These tools support the full learning system throughout VitalNotes. They’re free or widely accessible and align with how paramedics learn best.

Anki – For Long-Term Memory & Spaced Repetition
Download: https://apps.ankiweb.net
Platform: Free on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux); mobile apps available
Tip: Use daily for protocol review, medication doses, and red flags. Add 1–3 cards after every lab or scenario.

Obsidian – For Smart Note-Taking & Linking Clinical Knowledge
Download: https://obsidian.md
Platform: Free on desktop and mobile
Tip: Build a personal knowledge system using Fleeting, Literature, and Permanent Notes. Start with one note per lab or concept.

ChatGPT – For Reflection, Simulation, & Clinical Reasoning Practice
Access: https://chat.openai.com
Tip: Use prompts like “Quiz me on right-sided heart failure” or “Act as a patient with a head injury.” Also helpful for running Five Whys, building differentials, and clarifying directives.

ALS PCS & BLS PCS – Ontario Medical Directives
ALS PCS (v5.4 – April 2025):
https://www.ontario.ca/files/2025-04/moh-advanced-life-support-als-patient-care-standards-pcs-5.4-en-2025-04-23.pdf
BLS PCS (v3.4 – March 2023):
https://files.ontario.ca/moh_2/moh-standards-basic-life-support-patient-care-standards-v3-4-en-2023-03-10.pdf
Tip: Review one directive per week and build a decision flow or quiz set from it.

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I. Learning Foundations

Build a strong system for thinking, studying, and remembering in high-pressure fields.

• Introduction: What This Guide Is and How to Use It
  Overview of how to use VitalNotes as a toolset, not just a blog. Lays the groundwork for applying what you learn.
• Learning How To Learn: Build Your Second Brain
  Introduces the philosophy of externalizing your thinking and memory into a “second brain” using tools like Obsidian, Anki, and ChatGPT.
• Anki for Clinical Recall
  How to use Anki’s spaced repetition model to remember critical information like drugs, directives, and differentials.
• Smart Notes with Obsidian
  Learn to use Obsidian for linked thinking, case comparisons, and long-term concept retention with smart note strategies.
• Using ChatGPT as a Study Tool
  Prompts and strategies for using ChatGPT to simulate cases, quiz yourself, or clarify confusing concepts on demand.
• The Pomodoro Technique for Paramedic Learning
  Learn how to stay focused and avoid burnout using short, structured study blocks.

II. Practical Application

Move from theory to field-ready practice. These tools help bridge simulation, lab, and real calls.

• Scenario Days – Make Learning Stick
  How to get more from scenario practice using repetition, debriefs, and learning loops. Turn repetition into retention.
• Mastering Directive Decision-Making
  A breakdown of how to use directives in real-time, with pattern recognition, logic triggers, and threshold thinking.
• Reflecting Without Journaling
  Not everyone journals—this guide offers quick, low-resistance alternatives to build metacognition through regular reflection.
• Lab Integration Guide
  Use lab sessions to build decision-making habits, not just check off skills. Includes scenario prep, debriefing, and error capture.

III. Clinical Reasoning

Develop clarity under pressure. These pages train your diagnostic eye, pattern sense, and mental workflow.

• Building a Clinical Mindset
  Helps shift from passive protocol use to active clinical judgment. Includes strategies to slow your thinking and challenge assumptions.
• Fast Pattern Recognition Builders
  Drills and exercises to sharpen clinical intuition by contrasting similar presentations and exploring symptom variation.
• Common Errors and How to Learn From Them
  Lists the most frequent mistakes in labs and scenarios—then shows how to learn from each and correct your thinking path.
• The Five Whys: A Simple Method for Better Clinical Thinking
  Teaches the “Five Whys” method for exploring errors, confusing presentations, or misunderstood treatments in depth.

IV. Resources

Your support tools: guides, summaries, templates, and setup walkthroughs.

• Summary
  Recap of the big ideas behind VitalNotes: learn reflectively, study actively, and build a system that supports decision-making under pressure.
• Helpful Resources
  Downloadables and quick-reference tools: directive cue sheets, Anki decks, debrief templates, and scenario aids.
• Anki Setup & Use Guide
  Step-by-step instructions for downloading, customizing, and optimizing Anki for long-term retention.
• Obsidian Setup & Use Guide
  How to build a clinical note vault in Obsidian: folder structures, templates, and linking strategies.
• Sources and References
  A list of research and literature that supports the methods taught in the blog, with commentary on their application to clinical learning.