The role of ambulance clinicians in management and leadership

Ambulance clinicians, by the very nature of the role that they fulfil, and the environment within which they operate, are ‘professional problem solvers’. They are experienced in applying their knowledge, skills and expertise to finding innovative ways to solve the unique problems, and manage the complex situations, that they encounter throughout the working day. Often, solutions must be found and applied quickly, in time critical situations, and utilizing scarce resources.

Initial decisions often have to be made and actions taken, based on limited information. As more information emerges, further decisions are made and action plans adapted. Problems in need of a solution may be clinical in nature, or connected to general scene and incident management. Equally they may be organizational in origin, relating to communications, fleet, or equipment. They may also concern personnel—where ambulance clinicians often assume both formal and informal leadership roles among peers, and in supporting colleagues undertaking development.

Many may argue that these aspects of management and leadership are simply fundamental to the role. However, others may not have considered that providing ‘management’ and ‘leadership’ is a significant part of what an ambulance clinician does.