This dynamic course takes you beyond the old perception of the paramedic, called out purely for life-threatening situations. It develops your clinical knowledge and confidence, equipping you with the skills needed for emergency and unscheduled care, and ensuring you meet the requirements of the modern ambulance service and expanding paramedic role.
Taking you from novice to expert over three years of study, the course uses a blended approach to learning, ensuring theory clearly meets with practice. Each year, you undertake 750 hours of placement learning, spending around 50% of your time in supervised, supported practice so you experience the full 24-hour working pattern.
The course has been developed in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service. It is recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and, on successful course completion, leads to eligibility to register as a paramedic.
Why choose this course?
- Study a course at the cutting edge of paramedic science, developed in partnership with a Trust serving six million people over 7,500 square miles
- Gain simulated and real-life supervised experience of the situations you will attend as a qualified paramedic
- Due to professional standards and regulatory requirements, our course groups are small so you are able to build supportive relationships with other students and your academic team
- Learn to work as part of the wider healthcare team in the modern pre-hospital world
- Develop your clinical reasoning and critical thinking as well as your leadership skills
- Explore service improvement with your final-year research project and present your findings at an annual conference
- Our employment rate is high: 95% of our professional course students are employed in their chosen profession
- On completion of the course, you can move into a career within the ambulance service or in one of the new roles now being offered to paramedics, in the community and other areas of the NHS
Unit Information - What will I learn?
Units
- Fundamentals Of Paramedic Practice (PAR003-1) Compulsory
- Health Science For Paramedic Practice (PAR004-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Academic Studies (PAR001-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Clinical Assessment Skills For Paramedics (PAR002-1) Compulsory
- Professional Values And Relationships (PAR005-1) Compulsory
- Assessment And Management Of Long Term Conditions (PAR001-2) Compulsory
- Leadership And Team Working For Paramedic Practice (PAR002-2) Compulsory
- Mental Health Care For Paramedics (PAR004-2) Compulsory
- Obstetric And Neonatal Care For Paramedics (PAR003-2) Compulsory
- Trauma Management In Paramedic Practice (PAR005-2) Compulsory
- Minor Illnesses And Injuries (PAR003-3) Compulsory
- Quality And Safety In Paramedic Science (PAR004-3) Compulsory
- The Critically Unwell Person (PAR001-3) Compulsory
- Transition To Professional Practice For Paramedics (PAR002-3) Compulsory
How will I be assessed?
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the teaching and learning strategy which is designed to have: immediate relevance to practice; draw on expertise-by-experience; foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach. A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks, including those that allow you to undertake workplace relevant assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. Examples include: written assignments ranging from reflective pieces to academic essays culminating in a service improvement project, assessed practice within your placements; computer based examinations and oral presentations. Use of professional and theoretical literature will increase in complexity, depth and breadth as you progress through the course. In the first year, you will be expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the evidence-based literature and apply this to practice. In contrast, the second year will demand deeper analysis and evaluation of the literature and its applications. For example, you will develop your ability to study and practice more independently. You will be expected to identify a subject that particularly interests you based upon the NHS values, and propose a service improvement project supported by appropriate literature. Assessments of clinical skills will begin with observation of your participation in caring for patients/service users during practice. Expectations of the levels of skill demonstrated by you will increase over time and by the final assessments you will be expected to manage more complex and challenging encounters in a non-judgemental, empathic manner in accordance with NHS values.
