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PARAMEDIC
Description
The Paramedic must be a confident leader who can accept the stressful challenges and high degree of responsibility that goes along with the position.
Must Have:
- Able to administer drugs and narcotics in a safe therapeutic manner
- Act quickly
- Alert
- Be patient
- Desire to work with people
- Excellent judgment
- Interview hostile and incapacitated patients
- Prioritize decisions
- Remain calm
- Self-confidence
- Self-disciplined, independent
- Work appropriately with diverse cultures
- Work in constantly changing environments
- Work with patients of all ages
Knowledge Required:
- Drugs
- Narcotics
- Medications
- Understand general properties of all types of drugs, analgesics, anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives, anesthetics, hypnotics, psychotherapeutics
, central nervous stimulants, antifungal drugs, serums, vaccines, anti-parasitic drugs just to name a few.
Legal/Ethics:
The Paramedic holds a lot of responsibilities. The Paramedic must know and understand the legal and ethical ramifications when administering
any medication. The Paramedic must know the correct techniques and precautions of each. The Paramedic must properly document each
occurrence. The Paramedic must be constantly up-to-date. The Paramedic is responsible for obtaining as much drug history information from the patient.
Education:
High knowledge of mathematics. Must be able to calculate proper dosages and perform conversion problems. Knowledge of Fahrenheit and
Celsius scales. Ability to use advanced life support equipment and accompanying supplies. Must know correct size of needles to use based on patient's size, age and condition.
Working With:
- Gastric tubes
- Oral medications
- Blood
- Needles
- Complicated equipment
- Patients of all types
- Law enforcement
- Morticians
- Contaminated items
Must comply with universal precautions and body substance isolation, disposing of contaminated items and equipment properly.
Must be alert as to level of dosage given to a patent or amount of drugs patent took himself or herself and be aware of current symptoms or
stages the patient is in and be able to act on them.
The Paramedic must be able to stay focused working under very difficult circumstances while administering quality care. Maintaining a leadership
role is also very important by directing other members of the team.
Physical Demands:
- Able to carry large loads for a reasonable distance
- Good balance
- Good physical condition
- Must have good physical stamina
- Strong endurance.
This job description can also be found in Word form here
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