References
Paramedic transition into an academic role in universities: a scoping review
Abstract
Objectives:
In Australia and New Zealand, there is increasing demand for academically qualified paramedic practitioners to assume academic roles in university paramedic programs. However, little is known about the transition from paramedic practice to an academic role within a university. This scoping review was initiated to find any relevant literature that could answer the question, ‘What is known about the transition of industry-based paramedic professionals to academic roles in universities?’
Design:
This scoping review used a five-stage framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley, which identified the research question, relevant studies, study selection, charting the data and collating, and summarising and reporting results.
Data sources:
Key search terms were selected to achieve the broadest acquisition of potential articles and other sources of information. The terms were used to search Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Wiley Online, Informit, and Google Scholar databases. The SPIDER tool was used to assist with the determination of the key search terms used in this review.
Review methods:
An extensive search of titles was conducted, original articles were sourced and then inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select articles that were appropriate to the research question.
Results:
In exploring the question: ‘What is known about the transition of industry-based paramedic professionals to academic roles in universities?” no articles were deemed relevant’.
Conclusions:
The dearth of literature on the transition of industry-based paramedics to academic roles within universities is a major gap but perhaps, not surprising, given that paramedicine is still moving toward professionalisation. However, as the paramedic profession matures, the demand for degree level education will increase, with an associated increase in demand for paramedic academics. Developing knowledge of transition experiences will be central to the successful recruitment of new paramedic academics.
In this article we present our findings from a scoping review that sought to identify what is known about the transition from industry-based paramedic professional to an academic role within universities. The position and scope of practice of paramedics is evolving (Stirling et al, 2007; Bigham et al, 2010). Traditionally, paramedicine was focused on medical and trauma emergencies within the public safety model of out-of-hospital care. This encompasses the response to medical and trauma emergencies by public safety agencies, such as ambulance services and fire brigades. However, over the last few years, there has been a trend toward paramedics having wider participation in the provision of primary health care, with community paramedic models now more prevalent (Lord, 2003; Stirling et al, 2007; Williams et al, 2009; O'Meara, 2009, 2014; Bigham et al, 2010; Evashkevich and Fitzgerald, 2014). To ensure that paramedics have the knowledge and skills to function in a rapidly changing and diversified health-care system, and different and emerging roles, there is a movement of paramedic education into tertiary education institutions. The move to universities is part of the professionalisation of paramedics, and is similar to the pathways taken by other health professional groups, notably nurses.
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