N.J. Admin. Code § 8:40A-5.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:40A-5.8 - Program curriculum

(a) The Department hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the program curriculum as the curriculum for all EMT-Basic training programs conducted in New Jersey.

1. A person must successfully complete each of the program curriculum's seven training modules, and shall not be permitted to move on to the next consecutive module until he or she has successfully passed the examination for the previous module. A person who fails a module examination shall be permitted to re-test following remediation. A person who fails two consecutive examinations for the same module shall be automatically expelled from the EMT-Basic training program and shall be required to apply for, and participate in, an entirely new EMT-Basic training program.

(b) No training agency shall offer an EMT-Basic training program that provides instruction in material that is beyond the permitted scope of practice for an EMT-Basic, as defined in this chapter, the program curriculum, or any applicable law, rule and/or regulation.

(c) Each lecture portion of an EMT-Basic training program shall comply with the corresponding lesson plan listed in the program curriculum.

(d) Each practical skills session shall comply with the standard of care as defined in the program curriculum or any applicable law, rule and/or regulation.

(e) Each EMT-Basic training program shall include a 10-hour clinical experience in the emergency department of an acute care hospital or another area related to pre-hospital care that has been approved by the Department.

1. The clinical and/or field experiences shall be limited to observation of procedures and patients, and the application of clinical skills that are taught as part of the program curriculum. The clinical experience shall occur under the direct supervision of a Field Preceptor designated by the supervisor of the emergency department staff or other area included as part of the clinical experience.

2. No person shall serve as a field preceptor unless that person is medically qualified to operate at least to the level of an EMT-Basic.

3. Students participating in the clinical experience shall neither be required nor allowed to perform any skill or procedure that is outside the scope of practice for an EMT-Basic, nor shall a student be allowed to replace required emergency department staff.

4. The program coordinator or emergency department staff may permit the student to spend up to five hours of the required clinical experience as an observer on a MICU, subject to the restrictions set forth in (e)1 and 3 above.

(f) The EMT-B Statewide Faculty shall assist the Department in the implementation of the EMT-Basic training program curriculum, and the oversight of the instructional plan.

(g) Training in the utilization of AEDs shall be delivered as part of the EMT-Basic and EMT-Basic Refresher Programs and shall be in accordance with the EMT-Basic training program curriculum.

(h) Notwithstanding (a) through (g) above, during the period of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, EMT-Basic training programs with actively enrolled students are eligible to replace the 10-hour clinical experience in the emergency department of an acute care hospital with simulation, so long as:

1. High-fidelity manikins that portray simulated patients are used. The high-fidelity manikins shall be moulaged and adapted to appear in the same manner as a trauma and standard medical patient would present in the emergency department;

2. A high-fidelity manikin clinical experience occurs under the direct supervision of a field preceptor designated by the EMT-Basic training program coordinator and medical director;

3. No person shall serve as a field preceptor unless that person is medically qualified to operate at least to the level of an EMT-Basic, and:

i. The preceptor must supply all necessary medical and personal information to the student that would normally have been obtained during the intake on a live patient;

ii. The preceptor must develop, implement, and utilize meaningful scenarios surrounding the emergency department and critical care areas; and

iii. The preceptor must limit the clinical experience to procedures and application of skills taught as part of the EMT-Basic training program;

4. Students are neither required nor permitted to perform any skill or procedure that is outside the scope of practice of an EMT-Basic training;

5. The EMT-Basic program coordinator shall develop, implement, and ensure adherence to policies and procedures for proper:

i. Social distancing;

ii. Utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE);

iii. Donning and doffing of PPE; and

iv. Decontamination and sanitation procedures before, during, and after clinical time;

6. A copy of a signed consent form for all students and faculty, verifying receipt and acknowledgement of the policies and procedures referenced in (h)5 above, is distributed and maintained by the EMT-Basic training program;

7. Students must be scheduled for individual clinical windows.

i. Sign-in and sign-out sheets shall be utilized for each clinical window;

8. At all times, students and faculty shall:

i. Maintain proper social distancing;

ii. Wear PPE;

iii. Properly utilize donning and doffing of PPE techniques; and

iv. Adhere to decontamination and sanitation procedures;

9. All students must complete either a 10-hour clinical rotation in an emergency department of an acute care hospital (if permitted by the hospital) or through high-fidelity manikin simulation as set forth in this subsection; and

10. Upon successful completion of the requirements in this subsection, the EMT-Basic training program shall maintain proof of completion in the student's educational record and submit a "COVID-19 related unusual occurrence report" at www.nj.gov/health/ems/ems-toolbox/ .

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:40A-5.8

Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020) 52 N.J.R. 1485(b), effective 6/11/2020