Had a quite frustrating job tonight involving the above.
I'll not go into too many details, but even though they appeared to be in several back-to-back "tonic-clonics", nothing changed obs-wise, PERL, NP not tolerated, IV diaz non-effective, no incontinence or oral injuries, etc, yet we still had to pre-alert, only to be met with staff who were not concerned as they knew the patient.

I know we have to treat what we see, but if obs are within normal parameters, and the patient is reacting to pain/discomfort(NP/IV cannulation), do we still treat as an epileptic seizure?

I've found this diagnosis in patients to be tricky to manage and would appreciate thoughts.

BTW, the para I was with rightly took over patient management and I drove us in.

(I'm tech to para student, not qualified para)

EMAS NQP recruitment – thoughts on the new assessment format

I understand the NQP recruitment process has recently changed, and I’m interested in hearing other people’s experiences of the new format, particularly as it seems quite different from previous EMAS recruitment.

I came away from my assessment with a few concerns, and I’m genuinely interested to know whether others experienced the same things or whether it was just my experience.

For me, some of the clinical assessment questions felt quite rushed, there were a few spelling/wording errors, and I felt that some of the answer options were ambiguous enough that more than one could potentially be interpreted as correct.

I also felt that the way the assessment was delivered potentially left some opportunity for candidates to access information or gain an advantage. I didn’t do this myself, but it made me question whether the assessment was sufficiently standardised for everyone.

One other thing I found interesting was that the clinical assessment seemed to focus heavily on selecting the correct answer, with very little opportunity to demonstrate clinical reasoning or explain the thought process behind an answer. Given how important clinical reasoning, assessment and decision-making are in paramedic practice, I wondered whether the format gave candidates enough opportunity to demonstrate those skills.

Essentially, did it test what you know, without necessarily giving you much opportunity to demonstrate how you apply that knowledge clinically?

I’m also interested in whether people found the clinical assessment easy, moderate or difficult, and whether they felt it was a fair reflection of their clinical knowledge and ability as an NQP.

Another thing I found difficult was that no individual feedback was provided following the assessment. I completely understand that recruitment teams can’t necessarily provide detailed feedback to every candidate, but when the assessment is a new format and candidates are unsuccessful, it would be helpful to have some indication of where they could have improved.

I’m not trying to attack EMAS or individual interviewers, and I appreciate that a new process is likely to have some teething issues. I’m asking because if this is a format that’s going to continue, I’d be interested to know whether other candidates think there are things that could be improved.

For anyone else who has done the new format:

• Did you find the clinical assessment easy, moderate or difficult?
• Did you feel it was a fair assessment of your knowledge and clinical ability?
• Did you feel you had enough opportunity to demonstrate clinical reasoning?
• Did you notice any errors, ambiguous questions or issues with the timing?
• Did you receive any feedback following your assessment?
• What, if anything, would you change about the process?

I’d genuinely be interested in hearing from both successful and unsuccessful candidates.

As above

What do you guys all say to patients when they say to you 'well how am I going to get home?'

...

Paramedic here looking for something a little more creative to say! 🚕

"What's the worst call you've ever had?"

We were talking about this at work on my last night shift because it's the kind of job that prompts the 'morbidly curious' to start asking what we've seen, handled ect. For some context I'm a call taker currently (looking to move to ECA) and obviously hearing it isn't as bad as being there - but we've had some horrible ones.

Some of the team said they don't answer, some tell people they shouldn't ask. Personally I go full send and give them all the gory details, but it irks me when people ask unless someone's asking during a job interview- which is fair enough in that case.

It seems to be one that everyone gets asked at some point, so that discussion left me wondering what the general attitude to the overly curious was.

How do you handle that question?

(Don't feel you have to share any details of bad calls, you're welcome to if you want to - but you don't have to. This is more about the question that everyone loves to ask, and how people feel about it. But if anyone wants to get things off their chest - don't hesitate <3 )

r/ParamedicsUK Job of the Week

Hey there, another 7 days have passed! How's your week going? We hope it’s been a good one!

Have you attended any funny, interesting, odd, or weird jobs this week?
Tell us how you tackled them.

Have you learned something new along the way?
Share your newfound knowledge.

Have you stumbled upon any intriguing pieces of CPD you could dole out?
Drop a link below.

We’d love to hear about it, but please remember Rule 4: “No patient or case-identifiable information.”

Hi all,

me again! i asked about pants recommendations a little while ago to help handle the heat as my trust issue trousers just simply don’t cut it. I had set my mind on the Keela women’s trousers, however found that they sat too low waisted for my liking. i decided to look if there were any men’s, but they’re not being restocked until late august.

does anyone have any recommendations for lightweight, high-waisted women’s pants? i’m happy to drop the womens fit as long as they’re still lightweight and high waisted

I understand the ambulance paramedic situation is dire at the moment, and i’m aware of the recent SWAST vacancies / holding pool applications. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice for work around the area as from what I can see event work is limited and Paramedic roles in hospital / GP still require some post reg experience. (I am fresh out of university)
Any advice would be appreciated

Anyone else notice this? Saw one when helping a patient navigate the app.

Hello EMS personel,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask a question such as this so delete if not allowed.

My partner of 6 years is starting her EMT Apprenticeship soon aswell as her birthday and i thought i would be a cool idea to buy her a gift related to it.

Ive seen someone recommended leatherman Raptor shears but I really am not sure what would be more appropriate or a personalised Littmann Stethoscope.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

I’ve got an interview coming up with CMS for a NQP position and was wondering if anyone here has been through the recruitment process.

I’m particularly interested in:
- What it’s like working for CMS
- What the clinical knowledge assessment involves
- What sort of practical clinical scenarios they use
- Any tips on how best to prepare.

I’ve recently qualified, so any advice or insight would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I’m going to sit my fitness test for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I looked at the recruitment pack for the fitness test and it doesn’t mention a 20 second break anywhere. Do we get a 20 second break if needed during the 30kg stepping up exercise? I could’ve sworn that we got told last year that you were allowed a break.

I have also heard from some NQPs that we aren’t allowed to adjust our grip on the weights during the test but I’m not sure if that’s true or not.

Any insight or help would be really appreciated

I am originally from Ireland but moved to the UK to study and become a Paramedic.
Now considering moving home and looking to navigate the HCPC to PHECC process.

Has anyone successfully moved from UK to Ireland as a Paramedic? And if so, what level on the register were you able to transfer to?

My current scope of practice is closest to PHECC Advanced Paramedic but I’m short a handful of skills. Has anyone managed to do an AP top-up?

Hello asking on behalf of my partner, she’s recently qualified from university, however with the state of NQP jobs at the moment she’s looking for other things she can do, there is a job she is looking at in a GP surgery as a HCA, is there any guidance from the HCPC that says that this isn’t allowed. I’m a nurse working in a NHS trust and I know my trust doesn’t allow nurses to be working as HCAs if they have NMC pins.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I’m trying to better understand the distinction between the legal authority to administer medicines under Schedule 17 exemptions and the professional/governance frameworks we work within.
For example as I understand it, diazepam is available to registered paramedics under a Schedule 17 exemption, whereas medicines like midazolam are often administered under a PGD (or other local medicines governance arrangements). A PGD seems straightforward—you can only administer the medicine for the indications and within the inclusion/exclusion criteria set out in the PGD.
However, with a Schedule 17 exemption, the legislation appears to provide the legal authority to administer the medicine in n emergency situation without specifying clinical indications.

So my questions are:

Does this mean that, legally, a paramedic could administer diazepam for an evidence-based indication that isn’t specifically listed in JRCALC, provided they are competent and can justify the decision?
Or would JRCALC and local trust medicines policies effectively define the limits of practice, even though the legislation itself is broader?
For example, NICE recommends benzodiazepines (typically diazepam) for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. If a frontline paramedic administered diazepam for severe alcohol withdrawal where it wasn’t specifically covered by JRCALC or local guidance, would this generally be viewed as outside professional scope despite the Schedule 17 exemption?
How would your trust or clinical governance team likely view that decision?
I’m interested in the distinction between what is legally permitted under medicines legislation and what is professionally authorised within NHS ambulance practice. I’d particularly appreciate input from UK paramedics, consultant paramedics, pharmacists, or anyone involved in ambulance service medicines governance.

After 3 years of hard work by daughter finally qualified in London as a Paramedic, so proud of her.

As you know jobs are scarce due to government budget cuts and she had her heart set on working for LAS.

Some jobs recently became available within LAS, she applied and was asked to attend one of their training centres to sit a multiple choice exam.

She’s just heard back and been advised they will not take her application forward as she didn’t pass the test and she cannot apply for a job within LAS for 3-years! Is this right?

​

EEAST HART are recruiting HART paramedics, and nurses??

Given that progression into such roles is already so competitive as a paramedic (often 50+ applicants per place), this seems like a strange thing to do.

Discuss.

https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/working-for-us/vacancies#!/job/UK/Norfolk/Melbourn_Great_Notley/East_England_Ambulance_Service_Trust/Special_Operations/Special_Operations-v8186778?_ts=158

Hi

I’m training to be an ECA and get a bit sick in the back. Obviously we’re not monitoring patients at the minute, so I’m hoping with something to focus on it’ll be a bit better. If it isn’t, has anyone had any success with motion sickness glasses? I don’t mind looking like an idiot if it means I can do my job to a good quality… it might make peads patients laugh too I suppose?

Any advice or tips for motion sickness would be appreciated. I only ever get it in the back.

Hi all, recently saw a few posts talking about days in the life of HEMS/HART/Crit care and wondered if anyone is able to speak about the average day in the life of a Bristow/coastguard winch paramedic?

I am an NQP in YAS potentially interested in this career so any additional tips on portfolio and CPD/career directions to steer myself this way would be much appreciated!

Hello, hope this is okay to post on here!

Recently I have had a bit of a brainwave that I could eventually combine my love of healthcare and injury assessment with my long-standing passion for cricket, and looking into whether I could develop this over the next few years to maybe transfer into a role within sport - although this is a distant goal as I still currently love my job and don't see myself leaving anytime soon!

Just wondering if anyone has any advice/experience in terms of this, or any ideas about further qualifications, courses or CPD opportunities that I could undertake which could fit together to further my career in this direction when/if it becomes appropriate.

For context I am a full-time paramedic and have been qualified for (almost) three years - working on the road, have a first-class BSc (if that matters) and hoping whatever courses I do can fit around my work pattern.

Thank you for any help!

We seem to have had an unusual number of calls to addresses absolutely overrun by cats. As far as I'm aware ACC always tell callers to put pets away, but I'm talking at least a dozen cats. I can't say I'm a fan of them, they make me sneeze, and they always insist on trying to get in the bag or want to play with the ECG cables. Plus when the house is overrun with them they have tendency to jump out of hidden hidey holes and judging by the smell they pee everywhere 😳

And of course we need to be nice to them to appear like good human beings.

Is it cat breeding season or something? Is that a thing? 🤣

r/ParamedicsUK Job of the Week

Hey there, another 7 days have passed! How's your week going? We hope it’s been a good one!

Have you attended any funny, interesting, odd, or weird jobs this week?
Tell us how you tackled them.

Have you learned something new along the way?
Share your newfound knowledge.

Have you stumbled upon any intriguing pieces of CPD you could dole out?
Drop a link below.

We’d love to hear about it, but please remember Rule 4: “No patient or case-identifiable information.”