to the students lead instructor by the date denoted on the syllabus. No extensions will be granted for clinical observation time.

Section 6-After the Class

6.01 Certification, Testing, and Fees

Unless otherwise noted at the beginning of the student’s program, the student is responsible for coordinating all state and national test and any fees that may apply.