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student paramedic
injury
injury

Confidence levels of students before and after a minor illness/injury placement

02 December 2023
Features
02 December 2023
Volume 15 · Issue 12

Abstract

Within the UK, the paramedic scope of practice has noticeably changed over recent years. Many paramedics are now going into roles within general practice surgeries, minor injury units, and urgent care treatment centres. A framework including a skill set was therefore initiated outlining the need for more non-ambulance placements within the undergraduate paramedic curriculum. This article reports the findings of a quantitative study, exploring the confidence levels in managing patients both before and after a minor illness/injury placement. It is quite clear that students who undertook the placement in minor illnesses and injury found it beneficial to their overall learning experience and confidence levels, as 85% of participants stated that their confidence had increased after this placement.

Over recent years, the scope of practice for paramedics in the UK has noticeably changed and expanded. According to Health Education England (2021), changes have been seen within national frameworks and across many clinical settings. A recent report from the College of Paramedics (CoP) (2018) concluded that 60% of paramedics are now going into roles within GP practices, minor injury units, and walk-in centres, focusing on the management of minor illnesses and injuries. A framework including a skill set was initiated by Collier (2021), which outlined the need for more non-ambulance placements within the undergraduate paramedic curriculum.

According to Brewster (2018), students that are undertaking a BSc in Paramedic Science, spend a small proportion of their clinical time in non-ambulance-based placements. Brewster's (2018) research has shown that this can affect the student's overall ability to understand certain conditions and how they are managed in the prehospital environment.

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Student paramedic
Paramedic placement
Minor injury
Patient care
Confidence levels