Ten Minute Medic

Latest Episodes:

Epi Gets Pulses Back. But Then What? Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

You know the dose: 1 mg every 3–5 minutes. Congratulations—you’ve memorized the box. But do you actually know what epinephrine is doing after you push it? In this episode of The Ten Minute Medic, we dig into why epi doesn’t magically “restart the heart,” how alpha-mediated vasoconstriction and coronary perfusion pressure give the myocardium a fighting chance, why timing differs between shockable and nonshockable arrests, and why getting ROSC isn’t necessarily the same thing as saving a life. We’ll also tackle the uncomfortable evidence behind our favorite little 1-mg syringe. Because if your entire understanding of epinephrine is “the algorithm says give it,” we need to talk.

Epi ACLS Study Guide

The Clot Is in the Lung. So Why Does the Heart Die? Oct 13, 2026

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The clot lands in the lungs—but the right ventricle may be what actually kills the patient. In this episode of the Ten Minute Medic, we follow the deadly chain reaction from rising pulmonary vascular resistance and dead-space ventilation to right-heart failure, obstructive shock, and cardiac arrest. Clear lungs, falling pressure, very bad day—here’s why a pulmonary embolism can make your patient crash frighteningly fast.

PE Study Guide

Electrical Breadcrumbs Oct 06, 2026

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ECGs aren’t really about memorizing squiggly lines—they’re about following electricity.

In this episode of The Ten Minute Medic, we trace the heart’s electrical breadcrumbs from the SA node through the atria, AV node, His-Purkinje system, ventricles, and repolarization. You’ll learn why P waves, PR intervals, QRS complexes, and T waves look the way they do—and why a wide QRS should make you ask a physiologic question rather than simply recognize a pattern.

The goal is simple: stop thinking pattern → name and start thinking electricity → physiology → pattern → diagnosis.

Because great ECG interpretation isn’t about having a better memory. It’s about understanding the electrical story the heart is trying to tell you.

Cardiac Conduction System Study Guide

Naloxone: Why Waking the Patient Isn't the Goal Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Think naloxone's job is to make overdose patients sit up, smile, and tell you what year it is? Think again.

In this episode of Ten Minute Medic, we explain why the real goal isn't creating the world's angriest awake patient—it's restoring breathing. You'll learn how naloxone actually works, why "less is more" is often the smarter strategy, how re-narcotization can sneak up on you, and why experienced paramedics treat respiratory failure—not the level of consciousness.

If you've ever wondered why some patients wake up ready to throw punches instead of saying "thank you," this episode will make perfect sense... and might save you from your own next Naloxone Rodeo.

Because great paramedics don't just reverse overdoses—they understand the physiology behind every dose.

FREE RESOURCE: Narcan Study Guide

The Biggest Plumbing Renovation You'll Never See! Sep 22, 2026

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What if every newborn had to completely remodel their cardiovascular system in the first few minutes of life? In this episode of Ten Minute Medic, we make fetal circulation finally make sense. Discover why the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus are lifesaving shortcuts before birth—but dangerous liabilities afterward.

Using humor, and real-world paramedic applications, you'll learn how a baby's first breath triggers one of the most dramatic physiologic transformations in medicine. If fetal circulation has always felt like a confusing maze, this episode will connect the dots in just ten minutes.

Ductus Arteriosis Review Guide

The Drug That Tells Your Brain to Shut Up Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Ever wondered why a patient can go from filling an emesis bag every 30 seconds to complete silence just minutes after you push 4 mg of ondansetron? It isn't because the drug "settles the stomach"—it's because it shuts down a conversation between the gut and the brain.

In this episode of The Ten Minute Medic, you'll finally understand the physiology behind nausea and vomiting, discover why the 5-HT₃ receptor is one of the most important targets in EMS pharmacology, learn why ondansetron works brilliantly for some patients but falls flat for others, and make sense of the QT prolongation warning without the fear or confusion.

If you've ever memorized that ondansetron is an antiemetic but never truly understood why it works, this episode will change the way you think about one of the most frequently administered medications in prehospital care. By the end, you'll stop memorizing drug cards—and start thinking like a clinician.

Ondansetron Study Guide

Blood, Sweat, and Fears: Navigating Hemorrhagic Shock Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Today, we're delving into a critical topic that you'll undoubtedly encounter in the field: hemorrhagic shock. By the end of this podcast, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what hemorrhagic shock is, why it's so dangerous, and why rapid recognition and treatment are crucial. This knowledge will be fundamental to your ability to save lives in emergency situations.

The World’s Most Reliable Relay Race Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

ECG rhythms aren’t random squiggles—they’re the story of an electrical relay race inside the heart. In this episode of Ten Minute Medic, you’ll follow the baton from the SA node to the Purkinje fibers and finally understand why P waves, PR intervals, narrow complexes, wide complexes, and heart blocks look the way they do.

We’ll cover what happens when the runner slows down, drops the baton, takes the scenic route, or starts an entirely separate race—because apparently even cardiac cells can ignore the chain of command. Stop memorizing rhythm strips and start following the electricity.

Cardiac Conduction Review Guide

The NREMT Exam Doesn't Care About Your Anatomy Score! Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Clinical judgment questions on the NREMT are designed to determine whether you can apply knowledge in the correct order as a patient’s condition changes. Success depends on identifying the greatest immediate threat, prioritizing airway, breathing, and circulation, and avoiding distractions caused by dramatic but less urgent findings.

After every intervention, reassess the patient and use the new information to decide the next best action rather than assuming the problem has been solved. Strong clinical judgment means repeatedly cycling through assess, act, and reassess while selecting the safest and most appropriate next step.

Helpful Tips For The NREMT Exam Success

Your Brain...Under Pressure! Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Why does a brain injury patient become dangerously hypertensive instead of hypotensive? In this episode of Ten Minute Medic, you'll finally understand the physiology behind intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and Cushing's Triad using analogies, real-world paramedic scenarios, and a healthy dose of humor.

If you've ever memorized the formulas but struggled to apply them on an exam or at the bedside, this episode will make the concepts stick. This one lesson you'll remember long after the exam is over.

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Under Pressure Study Guide

Under Pressure Review Questions

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