EMT Clinical Internship

A critical component to the EMT education is the clinical internship. Prior to receiving the certificate of completion and being eligible to take the National Registry EMT exam each student will satisfy all clinical internship requirements.

The clinical internship will provide the EMT student experience working with patients in a real setting. The clinical internship includes ambulance rotations, emergency room shifts, and fire department ride-outs.

Students are required to make ten patient contacts during the clinical internship. The ten patient contacts will be made during the required 4-hour emergency room shift, the 8-hour ambulance shift, and the two 4-hour fire engine shifts.

During the clinical internship experience the student should practice under supervision and demonstrate proficiency of as many as possible of the following:

• Complete an orientation of the training facility and the expected behavior during the student's stay.

• Perform patient assessment including developing a relevant medical history and conducting a physical examination. The assessments should include at a minimum taking and recording vital signs and auscultation of chest sounds.

• Assist with and review the treatment of trauma causes and medical emergencies.

• Assist in triaging patients.

• Assist in hemorrhage control and splinting.

• Assist in cases of cardiac arrest, including the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

• Assist in basic airway management.

• Record clinical internship and patient information in the student clinical folder.

Performance of skills contained in the clinical internship objectives shall be based on performance criteria established by standard medical practice.

Prior to clinical internships, the student shall demonstrate proficiency by passing skill evaluations by program approved skills examiners at the appropriate level of training.

Pre-requisites

All students will undergo an immunizations screening, a 9-panel drug screen, a TB test, and a criminal background check requiring fingerprinting before being eligible to take part in the clinical internship.

Sign-up

Students will receive instructions from the LBJFA Clinical Internship Coordinator regarding the sign-up process.

Dress Code

The attire while doing the clinical internship is the LBJFA polo shirt, black/navy blue long pants, dark close toed shoes, and school identification card. Hair will be neatly groomed. No dangling jewelry, no facial jewelry, no perfumes, and no acrylic fingernails.

Equipment

The equipment needed during the clinical internship is:

• black or blue ballpoint pen,

• clinical folder,

• watch with second hand if analog,

• stethoscope,

• BP cuff.

Misc

• Make sure you take your clinical folder with contact information.

• Wash your hands a lot.

• If you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't.

• If the patient is sitting/lying on something with wheels, lock it.

• If you enter a room and the patient's side rails aren't up, put them up.

• If you haven't washed or foamed your hands in the last 5 minutes, you are overdue.

• Never, ever turn off/disconnect a monitor without asking for help.

• Do not take specimens/CSF to the lab or label blood or other samples.

• Check with the nurse/tech/medic before giving patients blankets.

• Check with the nurse/tech/medic before giving the patients food or drink.

• Check with the nurse/tech/medic before entering a patient's room, for your safety.

• Never throw out pee/poo or other samples without asking first.

• If you have an exposure (needle stick, blood, or other goo) see the charge nurse/head medic.

• If you don't know, ask!

Remember, you are there to learn, see things, perform assessments ... you can't blame anyone if you don't get them ... this is YOUR responsibility.

Remember that you are a guest, be polite.

Remember to be nice to EVERYONE - especially patients and families.

If you ask questions, stay visible, are helpful and put yourself forward these will be rewarding clinical experiences. If you hang back, hide, and do not ask questions you will end up doing lots of vial signs and will not get much out of any of your clinical rotations.

For more information refer to the LBJ Fire Academy Student Handbook.