Pharmacology education in primary paramedic instruction tends to be focused on emergency pharmacology. When the paramedic continues their education into critical care or community paramedic, they often embark on additional pharmacology training. Unfortunately, not having learned the foundational structure of pharmacology results in much relearning or restructuring how to learn this topic. Borrowing from pharmacology education in other health sciences, which are less emergency focused, the presenter shows attendees alternative ways to introduce pharmacology to the aspiring paramedic practitioner. By approaching pharmacology as a clinician who needs to know much more than the 40-50 drugs in their drug box, new paramedic (and expanding roles) can better learn pharmacology during the onset of their education.

This presentation discussed strategies and resources used in a bachelor's degree paramedic education program. This encompasses how to teach pharmacology knowledge in the classroom as well as applying it to the clinical setting. This presentation does not focus on technical skills taught with pharmacology (e.g., IV or IM administration), but the core knowledge necessary for paramedic to not only understand medications they administer, but also medication patient's take, and potential factors to consider when moving into critical care or community paramedicine.
Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participant will be able to describe engaging methods to help new paramedic students learn pharmacology.
Upon completion, participant will be able to sequence pharmacology topics into meaningful structures designed to improve cognitive learning.
Upon completion, participant will be able to design a clinician-focused pharmacology learning module.