EMT 2030 - Pharmacology

1. Discuss important drug terminology, including intended effects, unintended effects, untoward effects, indications, and contraindications. 
2. Discuss the differences between generic, trade, chemical, and official medication names, and provide an example of each. 
3. Discuss the US laws and regulations that relate to medication manufacturing and distribution.
4. List the five schedules of drugs with the highest abuse potential per the Controlled Substances Act.
5. Discuss the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process, including FDA drug classifications. 
6. Describe the medication administration considerations that must be applied to special populations, including pediatric, geriatric, and pregnant patients. 
7. Discuss legal, moral, and ethical considerations related to drug administration. 
8. Describe the roles and functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. 
9. Discuss the concept of receptor sites, including adrenergic receptors, and how medications may take advantage of these. 
10. Discuss the concepts of agonists and antagonists as they relate to medications. 
11. List the types of drugs that affect the sympathetic nervous system, including sympathomimetics and sympatholytics, and describe how they create their effects. 
12. List the types of drugs that affect the parasympathetic nervous system, including parasympathomimetics and parasympatholytics, and describe how they create their effects.
13. Discuss the effects of opioid agonists, opioid antagonists, and opioid agonist-antagonists. 
14. Discuss types of sedative-hypnotics, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and nonbarbiturate hypnotics. 
15. Discuss CNS stimulants and depressants. 
16. Discuss drugs that affect the cardiac system, including cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics, and antihypertensive medications, and describe how they exert their effects. 
17. Describe drugs that affect the respiratory system, including oxygen, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, bronchodilators, and xanthines. 
18. Explain the solid, liquid, and gas forms of medication, provide examples of each, and discuss how the form of a medication dictates its route of administration. 
19. Describe the enteral and parenteral routes of medication administration and explain how they differ. 
20. Describe the following routes of medication administration and discuss their individual rates of absorption: oral, intravenous, intraosseous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, sublingual, intranasal, and inhalation. 
21. Define the term pharmacokinetics and describe the stages a medication goes through while being processed in the body. 
22. Explain the term mechanism of action. 
23. Define the term pharmacodynamics, and describe the types of predictable and unpredictable responses a drug may create. 
24. Discuss the concepts of serum sickness, idiosyncratic reaction, cumulative effect, summation, potentiation, drug dependence, and drug interaction. 
25. Describe the proper storage for drugs and security concerns. 
26. Give the generic and trade names, actions, indications, contraindications, routes of administration, side effects, interactions, and doses of 10 medications and 3 intravenous fluids that may be administered by an AEMT in an emergency as dictated by state protocols and local medical direction.
27. Explain the “six rights” of medication administration and describe how each one relates to EMS. 
28. Describe the role of medical direction in medication administration, and explain the difference between direct orders (online) and standing orders (off-line). 
29. Explain why determining a patient’s prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications is a critical aspect of patient assessment. 
30. Discuss the circumstances surrounding the administration of medication. 
31. Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and techniques for performing intravenous (IV) therapy. 
32. Describe complications that can occur as a result of IV therapy. 
33. Describe special considerations when performing IV therapy on a pediatric or geriatric patient. 
34. Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and techniques for establishing an intraosseous (IO) IV. 
35. Discuss the weights and measures used when administering medication. 
36. Explain principles of drug dose calculations, including desired dose, concentration on hand, volume on hand, volume to administer, and IV drip rate. 
37. Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and techniques for administering the following:
38. An oral medication 
39. A subcutaneous medication 
40. An intramuscular medication 
41. A sublingual medication 
42. An intranasal medication 
43. An inhaled medication 
44. A medication via the IV route 
45. Describe the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine system and its main function in the body. 
46. Define and explain the terms diabetes, low blood glucose, and high blood glucose, and distinguish between the two types of diabetes and how their onset patterns differ. 
47. Discuss the role of glucose as a major source of energy for the body and its relationship to insuli
48. Describe the differences and similarities between hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic diabetic emergencies, including their onset, signs and symptoms, and management considerations.
49. Explain some age-related considerations when managing a pediatric patient who is experiencing a hypoglycemic crisis. 
50. Discuss the steps the AEMT should follow when conducting a primary and secondary assessment of a patient with an altered mental status who is a suspected diabetic patient. 
51. Explain the process for assessing and managing the airway of a patient with an altered mental status, including ways to differentiate a hyperglycemic patient from a hypoglycemic patient.
52. Describe the interventions for providing emergency medical care to both a responsive and unresponsive patient with an altered mental status and a history of diabetes who is having a hypoglycemic crisis.
53. Describe the interventions for providing emergency medical care to both a responsive and unresponsive patient with an altered mental status and a history of diabetes who is having a hyperglycemic crisis. 
54. Explain when it is appropriate to obtain medical direction when providing emergency medical care to a diabetic patient. 
55. Provide the generic and trade names, form, dose, administration, indications, and contraindications for giving oral glucose to a patient with a decreased level of consciousness who has a history of diabetes. 
56. Provide the generic and trade names, form, dose, administration, indications, and contraindications for administering 50% dextrose to a patient with hypoglycemia. 
57. Provide the generic and trade names, form, dose, administration, indications, and contraindications for administering glucagon to a patient with hypoglycemia. 
58. Explain some age-related considerations when managing a geriatric patient who has undiagnosed diabetes. 
59. Discuss the composition and functions of blood. 
60. Describe the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease and the four main types of sickle cell crises. 
61. Describe the assessment and management of a patient with suspected sickle cell disease.
62. Describe two types of blood clotting disorders and the risk factors, characteristics, and management of each. 
63. Demonstrate the assessment and care of a patient with hypoglycemia and a decreased level of consciousness. 
64. Demonstrate how to administer glucose to a patient with an altered mental status. 
65. Demonstrate how to administer 50% dextrose to a patient with hypoglycemia.
66. Demonstrate how to administer glucagons to a patient with hypoglycemia. 
67. Demonstrate the assessment and care of a patient with sickle cell crisis. 
68. Demonstrate the assessment and care of a patient with a blood clotting disorder. 
    1. Demonstrate the process an AEMT should follow when following the six rights of medication administration. 
    2. Demonstrate how to perform IV therapy.
    3. Demonstrate how to gain IO access. 
    4. Demonstrate how to administer oral medication to a patient.
    5. Demonstrate how to draw medication from an ampule.
69. Demonstrate how to draw medication from a vial. 
70. Demonstrate how to administer a subcutaneous medication to a patient.
71. Demonstrate how to administer an intramuscular medication to a patient.
72. Demonstrate how to administer a sublingual medication to a patient.
73. Demonstrate how to administer an intranasal medication to a patient. 
74. Demonstrate how to administer a medication via inhalation to a patient. 
75. Demonstrate how to assist a patient with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI).
76. Demonstrate how to assist a patient with a small-volume nebulizer.
77. Demonstrate how to administer nitrous oxide to a patient for pain. 
78. Demonstrate how to administer a medication via the IV bolus route.
    6. Obtaining Intraosseous Access in an Adult
    7. Administering Medication Via the Intraosseous Route
    8. Drawing Blood