About Journal of Paramedic Practice

Journal of Paramedic Practice (JPP) is the only monthly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the clinical and professional needs of paramedics. It is a vital resource for helping paramedics enhance their professional knowledge and stay ahead of all their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.

Latest CPD

Achieve your CPD with JPP We offer a programme of 12 online reflective practice CPD modules per year. In consultation with experts, the online CPD modules will aim to cover core topics of practice relevant for paramedics, including the key area of pharmacology. Website subscribers can access our latest and archive modules, a selection of which can be found below. Subscribe Today

Risk and avoidable harm part 1: recognising risk in paramedicine

In this two-part continuing professional development series, we explore the complex and often sensitive topic of clinical mistakes and events of avoidable patient harm (sometimes referred to as iatrogenic harm), which may occur within the paramedic practice environment. Even the very best clinicians will make mistakes, and therefore we introduce the science behind why common unintentional mistakes can be made. We discuss how paramedics can better prepare themselves and their teams to more effectively prevent, respond to, and recover from unintentional mistakes that may occur in paramedic practice environments.

Fear in the paramedic clinical environment

This article focuses on the physiological, emotional and behavioural response that is fear and considers how it impacts clinical practice. It may have some benefits; for example, the release of the stress hormone cortisol which can increase cognitive function and short-term memory improving information handling. Equally, it poses significant risks, such as loss of perspective, damage to clinician-patient rapport and information bias. The author considers how fear can affect the individual response to a threatening situation in the prehospital care environment and explores ways in which it can be managed.

An out-of-hospital perspective on hyperventilation syndrome

Hyperventilation and tachypnoea both involve breathing at an increased rate. There are a variety of causes of hyperventilation and conditions associated with it, including acute and chronic hyperventilation syndrome (HVS). The characteristics of HVS are not well defined. It results from a reduction in carbon dioxide and altered pH in the body from overbreathing. Symptoms vary between individuals but usually include altered sensations in the extremities, nausea and headache. Diagnosing patients with this condition can be difficult; diagnostic tools include the hyperventilation provocation test, voluntary overbreathing, the Nijmegen questionnaire and the exclusion of physiological causes in the acute situation. There are various prehospital patient presentations and differentiating between potential underlying causes is vital to appropriate treatment and patient safety. Treatments vary in nature, depending on the desired effect and the clinician's scope of practice. Some aim to reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks while others combat the attack when it strikes. This review briefly discusses some treatments available to a clinician with a basic skill level. There is a lack of evidence in this area, and research with a focus on the out-of-hospital environment is recommended. Because of controversy over existing research regarding the definition of HVS, a review of all sources was conducted to produce a definition. This suggests that HVS is a collection of physical and biochemical reactions from an unnecessarily increased respiratory rate that occurs because of an unknown or benign aetiology which can be triggered by anxiety in the absence of other external factors.

Diabetes and associated diabetic emergencies

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterised by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic complications of diabetes include accelerated development of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, loss of visual acuity, and limb amputations. However, in the acute situation, diabetes can result in conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, both of which have the same cause: insufficient insulin. This article explores the physiology of glucose control, the pathophysiology of diabetes and the role of the paramedic in the prehospital treatment of the diabetic emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state.

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Caring for the heart and mind

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Letters

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Moral injury and paramedic practice

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

A paramedic journey to non-medical prescribing: part 1

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

From Casualty to A&E: a pleasant surprise

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

What our readers say

“Journal of Paramedic Practice is an essential reference tool for the practising paramedic. Not only does it keep you up to speed with clinical best practice (focused on the topics you need to know), but its online CPD modules make it easy to carry out your required learning whenever is convenient.”