Qualifying as a paramedic amid a global pandemic that had little hope of resolving, and joining a workforce that was under possibly the highest amount of stress in years, was not how I expected my graduation to be. It has come with its own set of challanges and trials; however, I strongly believe that once we're through, I and the rest of the NQPs will be better clinicians because of it. One benefit to come out of the repetitive days at home, layers upon layers of PPE and the increased difficulty of everyday tasks, was the opportunity to reflect and determine the type of paramedic I want to be.
There is a continuous mindset I've noticed that exists when it comes to NQPs—the only route to take upon graduating is the ambulance service. While, as students, we are told about paramedics working in a variety of areas, from primary care to oil rigs, hardly any NQPs head in these directions. This may be a result of a fear of non-conformity. As a student, you spend most of your placement time in the back of an ambulance with no exposure to paramedics in different areas; therefore it is only natural to follow this path.
I understand the driving force behind the ideology that NQPs must start their careers in an NHS trust ambulance service. Multiple hours under a mentor's supervision, structured formats in accessing and providing support as well as the comfort of being surrounded by many who were in your place. However, if your passions lie elsewhere: research, minor injuries, teaching—there is no reason why you cannot begin to explore it.
I decided to take some time and find out where my passions lie upon graduating. I loved being part of a frontline crew but didn't want to commit 2 years without fully exploring my options. Hence, I decided to make the most of the opportunities presented to me. While I didn't have the ease that some NQPs may have as the route I chose meant I wasn't seen as ‘newly qualified’, I was ready to overcome that challenge. It was frightening and full of apprehension but it was definitely the right decision for me.
I applied to multiple companies—each with a range of different roles—and balanced my time by committing some time to each one. I covered football matches, triathlons and horse racing, which made me realise that even though there is a lot of downtime, you have to always be alert as anything can happen. I have also been teaching clinical skills and assessing OSCEs at University—it is unbelievable how much you forget the moment you have had some time away from the demanding academic life of a student and it definitely made me more aware on keeping up with student notes. I have spent some time on the frontline, in primary care and helping out with COVID testing, each using a different skillset and approach to managing patients. In the non-clinical sphere, I have taken up projects with the College of Paramedics as well as the NHS leadership academy. Often we get caught up in the clinical aspects and overlook the value leadership, ethics and social awareness. Being part of these projects has helped me to understand our importance beyond helping patients, such as our presence in wider bodies such as the NHS.
While I have taken a range of different routes since I graduated in June, I have not yet decided on the right path for me. However, I am realising that it's okay to not have it all figured out. By exposing myself to more of this multifaceted career and giving myself a chance to try new things, eventually I will make that decision.