NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. — Creighton University awarded diplomas Monday to 13 new paramedics that culminates a two-year transformation of the Nebraska City Rescue Service.
The Creighton class is the first to take its primary coursework off campus and puts six more paramedics on the roster of the Nebraska City EMS Division.
Dean Cole, EMS program administrator for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said the paramedics give Nebraska City the opportunity to build on its role as a leader in rural rescue service.
He reminded the graduates of rescue’s infancy in 1966, when a town’s mortician usually took the calls.
He would drive the “ambulance” down the street to the local gas station or shop to see if anyone else was available to ride along.
In the 1980s, Nebraska City became one of the first in rural Nebraska to assemble modern ambulances with a volunteer staff of emergency technicians.
Cole said Nebraska City has also been a state leader in the transformation to a paramedic service.
Rodney Turpel, Nebraska City paramedic manager, said he and Fire Chief Alan Viox discussed the need for paramedic training when the city took over rescue service in 2008.
Turpel, a Creighton paramedic instructor, said it was clear to Chief Viox that Nebraska City would need to train from within to be successful.
There were obstacles to attending classes at the Creighton campus, however, because many of the EMTs that might take the training had jobs and family commitments during the traditional class times.
The 16-month course included 6,991 field hours and over 100 actual patients.
Miller said bringing the class to a city that was trying to build a paramedic program from its own ranks fits the university’s mission.
“Our goal is to mold EMS professionals who will be assets to their communities. Everyone involved in their education is expecting to develop a competent EMT professional who deals with skill and knowledge, but, for us, also with compassion and respect,” he said.
Chief Viox credited the support of the Steinhart, Nelson, Wirth and Kropp foundations and the United Way for supporting emergency services.
Duane Smith said the Wirth Foundation saw the community need for the paramedic class.
“It wasn’t difficult to convince the board,” he said. “Our concern was that people would stay here after they have been trained, because they really are acquiring a sought-after skill,” he said.
Members on the rescue service’s 2008 roster that graduated Monday are Gregg Goebel, Chris Richardson, Teresa Wademan and Wendy Wielechowski. Others graduates expected to work at Nebraska City are Noah Bernhardson and Cathy Blankenship.
Other graduates are Tim Antes, Bradley Bernadt, Dawn Campos, Donna Dettman, Cindy Troxel, Daniel Wenz and Timothy Wilson.
Special awards went to Antes, clinical; Troxel, academic; and Andrew Snodgrass, preceptor. Campos, Goebel and Troxel received attendance awards.
Creighton University gave special recognition to Turpel, lead instructor, for his advancement of medical service delivery in southeast Nebraska.
“It is a privilege to work with someone with the ability to pull this class together and make it happen,” Miller said.
The Nebraska City Fire Department served as the honor guard for the graduation ceremony, which had 130 people in attenance. EMT Sharon Morrow gave the invocation.
Reprinted with permission from the Journal Democrat.