In the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) industry, time is of the essence. Therefore, learning to make the most of your time is key to success.
Your time management skills will be tested from the second you enroll for the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) course to the day you start practicing in the field. You’ll also experience time constraints when undertaking a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) refresher course.
Even if you’re taking your NREMT refresher course online, you’ll deal with various time restraints. These time constraints can take many forms, including meeting completion deadlines, hours allocated to studying, skill evaluation, and competing priorities.
Time Limitations Experienced During an NREMT Refresher Course
An NREMT remedial course normally takes twenty-four to forty hours to complete. However, the time required depends on the type of EMS certification you’re pursuing. The three main levels of certification in EMS include EMT, Advanced EMT (AEMT), and paramedic.
Each of these courses takes a specific number of hours which are compressed into days or weeks. Sometimes, this compression of time can feel hurried, especially for students balancing work and the NREMT refresher course.
Set Dates of Completion
The NREMT sets a deadline for EMTs to complete their refresher course. For instance, the registry requires all practicing EMTs to renew their certification every two years. This means that you must complete your NREMT refresher course before the expiration of your certificate.
Some states have shorter deadlines and other unique requirements related to EMT certification and completion of an NREMT remedial course. Understanding these requirements will help you manage your time and remain compliant.
Time to Assess Skills
A refresher course has limited time for classes and practice. There’s a large amount of information you need to internalize and hands-on skills you have to practice before the final deadline.
This practice is necessary for demonstrating proficiency in key areas of EMS, including CPR, trauma management, and airway management. Part of the training involves timed scenarios intended to mimic real-life emergencies and test your competence.
The time allocated to this part of training may not be sufficient, especially if you’re trying to balance work and learning. You’ll also need time to do cognitive tests during the refresher course. The actual NREMT cognitive test is timed, which may add pressure to your practice sessions, especially if you have other important commitments.
One of the best ways to make the most of your time is to use tools from The Paramedic Coach. We provide a wealth of NREMT training resources that can help you maximize the hours you spend studying. For the Video Vault, a one-time payment gets you lifetime access to more than 480 videos and more than 2,000 practice questions and quizzes. With these resources, once you assess your skills, you can find exactly what you need to shore up any shortcomings.
Competing Priorities
Balancing work and studying can be difficult for EMTs. Finding time to complete your remedial course and take care of personal obligations requires exceptional time management skills and proper planning.
You might have to request that your supervisor adjust your schedule or you might have to swap shifts with your colleagues so you can focus on your studies without missing work.
Self-Timed Training Deadlines
If the remedial course offers a hybrid module with online and in-person classes, you have to plan your time well to complete both training modules on time. This could mean coming up with a tight schedule that enables you to complete your studies within the general course deadline.
You may also have to manage your time between the remedial course and other training requirements like earning continuing education credits, especially if you need recertification.
Time on Your Side
One of the greatest challenges in completing an NREMT refresher course is dealing with time constraints. But with proper planning and time management strategies, you can complete the course within the set deadline without forgoing other important commitments.
