My first-year experience as a Paramedic Science student

Paramedic Science student Fatima reflects on her first year of study at ARU, which included a hands-on placement with an ambulance service.

My first year studying Paramedic Science was one of the most eye-opening years I have had in education.

I came to university at the age of 18 having moved far away from home. I always had a lot of excitement [about studying] the course and looked forward to learning more and more.

What do you learn on a Paramedic Science degree?

Anatomy and physiology

Your first trimester is focused on anatomy and physiology (A&P) of the human body, which was a brilliant experience as we were fortunate enough to be able to use the cadaver labs available to us. It was an excellent way to visualise the human anatomy and how exceptional it is.

Alongside the A&P module we also completed a professional practice module. This delved into the role of a paramedic and what it means to be a registered paramedic.

Learning to assess patients

After the Christmas break, we had two more core modules to complete, which would teach us enough to go out on our clinical placements.

We completed a Fundamentals of Patient Assessment module which taught us all about communication with patients and how to carry out initial assessments. Our first skill sessions were taught in this module which was a brilliant way to learn with the other students. It also included our first OSCE, which is a clinical examination that is done face to face with an examiner. They simulate a scenario that would be true to life between you and a patient.

This module puts you in a very good position to go out for your first placements and helps build your confidence when it comes to interacting with patients.

Chest pain and shortness of breath

The last theory element in Year 1 is the Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath module. This teaches you about some of the most common presentations you will come across among the patients you treat. You learn how to assess the respiratory system, listen to patients’ lungs and much more. For the cardiac elements, you learn how to carry out ECGs, how to interpret them, and how patients are most like to present when they are going through a cardiac event.

Paramedic placement

Last but definitely not least, and what the whole year builds up to, is your first clinical placement. You will either be based in the East of England with EEAST, or in London with LAS.

Personally, this was one of the best experiences I went through. By no means am I saying it was an easy experience as it did have its challenges, but it really puts into perspective what the job is about. Making a difference to people’s days is a feel-good feeling like no other.

However, I always try to be transparent about the challenges. Your placement schedule is based around your allocated mentor; this means having to be there for the shift no matter what time it is (shift patterns vary from earlies, lates and night shifts). The standard shift is 12 hours on the road, excluding the commute to and from your place of residence.

Organisation is key during your placements as you end up spending a lot of time learning and out on the roads. It's vital to keep up with eating and sleeping well as it makes a massive difference to being able to focus and learn. Every individual will develop a routine that works best for them which will make future placements easier.

Look after yourself

By studying Paramedic Science you will be experiencing a lot of firsts, which can be a little overwhelming sometimes. This makes it vital to prioritise your mental and physical well-being and to look after yourself. Talking to peers about experiences is especially helpful as no one will understand like they do.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first year of university and have met people that have made a huge impact on my life. I look forward to being able to do this as a career.

Fatima studies Paramedic Science at ARU. You can find out if you have what it takes to become a paramedic at one of our Paramedic Science Taster Days.