https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/phcc/courses/EMS142-CardiovascularCareLab

Effective: 2019-08-01

Course Description

Focuses on skills involved in the assessment and management of cardiac-related emergencies. Develops competency in basic dysrhythmia recognition and overall cardiac patient care.
Laboratory 2 hours. Total 2 hour per week.
1 credits

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to teach the skills involved in the assessment and management of cardiac-related emergencies. It develops competency in basic dysrhythmia recognition and overall cardiac patient care.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Current Virginia EMT and CPR certification as approved by the Virginia Office of EMS. Corequisite EMS 141.

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate competency in identifying basic EKG rhythms and associated treatments
  • Perform a minimum of two (2) assessments on patient complaining of cardiac related emergencies in a scenario.
  • Demonstrate competency in defibrillating a minimum of two (2) patients in an unwitnessed arrest in a lab setting
  • Demonstrate competency in defibrillating a minimum of four (4) patients in an unwitnessed arrest in a scenario.
  • Demonstrate competency in performing transcutaneous pacing on a minimum of two (2) patients in an in a lab setting
  • Demonstrate competency in performing transcutaneous pacing on a minimum of four (4) patients in an in a scenario.
  • Demonstrate competency in performing synchronized cardioversion on a minimum of two (2) patients in an in a lab setting
  • Demonstrate competency in performing synchronized cardioversion on a minimum of four (4) patients in an in a scenario.
  • Demonstrate competency in interpreting a 12 lead EKG

Major Topics to be Included

  • Assessment of the Cardiovascular Patient
    • Primary survey for cardiovascular assessment
    • History and physical/ SAMPLE format specific to the cardiovascular patient
    • Secondary survey for cardiovascular assessment
    • Differentiating cardiovascular disorders
  • Identification of Types of Rhythms
    • Sinus rhythms
    • Atrial rhythms
    • Junctional rhythms
    • Tachycardic rhythms
    • Bradycardic rhythms
    • Heart blocks
    • Pulseless rhythms
  • Management of the patient with an arrhythmia
    • Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients
    • Non-invasive interventions
    • Pharmacological interventions
    • Electrotheraphy interventions
  • Cardiovascular specific pharmacology
    • Gases
    • Sympathomimetic
    • Anticholinergic
    • Antiarrhythmic
    • Beta blocker
    • Vasopressor
    • Calcium channel blocker
    • Purine nucleoside
    • Platelet aggregate inhibitor
    • Alkalinizing agents
    • Cardiac glycoside
    • Narcotic/ analgesic
    • Diuretic
    • Nitrate
    • Antihypertensive