Working on the courses for my upgrade to 1600 ton and am currently sitting through the medical care provider course. In the last 2 days we have “learned” 16 chapters of a collegiate level EMT textbook! The teacher has read to us word for word straight from the book…once again, an EMT book…and she cant even pronounce many of the technical terms (she was only a nurse for 20 years). Most of it is dealing with trauma in ambulances and has very little maritime relevancy.
Not sure why I expected any different though. All the mandated courses to this point have pretty much been a joke. I was hoping this one would be different as I really think a good knowledge of trauma response could prove invaluble onboard one day. Luckily the textbook is mine and I intend to read through some of the information on my own once I am done highlighting “that will be on the test” passages to satisfy the USCG.
I now see that a bigger license is simply bought…with cash and your butt in a chair for the mandated hours.
They simply try to teach too much information in a 3 day course. Luckily for me, my background was a Combat Support Hospital in the Army, so the course was remedial. For several of the guys in my class that had almost zero medical background, you could see they were getting nothing from the course due to the rapid pace…
While I usually have enjoyed the classes I have attended for the USCG, I will admit that I haven’t taken too much away from each class…except the certificate WHICH we all know is apparently the most important part. The chance to meet other mariners, that I don’t work with has been mostly enjoyable as well.
Good luck w/ the upgrade, I can feel your pain…as mine is coming to a temporary end VERY soon.
For those that are interested our school uses an international textbook specifically written to be carried on board vessels. I think it’s called shipboard medical or something similar. I just moved home from school so all my stuff is in boxes still but I’ll post the info when I find it.
Rigdvr… I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that walked away from the upgrade process much broker and much more cynnical (sp?) than I was at the beginning. Where are you taking the medical care provider course? I took mine in New Orleans. It was taught by Workplace Nurses through Houston Marine. The teachers really knew their stuff medically and they had a decent knowlege of how things worked offshore and managed to merge it all into a decent course.
Just be glad you’re “buying” your upgrade before the new rules come into effect! I know I’m happy I snuck in before the deadline…
I recall doing the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide course, (quite a few years ago now), and of the 5 days we spent 1 1/2 on childbirth. I always figured I could deliver a baby in a Force 8 gale in a lifeboat. That, injecting oranges, sewing sponge and the fact that severe abdominal pain could be appendicitis were the highlights of the course. Afterwards, anyone coming with the slightest stomach ache would have me rushing for the medical kit and scalpel.
The back of the textbook has a DVD ROM andout of boredom I popped it in the computer last night. Had some pretty cool features like video clip, quizes and so forth to show examples of topics in the text. For example there were audio clips of what normal breathing would sound like through a stethopscope along with different abnormal breathing sounds with their name and possible causes. From class I could understand that assessing breathing could help direct medical care in a major way but without the clips I had no idea what I was listening for. All proud of myself I went to class this morning and told the teacher about my adventure with the dvd to which she said, “Oh. I’ve never even looked at it. Mine is still in the pouch in the book. See?” She then closed the book and put it away, oblivious to yet another tool that could make her job easiewr and actually help the students relate to the material. Next she proceeded to read 6 more chapters to us word for word from the book over the next 8 hours.
At least I will know the answers to the 30 question multiple choice test though…just hope no one ever has to count on my newly certified medical training…
Maybe my point of view is scewed because I have a degree in education but it would seem to me that these instructors could benifit from some training in effective teaching skills. MOst of them have plenty of knowledge in their subjects but no knowledge on how best to convey that information.
In September I will be taking this along with Medical PIC. It is going to be 10 days of what you are going through. The first 3-4 days of the class is the Medical Care Provider. I have taken Medical Care Provider in the past, but it has to be taken within a year to complete Medical PIC. I hear the class will actually pull some watches at the ER. Has anyone taken Medical PIC? I will be taking it at MPT in Lauderdale. Not really looking forward to the class, but I am looking forward to getting it behind me.
I took it there. It is a decent course. You will be exposed to a lot of scenarios and shown a lot of procedures. The time spent in the emergency room is pretty eye-opening. Bernie does a good job instructing.
I have not had the pleasure of taking a medical class. However, it has been my discovery that most of these continuing ed courses are a ‘you get out what you put in’ delivery. If you work at it with an open mind you can actually get some knowledge out of it. But to be ‘force fed’ powerpoint regurgitation to nauseaum only makes it hard to remain interested.
Unfortunately when Uncle Sams Confused Group gets to call the shots with no input from the industry this is what we get. Boring, irrelevant, useless info crammed down our throats… Oh yeah, and a diploma. Big deal!
power point regurgitation would be a welcome relief at this point! We literally have read out of the textbook word for word. The three students take turns reading sections of text aloud. Keep in mind this is an EMT textbook. No stopping by the nurse with a “this is what all that mumbo jumbo really means, or this is how this might be pertinent to the mariner”, nope…just keep reading out of the 1672 page textbook:)
I have gone through some of the sections on my own however because of all the classes I will take in this process, this was one I REALLY wanted to get something out of. And I will, but I’ll have to do it on my own time again.
I took a non-maritime course once where an instructor read, word for word, in a one monotone voice, 8 hours a day for three days, the traffic code of the state I was working in… we followed along as best we could, and took away almost nothing from that class.
The only class I’ve ever had more boring was a “cultural diversity” training class. I can sum that class up real quick-- One: Do not use derogatory or hateful language, even if you are sure no one is listening. Two: You will encounter people from different cultures who may view you differently than you expect or may react differently than you expect. Try to see it from their eyes. Three: Everyone can, will and has been profiled/discriminated against/hated… and it’s all bad. Was it summed up like that? Of course not, it was given to us over 30 hours, with examples of language we shouldn’t use, and sexist jokes we shouldn’t tell.
Sorry, it’s a little off topic, but I had a flashback when I read your post.
I agree I was disappointed with the MCP course.I took it last year and as far as upgrade classes go it was the worst. The only thing that was actually taught in the class was how to take a blood pressure reading. I expected something between basic first aid and the PIC class.
[QUOTE=Capt. Lee;32233]In September I will be taking this along with Medical PIC. It is going to be 10 days of what you are going through. The first 3-4 days of the class is the Medical Care Provider. I have taken Medical Care Provider in the past, but it has to be taken within a year to complete Medical PIC. I hear the class will actually pull some watches at the ER. Has anyone taken Medical PIC? I will be taking it at MPT in Lauderdale. Not really looking forward to the class, but I am looking forward to getting it behind me.[/QUOTE]
Bernie should be your instructor and has been doing it for a long time. I have not taken Med PIC, but, when I do it will be at MPT. I would lay money on it that you will learn a thing or two and not be too bored in the class. Good luck!
Does anyone know if there is a procedure to be able to challenge the examination for a course like this? I have been an EMT-Basic for 12 years, providing EMS care for my volunteer fire department. The EMT-B course was 125 hours with time in the ER and ride-along time on paramedic ambulances. Having to take this course would be a complete waste of time and money for me.
“Does anyone know if there is a procedure to be able to challenge the examination for a course like this? I have been an EMT-Basic for 12 years, providing EMS care for my volunteer fire department. The EMT-B course was 125 hours with time in the ER and ride-along time on paramedic ambulances. Having to take this course would be a complete waste of time and money for me”.
Flyer 69, with a valid EMT Certification MCP is not required, as I was told by Houston REC. I am a licensed Paramedic and unfortunately did not receive this info until after completion of the course. I was planning on taking MPIC and it requires MCP within one year,and I contacted NMC and they also stated that with a current EMT license it was not required as a prerequisite. I did not inquire further to the process though,You should contact IASKNMC for clarification on the process to get the credit.Hope this helps…Leigh
MPT sucks! Worst bunch of money grubbing bastards ever to steal my money. All they do is try to scare us into signing up for more of their lame courses, and sucking my bank account dry. While scaring everybody into thinking if they don’t sign up NOW they’ll miss the boat. Things will get harder.
[QUOTE=Shiphead;32318]MPT sucks! Worst bunch of money grubbing bastards ever to steal my money. All they do is try to scare us into signing up for more of their lame courses, and sucking my bank account dry. While scaring everybody into thinking if they don’t sign up NOW they’ll miss the boat. Things will get harder.
I’m not making that mistake more than once.[/QUOTE]
Shiphead - Evidently you are naive. I have attended classes at MPT and they have NEVER tried to scare me into signing up for more courses. And they are far from lame. You actually walk away knowing that you have learned something. You are probably upset because they require you to attend the class and they don’t teach you the test unlike some schools around the gulf coast. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.