Napa Valley College paramedic teacher under fire

[MMiz]

Napa Valley College paramedic teacher under fire

Napa Valley College has hired an investigator to look into allegations against its dean of health occupations.

At least two former instructors and one former student claim that Amy LaPan, the college’s dean of health occupations, is foisting an abusive and discriminatory “boot camp-style” program on students. LaPan is also accused of having inappropriately close relationships with students and using personal reasons to remove instructors from the program.

Read more!

 

[Aidey]

I found the issues with the attendance policy interesting

"Students currently enrolled in the paramedic program are “subjected to a hostile work environment,” verbal abuse from instructors and a strict attendance policy that discriminates against working students, Marks said.

I know one of the hallmarks of college is the idea that class attendance isn't usually mandatory. However, there are a lot of specialty programs that have strict policies to ensure the students get the hours they need. To me, this is something that should be planned for ahead of time by the student when they look into attending a Paramedic program.

Now, if the attendance policy changed mid way through the year, I can see where that would be a problem. But if they knew the policy day one of class, they don't have much of an argument.

 

[Sasha]

I found the issues with the attendance policy interesting



I know one of the hallmarks of college is the idea that class attendance isn't usually mandatory. However, there are a lot of specialty programs that have strict policies to ensure the students get the hours they need. To me, this is something that should be planned for ahead of time by the student when they look into attending a Paramedic program.

Plus one, it is not the school that sets the hour requirement, it's the state.

However there is no excuse to be verbally abusive and I keep wondering where people get the idea that EMS is paramilitary.

 

[rescue99]

Napa Valley College paramedic teacher under fire

Napa Valley College has hired an investigator to look into allegations against its dean of health occupations.

At least two former instructors and one former student claim that Amy LaPan, the college’s dean of health occupations, is foisting an abusive and discriminatory “boot camp-style” program on students. LaPan is also accused of having inappropriately close relationships with students and using personal reasons to remove instructors from the program.

Read more!

Students who can't tow the line best stay away from our college if they can't follow simple rules. With our new dean having his own idea of uniform compliance I can't wait until next semester! Our fire and police academy folks walk walls. He's a long time police academy professor

The requirements for and EMS certification only allows for 10% of any class to be missed, period. Schools do not make the rules all together.

Students wear uniforms, badges, must look presentable and act accordingly, period. I see absolutely nothing wrong with rules. I do however, see something very wrong with an administrator not doing his/her job. Plus, nasty mouthing is one quick way to lose respect as a leader.

 

[MMiz]

Students who can't tow the line best stay away from our college if they can't follow simple rules. With our new dean having his own idea of uniform compliance I can't wait until next semester! Our fire and police academy folks walk walls. He's a long time police academy professor

The requirements for and EMS certification only allows for 10% of any class to be missed, period. Schools do not make the rules all together.

Students wear uniforms, badges, must look presentable and act accordingly, period. I see absolutely nothing wrong with rules. I do however, see something very wrong with an administrator not doing his/her job. Plus, nasty mouthing is one quick way to lose respect as a leader.

Rescue, What college do you go to? As someone from the Metro Detroit area, I can't think of a single college in the area that has such strict guidelines/policies.

My take on this is that EMS education is facing an identity crisis. They teach EMS, police, and fire courses at colleges, but want to maintain a military-type structure. If college students were held to the same standards as some of this crazy academy-type programs, then very few people would be in college these days. College is about growing as a person, not just a student.

My experience in an academy-like EMS program is nothing like what I saw elsewhere in college. I loved the program, and thought the experience was great, but I surely wouldn't consider it college. I was taught to memorize, memorize, memorize, and follow, follow, follow. I was told who to be and how to act. Fortunately, I was good at that. EMS education these days seems to focus less on mastery of concept, and more on recall of facts.

It was funny to see that the college students in the EMS program seemed to hate it most, while students coming right from high school or the fire academy didn't seem to mind.

 

[joeshmoe]

I dont see any reason for running an EMS course like a bootcamp in any way shape or form. SELF discipline might be important for EMS(or any career field) but thats different from enforced discipline.
In the Marine Corps, our Navy medics were notoriously lax when it came to military style discipline, but I think that was by design. They werent Marines and werent supposed to be Marines, and it's worked out pretty good that way since ww2.
If they want to make the training stressful, thats fine, but do it in a realistic way. Youre not gonna have some guy yelling at you to hurry up and kicking you in the butt while your hooking an ECG up to a patient on a call.

 

[Angel]

i will not be going there....yikes

 

[rescue99]

Rescue, What college do you go to? As someone from the Metro Detroit area, I can't think of a single college in the area that has such strict guidelines/policies.

No more than 4 classes is indeed all any student can miss, including clinicals and rides. In fact 3 tardies is equal to an absence. Some subjects cannot be missed at all. Basic, Spec and Medic follow the same rules.

I don't see the EMS folks walking walls like fire and PD does but uniformed appearence, polished shoes, belts, tucked in uniform shirts and ID badges are required. Admittedly there is some slack on wearing jewlery and hair during course work but not on clinicals. PD and FD don't get any slack at all. I see our department becoming more strict soon since as we do occupy the same building and frankly, the EMS students aren't as sharp looking. I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Can't say that it's too difficult but there will always be those who test the water.

 

[JPINFV]

Plus one, it is not the school that sets the hour requirement, it's the state.

True. However the state of California requires 4000 hours of instruction for medical students with a 70% attendance rate, but there are ways around this. My school, for example, counts watching the lecture online as 'attending' lecture. Of course there's a very big difference in curriculum format, instructional style, and content between EMS courses (regardless of level), and medical school.

I don't see the EMS folks walking walls like fire and PD does but uniformed appearence, polished shoes, belts, tucked in uniform shirts and ID badges are required. Admittedly there is some slack on wearing jewlery and hair during course work but not on clinicals. PD and FD don't get any slack at all. I see our department becoming more strict soon since as we do occupy the same building and frankly, the EMS students aren't as sharp looking. I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Can't say that it's too difficult but there will always be those who test the water.

I've always maintained that if someone couldn't dress themselves properly for work then they have no business in EMS and any instructor who thinks that jeans and a t-shirt is inappropriate to wear to a lecture is a pompous fool. In my experience, shorts and a t-shirt didn't seem to offend professors in undergrad, grad, or medical school and if that's good enough for PhDs, MDs, and DOs teaching courses, why shouldn't it be good enough for an EMT-P who may or may not have completed a formal education?

Rescue, What college do you go to? As someone from the Metro Detroit area, I can't think of a single college in the area that has such strict guidelines/policies.

My take on this is that EMS education is facing an identity crisis. They teach EMS, police, and fire courses at colleges, but want to maintain a military-type structure. If college students were held to the same standards as some of this crazy academy-type programs, then very few people would be in college these days. College is about growing as a person, not just a student.

My experience in an academy-like EMS program is nothing like what I saw elsewhere in college. I loved the program, and thought the experience was great, but I surely wouldn't consider it college. I was taught to memorize, memorize, memorize, and follow, follow, follow. I was told who to be and how to act. Fortunately, I was good at that. EMS education these days seems to focus less on mastery of concept, and more on recall of facts.

It was funny to see that the college students in the EMS program seemed to hate it most, while students coming right from high school or the fire academy didn't seem to mind.

+1

 

[joeshmoe]

[

No more than 4 classes is indeed all any student can miss, including clinicals and rides. In fact 3 tardies is equal to an absence. Some subjects cannot be missed at all. Basic, Spec and Medic follow the same rules.

I don't see the EMS folks walking walls like fire and PD does but uniformed appearence, polished shoes, belts, tucked in uniform shirts and ID badges are required. Admittedly there is some slack on wearing jewlery and hair during course work but not on clinicals. PD and FD don't get any slack at all. I see our department becoming more strict soon since as we do occupy the same building and frankly, the EMS students aren't as sharp looking. I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Can't say that it's too difficult but there will always be those who test the water.[/QUOTE]

Rescue 99: Im sure you have more experience in EMS than me. But I dont understand how a bootcamp type atmosphere would improve EMS education in any way.
Yes FD and PD training probably does take a more military style approach to their training, but I can possibly see some legitimate reasons why thats done. I cant see much reason to do that with medicine. Do medical school and nursing students stand uniform inspections?
I personally want an instructor who teaches the concepts and knowledge I need to do the job, not one thats watched Full metal jacket too many times and wants to play drill instructor. If some instructor wants to go Lee Ermey on me I'd have a harder time taking them seriously. This isnt because I have an attitude problem or want to take the easy path to an EMS career, its because I dont see that as adding in any way to patient care. It's about learning, not bragging rights.
Again, maybe I'm wrong and thats the better approach, I'm not some EMS guru.

 

[JPINFV]

Do medical school and nursing students stand uniform inspections?

Some medical schools have uniforms, but most don't. Even the ones that do are sometimes lax. For example, Nova/Southeastern University medical school's uniform is either business or scrubs. As 1 student put it when I interviewed there last year in reference to scrubs, "If they want me to wear pajamas to school, so be it."

 

[TransportJockey]

As 1 student put it when I interviewed there last year in reference to scrubs, "If they want me to wear pajamas to school, so be it."

This is one of the things I loved about working in a hospital Scrubs are comfy

 

[fortsmithman]

This is one of the things I loved about working in a hospital Scrubs are comfy

Also EMS members can not be mistaken for LEOs while wearing scrubs.

 

[rescue99]

[

No more than 4 classes is indeed all any student can miss, including clinicals and rides. In fact 3 tardies is equal to an absence. Some subjects cannot be missed at all. Basic, Spec and Medic follow the same rules.

I don't see the EMS folks walking walls like fire and PD does but uniformed appearence, polished shoes, belts, tucked in uniform shirts and ID badges are required. Admittedly there is some slack on wearing jewlery and hair during course work but not on clinicals. PD and FD don't get any slack at all. I see our department becoming more strict soon since as we do occupy the same building and frankly, the EMS students aren't as sharp looking. I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Can't say that it's too difficult but there will always be those who test the water.

Rescue 99: Im sure you have more experience in EMS than me. But I dont understand how a bootcamp type atmosphere would improve EMS education in any way.
Yes FD and PD training probably does take a more military style approach to their training, but I can possibly see some legitimate reasons why thats done. I cant see much reason to do that with medicine. Do medical school and nursing students stand uniform inspections?
I personally want an instructor who teaches the concepts and knowledge I need to do the job, not one thats watched Full metal jacket too many times and wants to play drill instructor. If some instructor wants to go Lee Ermey on me I'd have a harder time taking them seriously. This isnt because I have an attitude problem or want to take the easy path to an EMS career, its because I dont see that as adding in any way to patient care. It's about learning, not bragging rights.
Again, maybe I'm wrong and thats the better approach, I'm not some EMS guru.[/QUOTE]

I am no guru and yes, I have experience. Experience brought me to teach at a school that gives a hoot what we do out there. We're a billboard for our schools, for our employers and for the communities we serve. Showing respect is part of the job so why not start in the classroom?

One of the reasons I choose to teach at this particular college is because it has more than an 80% overall grade expectation of our fututre EMS professionals. Learning that rules and protocols have reasons (including some we don't necessarily like but must follow). They hold a valuable place in training. If someone can't follow a simple attendence policy, comb his hair or pull up his trousers, he is not ready to be respectful or professional out there either. Not to mention the classroom just isn't the place to show off tush crack, sponge bob boxers, g-strings, wife beaters, tramp stamps and clevage. Plus, uniforms takes all the guess work out of what to wear

 

[Veneficus]

[I personally want an instructor who teaches the concepts and knowledge I need to do the job, not one thats watched Full metal jacket too many times and wants to play drill instructor. If some instructor wants to go Lee Ermey on me I'd have a harder time taking them seriously.

It has been my observation over the years that the people acting like this and promoting academy style teaching usually are trying to hide how incapable they are. That is why they don't want you to question them. Their house of cards would crumble.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of medicine is being able to understand and relate to different people with different cultures and values. It is also a critical part of the higher learning experience called college.

Fire and law enforcement must be paramilitary due to the inherent dangers of the job and the possibility of being killed for the bigger picture. But even in the military, basic training is prior to your specialty, not concurrent with it. (including for firefighting specialties and MAA/MP)

Another thing most academy style (i'll be generous) "teachers" seem to not know is that in bootcamp, the events follow a guidline and are scripted. In Navy bootcamp the day everyone is classified as fit for full duty there is a reason for what always follows. There is even a binder that describes what the purposes and ways of going about them are. Every recruit is given access to it. Company commanders (drill instructors) just don't make it up as you go. They first have to be trained for what they are doing, and are constantly under evaluation.

There are also well defined awards for positive feedback.

Do you get bonus points on your job application or promotional exam after EMS academy? Can you be promoted for your ability in the "EMS academy?" NO, but you certainly will be considered lesser of a provider if all you can do is mindlessly treat textbook examples of pathology and spout the national registry tag lines. (especially when you freeze when you come to a situation not covered by the protocol)

Can your actions as an EMT or Paramedic spark an internationl incident compromising the interests of the nation or start a war? Not likely.

What is really interesting is there are few heroes or noted persons in the military who followed the script. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts nobody ever earned a medal for doing only what they were told. ("good conduct" is for not getting caught doing something wrong )

If a student feels they need that kind of environment and discipline the number they need isn't to the EMT program, it is the local military recruiter. Where the benefits of finishing bootcamp are much greater then applying to the dialysis derby applicant pool. If public service is your thing, you also get a considerable advantage over the nonmilitary applicants. (I have seen up to 10% bonus on civil service exams) Do you get even 1% bonus for completing the EMS academy? NO and if you did the respective agency would be sued for collusion or some form of discrimination.

 

[rescue99]

It has been my observation over the years that the people acting like this and promoting academy style teaching usually are trying to hide how incapable they are. That is why they don't want you to question them. Their house of cards would crumble.

Rules and policies are usually created because somebody did something stupid!. No one's twisting anyone's arm to pay tuition. But if ya do, as an adult, you accept that the program has polices. We're there to educate, not fight with a student who can't be bothered to show up or participate in class only to hear him piss and moan that he failed. 30 other people don't need to see somebody's butt hangin out of their ill fitted jeans or be disrupted by inappropriate behaviors day in and day out. In some cultures, inappropriate dress and negative behavior is very insulting. It's distracting and a waste of everyone's time.

All education entities have rules and policies. It's not military style at all. If people with no education or background in EMS knew EMS, they wouldn't be in class now would they?? 30 other people are there to learn. They don't deserve a bad attitude disrupting their learning process. There is a world of difference between military style and following a few simple policies.

 

[JPINFV]

Ah, punishing for the class for something someone did 2 years ago? Awesome. Additionally, sorry, but your job includes counseling and discussing issues with students who fails out be it for policy violation or academics. That's part and parcel for being a teacher and/or an administrator. This doesn't mean you have to sit there forever, but you shouldn't be blowing it off either.

"In some cultures." Which cultures should we be basing dress requirments off of? I find it strange that I can sit in a lecture hall with 330 fellow students of all races, religions, and cultures and, strangly enough, we don't have to have the administrators telling us what to wear to listen to a lecture. Shocking. If an attitude is truely affecting the class environment, then you have a duty to work with that student, upto and including explusion, than punish the entire class, and all future classes, for the actions of a few.

 

[Veneficus]

All education entities have rules and policies. It's not military style at all. If people with no education or background in EMS knew EMS, they wouldn't be in class now would they?? 30 other people are there to learn. They don't deserve a bad attitude disrupting their learning process. There is a world of difference between military style and following a few simple policies. [/B]

It is not the rules and policies I take issue with. If you noticed the part of my post I quoted.

personally want an instructor who teaches the concepts and knowledge I need to do the job, not one thats watched Full metal jacket too many times and wants to play drill instructor. If some instructor wants to go Lee Ermey on me I'd have a harder time taking them seriously.

It was the (para)military style training. (usually referred to as an academy or academy style)

I do not take issue with dress codes, I take issue with passing muster. If you have time to line people up and inspect a gig line, you have time to have them sit down and teach them something about basic science. (far more crucial in EMS than whether or not a person has a tattoo showing or a body piercing)

Yelling at, calling people names, or embaressing them in front of peers is not part of the learning process. Nor is demanding corporal punishment of those who fail to memorize a mantra or answer a question. (especially since the answer changes with the more advanced your knowledge)

The idea that you can never question an instructor is equally absurd. They are people who don't know it all and sometimes make mistakes. Moreover, sometimes a student does so to reconcile what one instructor says different than another or applying life experience to the textbook theory.

Fear is not conducive to learning.

If a school makes you adhere to a dress code, then the student should. Especially if they know what it is up front. But it should be professional without being some $300+ uniform you can only wear in school.

Making sure piercings or tattoos are covered isn't really asking a lot, but again, with all the important stuff to worry about, this seems rather trivial. If a student is distracted by a classmates tattoo or piercing, I can't wait to see how they react to patients in the field.

If somebody is failing, hopefully it is not news to anyone and prior to failing an attempt should be made for them to recover. If they fail such, then they fail. There are standards that have to be met. If they are speaking out of order, they need to be talked to about it. Immediately if it is so inappropriate and disciplined accordingly.

Let's not pretend for a minute that an EMT-B has a whole lot of room to really hurt or kill somebody outside of driving or dropping them on their head.

Playing drill instructor, dress up, make believe, soldier, and the like I guess are not my priorities.

A capable provder who has sound clinical judgement and a logical method of making critical decisions is my priority. If they can do that, I don't care if they show up in a thong and a bowtie. (that includes non student providers too) I would rather have a slob who can help then somebody who has a nice uniform and has no medical capability.

 

[Veneficus]

"In some cultures." Which cultures should we be basing dress requirments off of? I find it strange that I can sit in a lecture hall with 330 fellow students of all races, religions, and cultures and, strangly enough, we don't have to have the administrators telling us what to wear to listen to a lecture.

But you are a big boy now.

 

[mycrofft]

Speaking as former military and current sheriff's dept/P.O.S.T. certified trainer...

..(and male nursing school survivor)...
I don't mind an instructional course with rigor if it is appropriate as a teaching style. Demonstrate that it yields a better outcome. If you feel that a boot camp environment is so good, advertise it, charge more, print impressive diplomas, hand out swords, whatever.

Personally, I would set some standards which would get me in trouble: no hats in the classroom, cell phones silent, no texting, any logo or design on or of clothing I find distracting or disruptive I would ask them not to wear the next time, and a defined set of clothes for practicums including closed toe shoes, tops and pants not exposing a lot of skin when working on the floor or table. I would give myself, say, six weeks before I was hounded out.

Weak-ego'ed, tyrannical and self-proclaimed vigilante "instructors" often are one in the same, and they don't HAVE to work in an environment strewn with arbitrary potholes and barriers to success (although they tend to, or will create their own if only within their grading styles). This sort of personality deficit also leads to favoritism and discriminatin, depending upon if you support their ego or not.

Kudos for the investigation, let them spin it out and hopefully come to a truthful and just decision.