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Ten Graduate from EMT-Paramedic Training at VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College honored ten people who completed the college’s seven-month-long Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program on Dec. 4. Graduates included Katherine Edwards, employed by Warren County; Brad Knutson of the Henderson Fire Department; Randall Perkinson of Duke Raleigh Hospital; Candace Guy of Durham County; and Jon Ulrich, Nikki Devore, Kelly Preddy, Kristie Shomo, Patricia Flick and Katina Beavers, all of Granville County. Vivian Loyd, RN was the instructor for the group.

EMT-P instruction includes 696 hours of didactic (classroom) training and 500 hours of clinical education, or field internship. To be eligible to take the EMT-P course, students had to first complete a 188-hour EMT-Basic and a 304-hour EMT-Intermediate course and pass state exams for both. An EMT-Paramedic has enhanced skills beyond the Intermediate level, including being able to administer additional interventions and medications. The EMT-P delivers the highest level of pre-hospital medical care in North Carolina.

In order to successfully complete the EMT-P course, students had to pass several different exams, including a “scope of practice” exam. This scenario-based evaluation tested the hands-on and critical thinking skills of students, as they delivered the appropriate treatment to multiple trauma patients and dealt with pediatric, environmental, and mental-illness situations.

Each student also had to complete an 80-hour Anatomy and Physiology course.

Now that students have completed the EMT-P course, they must take the 100-question North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services credentialing exam to become state-certified.

VGCC offers Emergency Medical Services training from the basic to the Paramedic level, in addition to continuing education. EMT-Paramedic and other courses are scheduled upon request and are often taught at the requesting agency’s facility. For more information on how to arrange a class, call EMS Programs coordinator Randy Owen at (252) 492-2061, extension 3448.

Above: Seated, from left: EMT-Paramedic graduates Nikki Devore, Kelly Preddy, Kristie Shomo, Candace Guy, Patricia Flick and Katina Beavers; standing from left: EMS coordinator Randy Owen, graduates Katherine Edwards, Randall Perkinson, Brad Knutson, Jon Ulrich and instructor Vivian Loyd. (VGCC Photo)