Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Pharmacology Basics

At the end of this module, you will be able to: 1) apply a systematic approach of patient assessment specifically to a patient with a medical complaint, 2) explain the basic principles of pharmacology including forms of medications, routes of medication administration, and to define the basic components of a drug profile and, 3) organize the appropriate steps when administering any medication including the five rights, premedication evaluation and post administration evaluation.

Airway and Breathing

Assessment of and management of the airway is critical in patient care. This module is all about the airway. In this module you will 1) identify the most important anatomic and physiologic portions of the respiratory system, 2) distinguish between normal and abnormal in the setting of airway and breathing 3) learn how and when to use the various tools you will have as an EMT to stabilize or improve the respiratory conditions in diverse patients.

Respiratory Emergencies

In this module, we will dig a little deeper into the respiratory system now that you have an overview of how this system works and its importance. By the end of this module you will 1) start to classify types of symptoms and triage them on scene 2) distinguish between an upper and lower airway issues 3) Develop the framework to assess acute and chronic respiratory diseases. 4) Work through the primary and secondary surveys you will perform when faced with a patient with many different respiratory complaints.

Cardiovascular Emergencies

In this module we cover a system closely related to the respiratory system- the cardiovascular system. In this module you will learn 1) the intricacies of the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. 2) a few of the most common diseases that affect the cardiovascular system 3) how to approach and assess patients with cardiac complaints with an emphasis on patients with possible acute coronary syndromes 4) the differences in treatment for various cardiac complaints.

Neurological Emergencies

This module encompasses the neurological and endocrine systems. While these may not initially sound related, in this module you will learn how to assess patients with altered mental status and primary neurological complaints. To get to that point, you will: 1) learn the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the endocrine system. 2) learn about specific diseases or symptoms of diseases that affect the brain and mental status of a patient. 3) apply this background knowledge to the completing the primary and secondary assessments of a patients with stroke like symptoms, headaches, seizures and with altered mental status.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for those starting out in emergency medical services

Taught by experienced medical professionals

Covers the core skills and knowledge needed to assess and stabilize patients for transport

Includes modules on pharmacology, airway and breathing, respiratory emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, and neurological and endocrine emergencies

Provides a comprehensive overview of emergency medical services for beginners

Does not explicitly require that students have extensive background knowledge in emergency medical services

Reviews summary

Medical emergencies at your fingertips

Learners say this course covers airway, breathing, and circulation in medical emergencies. Many learners find the lectures, videos, and readings to be engaging but not overwhelming. However, some find the assessments to be difficult. Overall, learners highly recommend this informative course.

Learners commend the course team for being dedicated and putting in a lot of effort.

"Thank you to the beautiful people who made this comprehensive course."

"I really enjoyed taking this course, I would recommend it to friends."

"It's very challenging for people without medical background and I had to take lots and lots of notes."

Learners find the role plays and scenarios in the course to be helpful for practical application.

"I loved the skill videos and the role plays."

"The exams help the recall process."

"It's giving me the skills I need to further my career."

This course provides learners with a deep dive into medical emergencies through videos, readings, and lectures.

"Everyone was explained keenly and whatever they may not have covered in the videos they provided reading articles and sites for independent studies."

"The videos showing the maneuvers were didactic and concise."

"The courses are designed in such a way that you can understand the concepts even if u have no prior knowledge in biology."

Many learners found the exams to be difficult.

"the last two final tests, require major revelation."

"Its very difficult to do so, if i cant excel any further throughout these lessons, due to the tests lacking major reconstruction."

"I have reported several glitches"

Career center

Learners who complete Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Emergency medical technicians respond to emergencies and provide medical care to patients in need. They may work in a variety of settings, including ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency rooms. The course teaches the basics of medical emergencies, including airway, breathing, and circulation, which are essential for EMTs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Paramedic

Paramedics are advanced EMTs who are trained to provide more advanced medical care to patients. They may work in a variety of settings, including ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency rooms. This course may be useful for paramedics who wish to refresh their knowledge of medical emergencies, including airway, breathing, and circulation.

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Registered Nurse

A Registered Nurse administers medications and provides other treatments to patients, such as managing IVs, administering medications, taking blood samples, and providing wound care. This course assists by teaching the basics of pharmacology, airway management, respiratory therapies, and cardiovascular therapies. Completing this course can help to build a foundation for the pharmacology and anatomy and physiology knowledge needed as a nurse.

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Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks to support physicians and other healthcare professionals. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of medical emergencies needed as a medical assistant.

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Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists assess and treat patients with breathing problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of respiratory emergencies needed as a respiratory therapist.

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Cardiovascular Technologist

Cardiovascular technologists perform tests and procedures to diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of cardiovascular emergencies needed as a cardiovascular technologist.

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Neurological Technician

Neurological technicians perform tests and procedures to diagnose and treat nervous system problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. This course can help build a foundation for the knowledge of neurological emergencies needed as a neurological technician.

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Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and perform minor surgeries. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. This course may be useful for nurse practitioners who wish to refresh their knowledge of medical emergencies, including airway, breathing, and circulation.

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Doctor

Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. This course may be useful for doctors who wish to refresh their knowledge of medical emergencies, including airway, breathing, and circulation.

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Physician Assistant

Physician assistants are licensed healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of a physician. They may perform a variety of tasks, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and performing minor surgeries. This course may be useful for physician assistants who wish to refresh their knowledge of medical emergencies, including airway, breathing, and circulation.

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Medical Researcher

Medical researchers conduct studies to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of medical emergencies needed as a medical researcher.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators plan, direct, and coordinate the delivery of healthcare services. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of medical emergencies needed as a healthcare administrator.

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Health Educator

Health educators promote health and wellness by teaching people about healthy behaviors. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, community centers, and workplaces. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of medical emergencies needed as a health educator.

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Medical Writer

Medical writers create and edit medical content for a variety of audiences, including patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of medical emergencies needed as a medical writer.

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Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide other healthcare services to patients. They may work in a variety of settings, including pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. This course can help to build a foundation for the knowledge of pharmacology needed as a pharmacist.

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