This article describes how an innovative approach to mental health training for student paramedics can prepare our future workforce with the skills and knowledge to provide high quality care. Action research methodology is used to describe the delivery and evaluation of the placement, identifying its key and sustainable learning impacts for all involved. Key to its success was the co-production of the placement from the beginning to end including service users and qualified paramedics. The outcome of this placement enabled students to develop the confidence and ability to provide compassionate personcentred care as well as the skills to cultivate self-care and resilience.
Peer-assisted learning is now being recognised as an effective learning strategy to support the development of health professionals. Furthermore, adopting coaching style dialogue and conversation enhances learning and development for both the coach and coachee and, in this instance, for year 1 and year 3 student paramedics. This article describes how the implementation of peer-assisted learning into the classroom setting can help to support student paramedics in the development of their own clinical skills and knowledge. It describes broadly the evaluation findings of a session whereby year 3 student paramedics coached year 1 student paramedics to further develop a range of clinical skills through demonstration and discussion. A summary overview of the findings reflects the multiple benefits of this innovative approach to facilitate learning, including a notable increase in professional knowledge and skills for both groups of students.
Background: Registered health professionals have a responsibility to facilitate learning in the workplace and those who are supporting students should have the skills and knowledge to take on this role. Paramedics are now working in a variety of healthcare settings. Regulatory bodies recognise that students should have opportunities to develop their supervision skills before qualifying, so practice supervisor training was implemented into the final year curriculum at one university. Aim: To explore the value of incorporating practice supervisor training into the curriculum. Methods: Final-year student paramedics were provided with practice supervisor training as part of their degree. This training was delivered over three seminars before the students’ final preregistration placement. Students were invited to provide anonymous feedback via an evaluation form. Findings: A significant number of students felt prepared to take on the practice supervisor role when qualified. Conclusion: Practice supervisor training, when delivered as part of the curriculum, is of benefit to students.
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