Paramedic Science

Developing Paramedic Clinical Practice

This module develops the students supervised workplace experiential learning, building upon leading and assessment achieved in year one. Students will continue to develop as well as demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills at a minimally supervised level, undertaking practice placement across a range of clinical environments under the supervision of an appropriate healthcare professional.

Alongside practice placement, developing clinical practice for paramedic will include a number of theory-based sessions on campus to further support the student’s development in this year of education. During this module you’ll undertake the following clinical practice experience, which is assessed at a minimal supervised level of practice:

• 450 Ambulance Service Practice Placement;

• 225 of non-ambulance practice placement; 

• 25 hours of simulation-based practice;

• 50 hours simulation-based practice with module Developing Patient Assessment and Management.

Mental Health: Application to Paramedic Practice

This module aims to explore mental health across the lifespan and its application to Paramedic practice. 

The module covers assessment and theoretical perspectives that underpin diagnosis within mental health care, with particular reference to psychosocial and biomedical theories. Paramedic students develop knowledge, understanding and application of core aspects of mental health care including assessment, care planning and intervention across a range of disorders encountered in Paramedic practice.

Paramedic Research Methods and Analysis

This module will enable the student to acquire research related knowledge and skills.  They will have the opportunity to examine the evidence base of practice for current occupational therapy practice. Students will develop their knowledge of the research process, the associated research methods, recruitment, data collection, data analysis as well as the ethical considerations and risk associated with health and social care research. 

The focus will be on a broad spectrum of research designs and will prepare the student for completing an evidence based research proposal / project in their final year of the BSc (Hons) degree.

Pathophysiology for Paramedics

This double module explores a range of pathological disease processes of the whole-body system approach throughout the lifespan. It builds on knowledge gained during students Level 4 studies in Anatomy & Physiology - Application to Paramedic Science. 

Students will have the opportunity to relate information learned from this module to the management of patients in practice with a variety of diseases and disorders.

Developing Paramedic Patient Assessment and Management

This module aims to enable the student, through sound clinical decision making, to apply service user assessment and management strategies in the out of hospital context across a range of non-urgent, urgent and emergency situations. 

The focus of the module is to support and facilitate development minimally supervised delivery of care across the life span, taking into account the complex issues surrounding this process to service users belonging to vulnerable groups.

Applied Practice Education

This module aims to promote an understanding of education and learning approaches systems that will contribute to paramedic professional development in healthcare settings. 

Upon completion of this module, students will acquire knowledge and understanding of preferences possessed by learners and others in the practice education environment. Additionally, they will be able to plan and facilitate learning events to meet the needs of learners, applying diverse and innovative educational approaches.

Enhanced Paramedic Clinical Practice

This module will enhance students’ knowledge and skills within clinical and operational environments in which a Paramedic may practice. Throughout the module students will enhance their theoretical concepts, equipping them with appropriate knowledge and understanding, which they will consolidate in a range of supervised clinical practice placements. 

All practice undertaken by student paramedics will be evidenced in the Practice Assessment Document and will follow relevant professional guidelines. During this module you’ll undertake the following clinical practice experience, which is assessed at an independently level of practice:

• 450 Ambulance Service Practice Placement;

• 225 hours of non-ambulance practice placement;

• 25 hours of simulation-based practice; 

• 25 hours simulation-based practice with module Enhanced Paramedic Patient Assessment and Management.

Enhanced Paramedic Patient Assessment and Management

This Enhanced Patient Assessment & Management Module will consolidate student’s prior knowledge and understanding of professional practice acquired at Level’s four and five. 

Throughout the module students will be introduced to relevant theoretical assessment and management concepts, with a focus upon urgent and unscheduled healthcare presentations. This will equip them with knowledge and understanding consummate with Level 6 Student Paramedic Practice and transition to professional registration as determined by relevant scopes of practice.

Pharmacology & Medicines Management for Paramedics

This module focuses on the knowledge, understanding and application of pharmacology and medicines administration from the paramedic perspective. Student learning builds on the knowledge, understanding and practice experience gained through previous year one module on anatomy and physiology and paramedic clinical practice.

Paramedic Science Dissertation

The dissertation provides an opportunity to investigate a subject of individual interest.  You will follow a research question employing a literature review methodology and demonstrate ability to search for relevant research, analyse and critically evaluate evidence and to present findings.

This is an honours level double module which is completed by the middle of the final semester. It will help you to bring together the academic skills that you have gained through all the preceding theory and practice modules of the paramedic programme.

Work placements

Clinical practice experience is an important part of your programme of study, developing the behaviours and skills required to practise as a modern paramedic. There are 750 hours of practice education placements each year, where you’ll always practise as a supernumerary Student Paramedic. 

The planning and organisation of these clinical placements allows your learning to integrate theory and clinical practice. A structure of development allows your experience to build upon ‘Fundamentals’ which are introduced in Year One, ‘Developing’ in Year Two, and ‘Enhanced’ in Year Three.   

You’ll experience placement including operational experience with SCAS to learn safe and effective practice in this setting. You will also gain experience in other health, social and care settings.

More information is available about placement locations, allocation, quality assurance and reasonable adjustments on the Practice Education site https://www.brookes.ac.uk/hls/support/practice-education/paramedic/.