EMT Practice Scenarios

What are EMT practice scenarios?

Practice scenarios are crucial simulated situations specifically crafted to challenge and aid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students in learning and honing their skills for real-life emergencies. These scenarios serve as invaluable platforms for students to apply their theoretical knowledge and fine-tune their practical skills in a controlled setting, ensuring they are well-prepared for the unpredictable nature of actual emergencies.

In these practice patient scenarios, a collaborative approach is emphasized, mirroring the teamwork required in real emergencies. Working together, a team of students assesses the patient's condition, devises treatment plans, and practices crucial decision-making skills, thus preparing them to handle medical emergencies with confidence and expertise.

Practice scenario examples for EMT professionals

EMT professionals must be prepared to respond effectively to various medical and trauma-related situations. These exercises allow EMTs to simulate and respond to various emergencies, enhancing their ability to assess, treat, and manage patients under pressure. Here are both the cardiac and psychiatric emergencies included within this template:

Cardiac emergency

You are dispatched to a 55-year-old male who is experiencing severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness while at his home. The patient reports that the chest pain first began approximately 30 minutes ago while he was mowing the lawn. He describes the pain as a heavy pressure in the center of his chest, radiating to his left arm and jaw. He is sweating profusely and appears to be in significant distress. He has a history of hypertension and high cholesterol and takes medication for both. The patient is conscious but anxious and is requesting medical help.

Key aspects that EMTs might consider for completing this scenario are:

• Administering oxygen to the patient
• Monitoring vital signs
• Preparing for advanced interventions
• Transport to a facility equipped to manage cardiac emergencies

Psychiatric emergency

You are dispatched to a home where a 32-year-old male has reportedly been exhibiting signs of severe agitation and confusion. He has been experiencing increasing anxiety and delusional thoughts over the past few days. Family members report that he has a history of mental health issues, including depression, but has recently stopped taking his prescribed medications. The patient is shouting incoherently and is resisting attempts to engage with him. There are no known weapons present, but the situation is escalating, and there are bystanders present in the scene and vicinity.

Key aspects that EMTs might consider for completing this scenario are:

• Communication
• De-escalation
• Preparing for advanced interventions
• Managing bystanders

The scenarios included within this template cover a broad spectrum of situations, including trauma, medical emergencies, and specialized care. This ensures that EMTs are well-equipped to handle various calls they may encounter in the field. Each scenario requires careful assessment, prioritization of assessment, and intervention and is intended to challenge the ability to apply EMS protocols in real-world situations.

How to use this template

To use our template, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Obtain the template

Access the resource by clicking the "Use template" button, allowing you to customize the worksheet for your needs. For a free PDF copy, pick "Download."

Step 2: Recognize the purpose

Take a moment to delve into how you will use the template. Are you using it as a teaching function? Or are you using it as a work meeting topic? Either way, you can fully incorporate it into your session, knowing what you desire to learn about these practice scenarios.

Step 3: Utilize the template

Frequently using this template can support you and your colleagues in practicing new skills and keeping up to date with new protocols or any new information that may arise while working as an EMT.

Benefits of scenario-based training

There are many benefits when it comes to using scenario-based training within your workplace. There are thousands of medical emergencies you may attend in your time working as an EMT. Here are a few benefits of incorporating scenario-based training into your workplace:

Realistic simulation

When responding to medical emergencies you may encounter, there is no telling how long it may be between scenarios. Using scenario-based training for situations that range in difficulty, individuals can revise scenarios that may not be as common, such as anaphylaxis. Comprehending these situations through scenario training can help EMT staff utilize their knowledge in a way that helps them keep up to date with that situation and remind them of the importance of those specific skills.

Critical thinking

Using scenario-based training helps EMT staff remain critical during emergency situations. All scenarios included within this resource require staff to act accordingly with critical thinking skills that help them make decisions in dynamic, real-life situations. This helps all staff remain focused on developing their critical thinking skills to help make quick and informed decisions under pressure.

Application of knowledge

Like all situations in the medical field, especially the emergency field, individuals will often leave behind information from theory to practice. Using a scenario-based training system, staff members and patients can use their theory in new ways for each scenario and be reminded of what they can include. Integrating information from the classroom into these scenario training-based situations can support individuals in their workplace management.

Team collaboration/communication

Emergencies often involve a lot of collaboration among the team members. This specific type of training allows individuals to practice working together and communicating efficiently. This is essential in this field.

Assessment and feedback

Assessments and feedback are a great way to round off any training session. Knowing what others might include in their scenarios and what you could have included in patient assessment scenarios for your situation is always a good way to enhance knowledge. This helps staff members refine their knowledge and better handle situations.