Cardiovascular Disorders is a 3.5-hour course that teaches students working as community paramedics to assist patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disorders. The course will provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of cardiovascular disorders, including acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension. The course will help students to demonstrate strategies for patient assessment, review case studies on patients with chronic hypertension, discuss patient education tips, and learn techniques in caring for patients with heart failure. The course will also explain management techniques for patients with other common chronic, sub-acute, and acute cardiovascular conditions. Students will participate in guided discussions, role play activities, and identification of community resources.
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the community paramedic’s role in monitoring, management, and patient education for patients with cardiovascular disorders.
- Identify best practices in community paramedicine for patients with chronic hypertension.
- Recognize signs and symptoms of thrombophlebitis.
- Discuss strategies to monitor patients with heart failure.
Cardiovascular Disorders may be taught as a stand-alone course, or as a component of NAEMT’s Community Paramedicine curriculum. This course may be offered to all paramedics and other out-of-hospital healthcare practitioners.