Investigating career intentions of undergraduate paramedic students studying in Queensland, Australia

Introduction This study explores the career intentions of undergraduate university paramedic students. Other like studies have been completed before paramedicine registration, and this is the first career intentions study to focus on the Queensland perspective. Methods Second year Queensland University of Technology (QUT) undergraduate paramedic students (n=182) were invited to participate. Ethics approval was gained and consent to participate was implied by the completion of a mixed methods questionnaire developed from the extant literature. Data were coded and analysed using Stata 15.1 and NVIVO 12. Results The response rate was 47.3% (n=86). Findings indicated 82.35% of participants intend to pursue paramedic employment after graduating. Queensland Ambulance Service is the preferred choice of employer (78.05%), however 67.07% intended to apply to multiple services for employment, 62.2% are considering private industry employment and 59.76% are contemplating overseas work. Intended paramedicine career length revealed 39.5% of participants plan to work for 20 years or more, 29% for 6–10 years and 18.4% for 11–15 years. Qualitative findings suggest students are concerned about employment opportunities, dislocation from support networks, and feeling unprepared to work in other paramedic jurisdictions. Furthermore, the employer’s reputation, culture, internship program and career development opportunities impact on employment decisions. Conclusion The paramedic landscape in Australia appears to be changing. Although the majority of participants intend to work for jurisdictional ambulance services, students are exploring a range of employment opportunities. Understanding the career intentions of undergraduate paramedic students is essential for universities when preparing students for the transition to a globally evolving profession

« Bronzes grecs et romains, recherches récentes » — Hommage à Claude Rolley

Philologue, archéologue, historien, spécialiste des bronzes, Claude Rolley, disparu en 2007, occupa une place originale parmi les spécialistes du monde méditerranéen antique. Marqué par la découverte du cratère de Vix (en 1953) qu’il ne cessa d’étudier tout au long de sa carrière, il sut croiser recherches et approches sur les périodes à la fois classique et proto-historique, de la Laconie à la Bourgogne jusqu’à la Grande Grèce. Les bronzes, de toutes dimensions ou origines, dont il tint la chronique pendant près de 25 ans dans la Revue archéologique, étaient pour lui une source de réflexion multiple : stylistique, technique – il prenait en compte aussi bien les questions d’assemblage ou de fonte que la composition chimique des objets –, ou culturelle – ses travaux ont apporté des éclairages décisifs sur la formation des ateliers et la circulation des objets d’un centre de production à l’autre. À l’initiative de plusieurs de ses disciples, un colloque lui a rendu hommage (INHA, 16-17 juin 2009) : les textes qui suivent en sont le fruit

Arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias are among the most complex cases facing any clinician. While the field appears well defined and structured, the range of possible arrhythmias, how they are identified and how they should be managed are open to infinite variations that challenge even experienced cardiologists. Arrhythmias that share the same name can present with vastly different ECGs and produce clinical presentations that range from asymptomatic to near cardiac arrest. Variations in cardiac structure, disease progression, medications and past history can all cloud the decision-making process in a field that requires expertise and experience simply to identify the classic presentations..

Arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias are among the most complex cases facing any clinician. While the field appears well defined and structured, the range of possible arrhythmias, how they are identified and how they should be managed are open to infinite variations that challenge even experienced cardiologists. Arrhythmias that share the same name can present with vastly different ECGs and produce clinical presentations that range from asymptomatic to near cardiac arrest. Variations in cardiac structure, disease progression, medications and past history can all cloud the decision-making process in a field that requires expertise and experience simply to identify the classic presentations..

Paleonutrition and Food Practices in the Ancient Near East: Towards a Multidisciplinary Approach

Introduction: Clinical placements are viewed by stakeholders as an essential element of paramedic degree programs, enabling students to transfer theoretical knowledge from the classroom to an authentic clinical context. However, program practices relating to ambulance placements vary greatly across Australian universities. In Queensland, the state’s Ambulance Service voluntarily engages with universities to host student during clinical placements. Most clinical supervisors will host students from multiple institutions, and the variation in teaching requirements across universities increases the difficulty for clinical supervisors to effectively supervise students to meet their courses’ requirements. This level of complexity impacts industry, universities and more importantly, student learning. A standardised approach to clinical supervision during ambulance placements is needed to better engage and support key stakeholders and ensure an enhanced learning experience or students

A reflective practice model for paramedic students to self-direct their learning during ambulance clinical placements

Background No standardised model exists for paramedic students’ on-road clinical placements. The variation between paramedicine courses in Australia means students on placements have different levels of knowledge and clinical skills, and therefore different learning requirements. A new reflective practice model for on-road clinical placements was implemented into The University of Queensland’s Paramedicine program, requiring students to set their own learning objectives. This study investigated the ability of students to self-assess their learning using this approach. Summary of work Students were required to develop an individual learning plan for their clinical placement, based on their identified knowledge gaps, capabilities assessment, learning needs and course requirements. The final placement portfolio, after their placement, included a self-assessment of how well they met their learning objectives. The self-assessment data were used to explore the ability of students to develop appropriate and achievable learning objectives, through analysis of the discourse they used and range of learning objectives set. Summary of results This model provides paramedicine students with a more structured learning experience during on-road clinical placements, allowing them to address gaps in their knowledge; however students need to learn more about what makes a good learning objective, as many were broad with no measurable outcome. Conclusions and take-home message Students need support and guidance when setting their own learning plans. Requiring students to take control over their learning during on-road clinical placements can improve learning outcomes, however students need support and guidance when setting their own learning objectives

Léxico Español Actual

Introduction/Background In recent years paramedic education has transitioned from a vocational model into the tertiary education sector. The University of Queensland (UQ) offers a 3 year Bachelor of Paramedic Science program that employs a Case Based Learning (CBL) teaching model. The curriculum is designed to develop reasoning skills by linking the core biological sciences to clinical practice. Purpose/Objectives A longitudinal study design is being utilised to explore whether innate reasoning ability predicts a student’s academic performance and progression within the UQ Bachelor of Paramedic Science program. A validated instrument was administered to year one paramedic science students on the first day of semester 1, 2014. This instrument measures a student’s capacity to reason across the domains of quantitative and formal, verbal and plausible, and critical reasoning. Demographic information was also collected to isolate the effect of admissions variables. Issues/Questions for exploration or ideas for discussion This research will explore whether innate reasoning ability predicts academic performance in an undergraduate CBL paramedic program. A qualitative approach is being used to analyse the baseline data against student achievement in year one science and clinical course

Retracted out-of-hospital care and paramedicine-related publications: A scoping review

Our work aims to map retracted publications associated with out-of-hospital care and paramedicine