General Description
This is an ideal career for intuitive thinkers. Ambulance Paramedics provide pre-hospital emergency care and treatment of patients. You use medical knowledge and skills to treat injured and ill patients in the pre-hospital environment.
Career Advice - Ambulance Paramedic Career
You work in teams, in shifts and closely with members of other professions and emergency services such as fire fighters, police and SES.
What you do every day?
On any given day, Ambulance Paramedics may perform the following tasks:
- Attend medical emergencies and accidents which may require the administration of advanced life support
- Assess, treat and manage the patients treatment en route to hospital
- Perform invasive techniques such as intravenous canulation, administration of pain relieving drugs, fluid resuscitation in the trauma setting and advanced airway management
- Lift and place patients on stretchers, load the stretchers into ambulances and transport patients to hospital
- drive ambulances to sites of emergencies and transport patients to medical facilities
- Prepare patient care records and other written reports on the state of a patients' injuries and the treatment provided
- Triage patients to the most appropriate medical facility
- Provide routine transport for patients from home to hospital and return, e.g. for patients requiring further treatment or specialised treatment such as occupational therapy and chemotherapy
- Perform daily vehicle and equipment check making sure that ambulances and medical supplies, including drugs are accounted for and that equipment is in good working order
- Attend public gatherings, such as large sports events, where accidents or other health emergencies may occur
Personality that best fits this occupation
You need to display certain behaviours and skills to succeed as a Ambulance Paramedic. You need a good level of health and fitness and the ability to think clearly, problem solve and act quickly whilst controlling emotions in stressful situations.
You must have highly developed decision making, judgement skills and the ability to communicate them clearly. You also have advanced interpersonal awareness and natural chameleon, empathetic and caring nature.
Your actions save lives.
Best thing about this career
Ambulance paramedics play a vital and respected role in their local communities. You will join a team of dedicated, like-minded people and play an integral role in maintaining the health, well-being and safety of your community.
The work is challenging and varied and the rewards can be great. It is not surprising that in 2008, ambulance paramedics were again voted Australia's most trusted profession for the fifth consecutive year (source: Reader's Digest 2008). Your services are needed, vital, acknowledged and appreciated.
Worst thing about this career
Drugs and alcohol are at the cause of a disturbing increase in patient verbal or physical assaults and risk to AP lives. Shiftwork constantly changes your ‘body clock’ and emergency call outs don’t help. Pulling badly injured motor vehicle accident victims is never fun and experiencing a death on route to ER is even worse.
You have to believe in and cling to hope and that you can make a difference otherwise you’re in the wrong profession.
About the Author
Ambulance Victoria
The author of this occupation profile is a highly respected within industry but due to time commitments has a little more work to do to complete the profile. Please check back over the next two weeks
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