Student paramedic jobs are a great way to ease into paramedic work, especially if entering health work after a long break after training. Governments and health providers worldwide operate student paramedic programs as a way of providing an induction to the rigours of paramedic work, and to assess the suitability of candidates.
Student paramedic jobs usually run on rotation several times a year, and are designed to correlate with intakes from Universities and Colleges. Applicants submit their information to the assessment body and then undergo a series of tests, which are used to determine their suitability for paramedic work.
Students are expected to hold a manual drivers license, be in good standing within the community (i.e. a clean criminal record), have some first aid experience – a current first aid certificate is minimum – and generally be a Citizen or at least a permanent resident of the country they intend to study paramedicine at.
Student paramedics are expected to have a great deal of experience and training in first aid. Their certification needs to be current at the time of application for the student paramedic job, and practical experience – a first aid volunteer at camps, festivals, etc, for example – is well regarded.
Administrators also take applicant’s high school education and work experience into consideration. Paramedics need to be able to perform under pressure, make decisions, follow procedures and many other qualities that are honed through normal work life. An outstanding academic record is not strictly necessary, but paramedics need to have comprehensive understanding of English and basic Maths skills, as they need to be able to calculate dosage on the fly.
Student paramedics also need to pass a fairly rigorous physical test. Being a paramedic is a physically demanding task. Particularly for paramedics operating on a remote deployment, paramedics will often be at rest, sitting for a long period of time, and then have a lot of physical activity at short notice. Fatigue can make paramedics less effective at their work, so paramedics need to be in reasonable shape to handle the stresses of the job. Paramedics also operate in confined spaces, lifting and twisting to get different tools and medicines, and need to be able to lift and restrain patients when necessary.
As a rough guide, student paramedics should work on their:
Student paramedic jobs usually run on rotation several times a year, and are designed to correlate with intakes from Universities and Colleges. Applicants submit their information to the assessment body and then undergo a series of tests, which are used to determine their suitability for paramedic work.
Students are expected to hold a manual drivers license, be in good standing within the community (i.e. a clean criminal record), have some first aid experience – a current first aid certificate is minimum – and generally be a Citizen or at least a permanent resident of the country they intend to study paramedicine at.
Student paramedics are expected to have a great deal of experience and training in first aid. Their certification needs to be current at the time of application for the student paramedic job, and practical experience – a first aid volunteer at camps, festivals, etc, for example – is well regarded.
Administrators also take applicant’s high school education and work experience into consideration. Paramedics need to be able to perform under pressure, make decisions, follow procedures and many other qualities that are honed through normal work life. An outstanding academic record is not strictly necessary, but paramedics need to have comprehensive understanding of English and basic Maths skills, as they need to be able to calculate dosage on the fly.
Student paramedics also need to pass a fairly rigorous physical test. Being a paramedic is a physically demanding task. Particularly for paramedics operating on a remote deployment, paramedics will often be at rest, sitting for a long period of time, and then have a lot of physical activity at short notice. Fatigue can make paramedics less effective at their work, so paramedics need to be in reasonable shape to handle the stresses of the job. Paramedics also operate in confined spaces, lifting and twisting to get different tools and medicines, and need to be able to lift and restrain patients when necessary.
As a rough guide, student paramedics should work on their:
- Manual dexterity and grip strength: fine motor control, placement of delicate objects, fine adjustments.
- Back strength: having a fit and healthy back is of paramount importance for paramedics A significant amount of the challenges paramedics face involve clearing debris, moving patients, often at awkward angles, and getting them onto and off stretchers and ambulances. Having a weak back can lead to injuries that debilitate the paramedic and take a long time to recover from.
- Leg and arm strength: lifting patients and equipment derives most of the power from the legs. Paramedics need reasonable arms strength when moving equipment.
- Cardiovascular fitness: Paramedics will occasionally need to move quickly and potentially over significant distance. They may also need to transport a patient over difficult terrain, e.g. broken ground, staircases, for some time on a stretcher, and need to be able to handle that without getting exhausted.