1. In the practice environment, apply the principles of communication and assessment in accordance with the physical and psychological needs of the service-user and other professionals
Communication
Knowledge and Understanding

2. In the practice environment, initiate and apply specific clinical investigations, and demonstrate the ability to interpret, analyse and document the information obtained
Application
Analysis
Problem Solving

3. In the practice environment, initiate (and later reflect upon) treatment and management plans and referral pathways in accordance with evidence-informed guidelines and the physical and psychological needs of the service-user
Knowledge and Understanding
Application
Reflection

4. Identify an area of potential healthcare inequality and critically analyse/reflect upon the role of the paramedic in promoting the wellbeing of the service-user in the out of hospital environment
Analysis
Learning
Enquiry
Reflection

5. In the practice environment, demonstrate the ability to practice in such a way which is cognisant of the potential hazards and risks associated with emergency and unscheduled care, and which ensures safety for the clinician, colleagues and service-users
Knowledge and Understanding
Application

Building on skills acquired at Level 4, this module incorporates the practical application of clinical skills learnt in the Clinical Skills for Paramedic Practice module. Students will undertake clinical placements, which will give them the opportunity to practice skills appropriate to this level under the supervision of a clinical practice educator or practice supervisor.

Ambulance Placement will comprise most of your practice time (a minimum of 650 hours spread over two placement blocks) and will involve shifts on a front-line emergency ambulance under the direct supervision of a paramedic practice placement educator. During this placement you will be expected to demonstrate your levels of knowledge and understanding, communication, analysis, application, and problem-solving abilities in the areas appropriate to this level of study.

At Level 5, this includes areas such as:

• Risk assessment, scene safety & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Advancing communication skills
• Adapting appropriate clinical techniques in accordance with service-user needs and the clinical and environmental situation.
• Infection control, aseptic techniques, sharps and waste management
• Collaborative and multi-disciplinary working
• The application of guidelines and the requirement for evidence informed practice
• Advancing history-taking skills
• Advancing patient assessment techniques incorporating a medical model
• Advancing interpretation of examination, assessment findings and formulating differential diagnoses.
• Advancing clinical decision-making and problem-solving, including consideration of medical history, ethical and social considerations.
• The implementation of patient treatment and management plans
• Recognition of the need for patient extrication, immobilisation, and the initiation/application of an appropriate immobilisation technique
• Referral pathways
• Human factors
• Physiological, structural, behavioural and functional changes in presentation and the effects of interventions
• Analyse an interpret clinical features of commonly encountered pathophysiological conditions, evaluating their impact on homeostasis
• Manage adverse drug reactions and report where required
• Safety netting and re-contact options
• Advanced Life Support including ROLE, DNAR and Advanced Decisions
• Pain management
• Scope of practice and referral to other clinicians
• Service-user data systems
• Identifying and analysing inequalities in healthcare

Areas of focus are identified as relevant ‘competencies’, each with a designated section in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD). This document will need to be completed throughout the course of your placement, and will also include opportunities for reflective practice, and to discuss your ongoing progress with your practice educator.

A minimum of 48 hours of this module will be used for you to attend alternative placements, incorporating a broader spectrum of practice, and allowing you to appreciate many of the alternative options available for patients in prehospital care. In each of these placement localities you will be under the supervision of an appropriate practice educator and will interact with a wide range of service-users.

The assessment for this module consists of two assessments:

Clinical Practice Assessment Documentation:

During your placement, you will be expected to complete your PAD. This will be handed in towards the end of the academic year and covers learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 5. It is given a pass/fail mark and must be passed to obtain an overall pass mark for the module.

Your practice placement hours (650 ambulance hours and 48 alternative hours) will be recorded in the PAD and will need to be achieved in order to pass the module.



2000 Word Case Study

This assignment meets learning outcome 4 and will require you to identify a case study from practice which highlights an area of potential healthcare inequality. You will then be expected to explore and reflect upon this case, critically analysing the role of the paramedic in promoting the wellbeing of the service-user in the out of hospital environment.

This assignment forms the graded element of this module and must be passed at a mark of 40% or higher to successfully complete the module.

Due to the professional nature of this programme no compensation within or between modules is permitted. All elements of assessment in all modules must be passed

A minimum of 650 hours will be spent on ambulance practice under the supervision of a paramedic practice placement educator. This will be spread over 21 weeks of placement divided into two placement blocks.

A minimum of 48 hours will be spent in alternative practice areas, under the supervision of an appropriate practice supervisor. These will take place at appropriate times throughout the academic year and will be allocated time on the timetable as appropriate. These alternative placements will encourage interprofessional education (IPE) by affording you the opportunity to learn from practice educators from other healthcare professions.

More detail on ambulance and alternative placements can be found in the Practice Learning Handbook.

You will also be expected to conduct independent study as required throughout your placement block, reflecting on your own practice, engaging in your own study on identified areas of weakness, and working on your assignments.

BLABER, A. Y. & HARRIS, G. (2011) Assessment Skills for Paramedics. Maidenhead: McGraw Hill
GREGORY, P. & WARD, I. (Eds) (2010) 'Sanders' Paramedic Textbook. UK Edition. London: Mosby Elsevier
Jesip.org.uk. (2018). JESIP - Working together, Saving Lives. [online] Available at: http://www.jesip.org.uk/home
NICE. (2018). Guidance. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance
PHTLS prehospital trauma life support. (2016). Burlington: Jones & Bartlet Learning
PILBERY, R., LETHBRIDGE, K. (2016) Ambulance Care Practice. Bridgwater: Class Professional Publishing

Journals:
The BMJ. [online] Available at: http://www.bmj.com/uk/education/practice

VLE
Library
Tutorials
Supervised clinical practice

Enrolled onto the following award;
BSc(Hons) of Science in Paramedic Science