Spalding University – an institution in Louisville, Kentucky, with a rich history of training health care workers – is set to launch one of the nation’s only online certificate programs in Critical Care Transport, which will provide licensed registered nurses and paramedics with the skills and knowledge to care for and transport critically ill or injured patients.

Designed through a partnership with leading medical education company FlightBridgeED, Spalding’s Post-Licensure Certificate in Critical Care Transport is accepting applications now with online courses set to begin on Jan. 30, 2021. The program consists of four, three-credit-hour courses and can be completed in one semester.

The program will help address the nation’s demand for health care workers capable of initiating critical medical interventions that can save patients’ lives in emergency transport settings, including a ground or air ambulance. The certificate will also provide registered nurses and paramedics with the skills and knowledge to advance their careers.

POST-LICENSURE CERTIFICATE IN CRITICAL CARE TRANSPORT
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Students in the certificate program will explore a range of principles related to critical care transport, including resuscitation, trauma and burns, pharmacology, leadership and research. One of the four courses is devoted exclusively to principles of transport ventilation and ventilator management.

Spalding’s CCT certificate program will prepare nurses and paramedics to sit for advanced professional certification exams, including those to attain the credentials of:

Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C)
Certified Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C)
Certified Flight Nurse (CFRN)
Certified Transport Nurse (CTRN)
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

Spalding President Tori Murden McClure, who is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and a Trustee and former Board Chair of the National Outdoor Leadership School, said the new certificate program in Critical Care Transport “builds on Spalding’s long tradition and strong reputation for educating compassionate, competent health care workers.”

“Nurses, paramedics and first responders who are skilled in critical care transport are true heroes whose actions save lives in high-pressure, emergency settings,” McClure said. “Spalding is proud and excited to launch a convenient online program that supports health care workers who seek to learn these critically important skills.”

Kentucky-based FlightBridgeED, which specializes in providing pre-hospital, critical care, and emergency medicine education for healthcare professionals of all types, is assisting Spalding faculty in developing curriculum for the new certificate program.

“We are thrilled and honored with this strategic alignment and feel this will give FlightBridgeED and Spalding University a greater ability to achieve education delivery in the critical care arena,” FlightBridgeED President Eric Bauer said. “This will provide FlightBridgeED with a more extensive geographical reach and allow us to partner with a highly respected university that is truly blazing new trails in education. In the end, this partnership builds a strong strategic partnership, as we are both delivering long-term value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Bruce Hoffman, FlightBridgeED Senior Director of Education, added: “Imagine the possibilities when a respected academic institution and an industry leading education company join forces. FlightBridgeED and Spalding are committed to pushing the boundaries of critical care transport education.”

Registered nurses and paramedics who complete the Post-Licensure Certificate in the Critical Care Transport program and are interested in continuing their education may apply the college credit they earn in the certificate program to the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or a related discipline.

“We envision and hope that some of the students who complete the Critical Care Transport Certificate will continue on at Spalding in our online RN-to-BSN or Bachelor of Science in Health Science programs,” said Dr. Patricia Spurr, who directs those two programs at Spalding and will oversee the new certificate as well. “For decades, Spalding has been committed to helping working health care professionals reach their goals of continuing their education and earning a new degree.”