Number of Courses:  One Live 2-Hour Class
Credit Awarded:  2 Hours
Credit Type: Advanced
Accredited: IBSC, CAPCE (F5-VILT), CE Broker (FL & TN), Pennsylvania Bureau of EMS, and Virginia Office of EMS(pending)
Enrollment Period:  One year or until completed, whichever comes first
Topics: Pediatrics

This CE activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education for a total of 2 Paramedic Critical Care CEH.

Are you in need of a few critical care hours to round out your FP-C or CCP-C recertification? Or just want something different to put towards your NRP recertification? This individual Critical Care course will meet those needs.

IBSC Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification APPROVED!

Want to see when classes are offered, click here DistanceCME Course Calendar

Topics covered in this Live CCTR L6

  • Pediatrics (2 hr)

If you need more than a few hours, this program is perfect for your continuing education: Critical Care Transport Review. The Critical Care Transport program can also be used for your NREMT Recertification.

Course Overview
The transition from birth to newborn care requires preparation for both maternal complications and neonatal instability. This course focuses on delivery emergencies, newborn assessment, and neonatal resuscitation in the critical care transport environment. Participants explore the physiologic differences that influence neonatal care, with emphasis on effective ventilation, temperature regulation, and stabilization before and during transport.

Normal Delivery & Immediate Newborn Care
Learners review preparation for an anticipated delivery, the progression of a normal birth, and immediate care of the mother and newborn. The course addresses delivery equipment, neonatal resuscitation readiness, umbilical cord management, and initial measures to support newborn warmth and assessment. Participants also examine maternal monitoring following delivery and the importance of preparing for complications affecting either patient.

Complicated Delivery & Postpartum Emergencies
This section explores abnormal presentations and delivery complications, including occiput posterior positioning, breech presentation, presenting limbs, nuchal cord, and umbilical cord prolapse. Participants examine the additional challenges associated with multiple births and premature delivery. The course also reviews postpartum hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation, connecting recognition of maternal deterioration with resuscitation priorities and access to definitive obstetric care.

Neonatal Physiology & Transitional Circulation
Participants examine the respiratory and cardiovascular changes that occur as a newborn transitions from placental support to life outside the uterus. The course explores neonatal airway anatomy, oxygen transport, fetal hemoglobin, and changes in pulmonary and systemic circulation after birth. Learners also review how gestational age and birth weight influence physiologic reserve and the needs of premature infants.

Newborn Assessment & Initial Stabilization
Learners review a systematic approach to assessing respiratory effort, heart rate, muscle tone, and overall appearance. The course examines APGAR scoring, relevant maternal history, and risk factors that can complicate neonatal stabilization. Participants explore the role of preductal and postductal oxygen saturation monitoring while connecting assessment findings with the need for respiratory or circulatory support.

Neonatal Airway Management & Ventilation
This section emphasizes airway positioning, mask seal, and effective ventilation during neonatal resuscitation. Participants review the MRSOPA approach to correcting ineffective ventilation, along with bag-mask devices, T-piece resuscitators, CPAP, and advanced airway considerations. The course also addresses oxygen administration, gastric decompression, and the importance of monitoring ventilation while limiting excessive airway pressure and oxygen exposure.

Circulatory Support & Resuscitation Considerations
Participants explore the role of chest compressions when neonatal bradycardia persists despite effective respiratory support. The course reviews coordination of ventilation and compressions, potential causes of an inadequate response, and medication and volume replacement considerations. Learners also examine vascular access options and the importance of careful weight-based calculations when preparing neonatal medications and infusions.

Thermoregulation & Ongoing Neonatal Care
Learners examine why newborns, particularly premature infants, are vulnerable to heat loss and how temperature instability can increase metabolic demands. The course reviews warming equipment, glucose monitoring, fluid and electrolyte balance, renal function, and pain assessment. Participants connect these considerations with ongoing reassessment and the challenges of maintaining physiologic stability during transport.

Clinical Integration & Transport Planning
Throughout the course, delivery and neonatal care are linked to equipment readiness, team communication, and destination planning. Participants examine the importance of stabilization before departure, securing respiratory support, and anticipating deterioration during transit. The course also addresses how noise, vibration, limited space, and reduced access to the patient can complicate neonatal assessment and intervention.

Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for paramedics involved in critical care transport who are seeking a review of delivery complications, newborn stabilization, and neonatal resuscitation. As Lesson 6 of the Critical Care Transport Review series, it supports preparation for the assessment and transport of newborns, including premature infants and those requiring respiratory or circulatory support.