About the FTO Boot Camp

Field Training Officer Boot Camp

The course is intended for the EMS professional that is or is seeking a role as field training officer, but has limited formal experience or training.

FTOs Are a Critical Employment Link

Recruitment and retention are critical EMS management tasks, yet each is highly dependent on the other. The new recruit needs nuturing and assessment, while instilling the core principles of the organization. This is also a critical phase where those who have the skills (or can be taught them) need to be identified, and those who don't belong in EMS are encouraged in a different pathway. These critical teaching and assessment tasks must be well documented, follow successful strategies and coordinated with senior leadership.

This boot camp is designed to meet the core educational requirements for the beginner FTO.

Day One

• Best practices in Precepting: A summary of best available evidence
• Get real! Foundations of experiential education
• “Starting right”: Setting expectations, creating culture
• Adult education - learning styles, teaching styles, some theory, delivery methods
• Generational differences in learning/behavior
• Teachable moments: Learning from every call, picking the right lesson

Day Two

• Communication skills - written documentation, providing feedback, constructive remediation
• Conflict resolution - resistance to training, dealing with negativity, behavioral issues
• Role plays on: Dealing with difficult employees
• The role of the mentor
• Giving SMART Feedback
• Assessing competence - assessing and documenting competence in the context of performance in the field, methods

Day Three

• Time management - balancing: teaching, personal development, data management, maintenance of skills and knowledge, assessments
• Risk management - patient safety, personal safety, public safety, injury prevention, mitigation
• Performance management - quality assurance, evaluation techniques, research, outcomes, reporting
• Program development - needs assessments, design, development, implementation, evaluation
• What End Does This Go In? Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement
• Documentation - NEMSIS is My Friend: Using Data