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EMT Foundations

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EMT Foundations

This course is part of Become an EMT Specialization

Instructors: Angela Wright, MD

63,532 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Become an EMT Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

In this course, you will get a thorough introduction to the emergency medical services system, and learn the foundation components to how it works as a whole. You will also learn the nuts and bolts of becoming a healthcare provider, and gain some basic knowledge about the human body. By the end of the course, you will be able to 1) understand the history and components of the EMS system, 2) speak the language of medicine with basic medical terminology, as well as have an understanding of basic human anatomy, 3) understand the different types of communications and how they are specific to EMS, 4) take vital signs and master the normal from the abnormal, and 5) master personal and scene safety, and begin the process of patient assessment.

In this module, you will learn about the nuts and bolts of the emergency medical services system. We will cover some brief history of EMS, as well as breakdown the different components of the system. There will be discussion about some of the medical and legal issues that are persistent in the practice of prehospital medicine. We will also address workplace safety and provider wellness, because you cannot take care of other people unless you are learning to take care of yourself!

What's included

8 videos8 readings2 assignments

8 videosTotal 57 minutes

Become an EMT6 minutes
EMT Foundation3 minutes
History and Regulatory Bodies8 minutes
What Does It Mean To Be An EMT?10 minutes
This Can Be A Hard Job Emotionally9 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues - Part 15 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues - Part 210 minutes
HIPAA/EMTALA and Job Errors6 minutes

8 readingsTotal 130 minutes

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Current “Become an EMT” Specialization No Longer NREMT Eligible10 minutes
About Us: Become an EMT Specialization Team at Denver Health Paramedics5 minutes
Course Information10 minutes
Get help and meet other learners. Join your Community!5 minutes
History of EMS20 minutes
What Does It Mean To Be An EMT?40 minutes
This Can Be A Hard Job Emotionally20 minutes
Medical and Legal Issues20 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Course Disclaimer30 minutes
Introduction to EMT Assessment30 minutes

In this module, we will learn a new language. This module will cover basic medical terminology and some tips and tricks for “talking the talk.” This is also where we will cover the basics of anatomy of the human body! We will teach you the basics of human anatomy of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, abdominal, neurologic and endocrine system.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment

11 videosTotal 59 minutes

Medical Conversations3 minutes
Medical Terminology - Part 17 minutes
Medical Terminology - Part 26 minutes
Head and Torso6 minutes
Extremities6 minutes
Muscular Systems6 minutes
Nervous and Endocrine Systems7 minutes
Respiratory Systems5 minutes
Cardiovascular Systems6 minutes
Gastrointestinal and Renal Systems6 minutes
Reproductive Systems and Skin1 minute

2 readingsTotal 90 minutes

Reproductive Systems and Skin60 minutes
Anatomy Terms30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Basic Human Anatomy Assessment30 minutes

Essential to emergency medical services is communication. This module will discuss the various parts of the job that require communication and the different strategies to employ clear and concise communication. You will learn about the SBAR method of hand off reports, learn how to successfully communicate with patients, and we will cover some pearls and pitfalls to communicating within the EMS system.

What's included

10 videos3 readings1 assignment

10 videosTotal 35 minutes

EMT Communication1 minute
EMS System2 minutes
Guidelines for Communication3 minutes
Communicating With Other Health Care Professionals5 minutes
Communicating With Your Patient5 minutes
Pearls and Pitfalls of Communication3 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 14 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 24 minutes
Biophone Call - Part 32 minutes
Patient Handoff Report6 minutes

3 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Pearls and Pitfalls of Communication20 minutes
Biophone Call40 minutes
Patient Hand off Report10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Communication With A Healthcare Provider Assessment30 minutes

Here we will cover vital signs, and learn about why they are vital! We will be teaching you how to take a blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse, and assess a patient’s skin. We will also learn about taking a history during a patient encounter, and learn some standard approaches to this including the OPQRST and AMPLE templates of history taking.

What's included

10 videos5 readings1 assignment

10 videosTotal 52 minutes

Introduction to Vital Signs and History Taking1 minute
Vital Signs5 minutes
Blood Pressure6 minutes
Pulse5 minutes
Respiratory Rate7 minutes
Skin and Pupils5 minutes
History Taking - Part 15 minutes
History Taking - Part 27 minutes
Pulse3 minutes
Blood Pressure7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Adult Normal Vital Signs10 minutes
Vital Signs15 minutes
Respiratory Rate15 minutes
Skin and Pupils5 minutes
History Taking10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Vital Signs and History Taking Assessment30 minutes

In this last module, we will be discussing some bread and butter components of EMS. The first is scene safety and assessment of a scene. Then we will cover the complete assessment of a medical patient, and a trauma patient, using the national registry as our guideline. By the end of this, you will know how to communicate with patients and how to perform a thorough assessment of any patient you may encounter.

What's included

14 videos3 readings2 assignments

14 videosTotal 49 minutes

Your First Encounter With a Patient1 minute
Scene Size Up or Safety6 minutes
Body Substance Isolation4 minutes
Scene Assessment5 minutes
Patient Assessment - Part 17 minutes
Patient Assessment - Part 25 minutes
Secondary Assessment and Reassessment5 minutes
Lifting and Moving Patients5 minutes
Head Tilt - Chin Lift - Jaw Thrust2 minutes
Stretcher Operation3 minutes
Load and Unload Stretcher From The Ambulance2 minutes
Long Spine Board and Scoop Stretcher2 minutes
Lifting and Moving Stair Chair - Part 11 minute
Lifting and Moving Stair Chair - Part 21 minute

3 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Scene Size Up or Safety10 minutes
Patient Assessment30 minutes
Secondary Assessment and Reassessment15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Patient Assessment Practice Quiz30 minutes
Immediately Upon Arrival To The Scene Assessment30 minutes

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Instructors

Angela Wright, MD

University of Colorado System

9 Courses131,191 learners

Whitney Barrett, MD

University of Colorado System

6 Courses124,712 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado System

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Frequently asked questions

IMPORTANT UPDATE: "Become an EMT" Specialization & NREMT Certification

Current Course Status

The existing version of the "Become an EMT" specialization no longer meets the updated certification standards implemented by the NREMT in 2024. The current version cannot be used to qualify for NREMT examination. It remains a valuable resource for anyone exploring emergency medical services, continuing education, or general EMS knowledge. The current version is not a pathway to NREMT certification at this time.

New Version Currently in Development Phase

We are working on a redesigned NREMT‑aligned specialization which will prep you for revised NREMT. Coursera will let you know when that content will launch on the platform. We appreciate the enthusiasm from the NREMT students! Please stay tuned for updates. The goal with this new curriculum is to ensure the full course meets all current certification requirements and supports your long‑term success.

Path to NREMT Certification with the New Course

Two components must be successfully completed to sit for the NREMT exam:

If You Are Currently Enrolled

If you are enrolled and working toward NREMT certification, we recommend pausing your participation (which may include a change to your status with Coursera so that you are only paying for this course when it is ready to be taken) and waiting for the new version of the specialization. The knowledge you've already gained will still hold value as you start the new course, however, the current course will not carry over to the new version.

If You Are Considering Enrollment

We recommend waiting for the new NREMT-eligible specialization when it launches. Until then, the current specialization remains a solid foundation for others who wish to have the basic EMT knowledge without a goal of taking the NREMT exam.

Thank you all very much for your patience.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.