About This Program
The Paramedic program is the most advanced pre-hospital emergency medicine credential available. Students learn to function as the primary medical authority at emergency scenes, independently managing complex cardiac, trauma, pediatric, and psychiatric presentations with an advanced pharmacology and intervention toolkit. The hybrid format combines online didactic coursework with intensive in-person clinical labs, hospital rotations in the emergency department, ICU, and OR, and supervised field internship hours. Graduates are eligible for the NREMT-Paramedic (NRP) exam and Rhode Island Paramedic licensure via the RIDOH EMS Division.
⚠ Prerequisite Required
- Active Rhode Island EMT-Basic License
What You'll Learn
- Advanced 12-lead interpretation: STEMI localization by territory, left and right bundle branch blocks, Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern, posterior MI recognition, and paced rhythms
- Critical care pharmacology: 50+ emergency drugs including vasopressors (norepinephrine, dopamine, epinephrine), antiarrhythmics, sedatives, paralytics, RSI agents (succinylcholine, rocuronium), and IV drip calculations
- Advanced airway: direct and video laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation, surgical cricothyrotomy, percutaneous needle cricothyrotomy, and post-intubation ventilator management
- Trauma management: traumatic cardiac arrest resuscitation, damage control principles, tension pneumothorax needle decompression and chest tube assist, traumatic brain injury management
- Pediatric and neonatal emergencies: neonatal resuscitation (NRP concepts), PALS protocol integration, weight-based pharmacology dosing (Broselow tape), and pediatric airway management
- Behavioral and psychiatric emergencies: verbal de-escalation techniques, chemical restraint protocols (haloperidol, midazolam, ketamine), excited delirium recognition and management
- Obstetric emergencies: eclampsia recognition and magnesium sulfate administration, precipitous delivery complications, shoulder dystocia maneuvers, and postpartum hemorrhage management
- Medical oversight, quality improvement participation, EMS documentation and legal principles, patient advocacy, and paramedicine ethics and leadership
Program Outcomes
- Credential 1: NREMT-Paramedic (NRP) national certification — National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
- Credential 2: Rhode Island Paramedic License — issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) EMS Division
- Eligible employers: ALS ambulance services, air medical transport programs, critical care interfacility transport, fire/rescue ALS units, mobile integrated health (MIH) programs
- Estimated RI starting wage: $28–$42/hr depending on agency type; ALS differential pay, overtime, and shift differentials frequently add 20–40% on top of base
- Highest scope of practice in pre-hospital medicine — the foundation for EMS supervision, flight paramedicine, critical care transport certification, and PA school bridge programs