APS1050 - Ambulance paramedic care

Leader(s): Mr Mark Chilton

Offered

Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 1 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 2 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 3 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 4 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 5 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Ambulance teaching period 6 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Full year 2009 (Day)
Peninsula Second semester to First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit enables the development of an advanced level of understanding of clinical problem solving, patient management and scene appraisal. Content is related to a range of medical and surgical emergencies, obstetric, gynaecological, newborn and paediatric emergencies. The knowledge of relevant basic sciences is extended by content that covers drugs commonly used or encountered in ambulance practice. It also acknowledges the stressful nature of the work of the ambulance paramedic and considers the resources and strategies available to assist in the management of situations and circumstances that are stressful.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit, the student should demonstrate:

1. the application of the clinical problem solving process in a complex single and multi-patient situations;

2. the ability to calculate drug dosages and perform other required calculations in the context of their application to drugs administered and commonly encountered in ambulance practice;

3. the essential life saving skills of resuscitation as applicable to the entry level qualified Ambulance Paramedic;

4. a knowledge and understanding of the clinical sciences as the apply to the assessment and management of complex clinical problems encountered by the entry level Ambulance Paramedic;

5. a comprehensive systematic clinical approach to the assessment of obvious and non-obvious clinical needs and the development of management plans for patients with common life threatening clinical problems as required of the entry level qualified Ambulance Paramedic, including

• general trauma and medical emergencies

• sexual assault and domestic violence

• abnormal behaviour

• children with trauma and medical emergencies

• obstetric and gynaecological emergencies

• neonatal and newborn emergencies;

6. an understanding of the special requirements of patients with chronic illness and disability, and provide appropriate care as required of the entry level qualified Ambulance Paramedic;

7. the ability to recognise that the nature of the role and workplace of the Ambulance Paramedic has the potential to cause stress and to identify appropriate stress management strategies;

8. the ability to critically evaluate ambulance response times and describe strategies for improvement; and

9. a high level of skill in performing safe driving under emergency conditions in a range of environmental situations, ensuring the comfort and safety of patients, equipment and other personnel.

Assessment

Examination: 50%
Small group activities: 15%
Assignments: 15%
Clinical problem solving worksheet: 10%
Reflective journal: 10%
Practical assessments: Pass/Fail
Objective structured clinical examination: Pass/Fail

Contact hours

312 hours including 200 hours direct contact

Prerequisites

employment by an Ambulance Service