PMEDPRA10 Clinical Studies A, Placement in the Ambulance Service Course description

The course PMEDPRA10 comprises supervised clinical training, mainly in the road ambulance service. The learning outcomes from all the previous courses are actualised, integrated, tested in clinical practice and form the basis for the development of clinical competence. The students must be able to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that are necessary to solve tasks and challenges in clinical practice settings.

The learning outcomes are achieved through the completion of varied ambulance jobs. Students are expected to show progress, take responsibility and, to an increasing extent, make independent assessments of patients.

The student must have passed the first year of the programme or equivalent, except the second part of the exam in the course PMED1300, the Drug Calculations exam.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can explain how medical equipment is used for assessment, diagnostics and treatment of acutely ill and injured patients  
• can describe responsible drugs administration in relation to laws, regulations and local guidelines
• can explain how fundamental evidence-based guidelines are used in examinations, treatment and diagnostics of acutely ill and injured patients
• can explain the relevance of the Patients Rights’ Act in patient-centred care
• can explain the relevance of the Health Personnel Act in patient-centred care
• can describe the Patient Records Act
• can describe the significance of the Act relating to Control of Communicable Diseases in patient-centred care
• can describe the practice placements locations general routines and guidelines

Skills

The student

• can carry out routine daily and weekly tasks at the practice placement location in accordance with local guidelines
• masters relevant diagnostic medical equipment, including the transfer of electrocardiography (ECG) to the relevant receiving authority
• masters the use of digital radio in communication and interaction with relevant parties
• can apply risk assessment principles and implement measures to maintain their own, patients’ and other people’s health and safety
• masters basic use of infection control equipment
• can carry out patient conversations based on basic communication principles
• can assess and implement necessary interventions based on the primary survey of the acutely ill or injured patients in a professional and caring manner
• can facilitate the patient’s consent to health assistance independent of age, physical condition, maturity and experience
• can collect, critically assess and process patient data in accordance with relevant regulations of confidentiality
• can interact with patients, next of kin, colleagues, partners and others, independent of gender, age and ethnic background
• masters basic lifting and handling techniques
• can, in cooperation with the supervisor, hand out and administer pharmaceuticals to patients
• can monitor drug intake and observe possible immediate reactions to the administered drug
• masters the dilution of drugs
• can, in cooperation with the supervisor, assess and treat acutely ill or injured patients on the basis of signs and symptoms identified in the secondary survey in a professionally responsible and caring manner
• can cooperate with the supervisor in choosing the level of care and destination 
• can document relevant and necessary information about the patient in the patient care report form
• can cooperate with the supervisor on patient handover

General competence

The student  

• can handle hygiene and infection principles to provide responsible health care
• can show respect and care in a safe and efficient manner that fosters good relations with patients, next of kin, colleagues and partners
• can identify and reflect on laws that are relevant for professional practice
• can identify and reflect on ethical issues in dealings with patients, next of kin, colleagues and partners
• can reflect on their own learning strategies
• can handle feedback and guidance
• can reflect on interdisciplinary cooperation 

The work and teaching methods comprise supervised clinical training, seminars, simulation and skills training and work on reflection notes. Some of the students will receive training in driving emergency vehicles during the course, while other students will receive such training later on in the programme.

The course consists of two days of preparation and 15 weeks of supervised clinical training in the ambulance service. The content of the placement periods varies with the activities at the practice placement location at any time, and will therefore include a range of different arenas for clinical training in terms of problems, diagnoses and complexity. 

The following required coursework must be approved to pass clinical training: 

• Three reflection notes of 1,500 words (+/- 10%)*
• Submitted and signed clinical training document. 

* If the student takes driving training in PMEDPRA10, he/she only needs to submit two reflection notes of 1,500 words (+/- 10%). 

The student has up to two attempts to have the assignment approved during the placement period. If a written assignment is not approved, the student must rework it and submit it again. If the first attempt fails, the student will receive individual feedback and advice on what needs to be improved in order for the course requirement to be approved. The clinical practice placement will be registered as failed if the second attempt at meeting a written course requirement fails. This counts as one (1) attempt at passing the clinical practice placement.

Assessment of clinical practice placement. The minimum attendance requirement for the placement period is 90%. For more information about the attendance requirement, see ‘Assessment of placement in the ambulance service’ in the main section of the programme description.  

Not relevant.

Pass/fail.

The midway and final assessments are made by the practice placement supervisor. The contact lecturer at OsloMet participates in the midway and final evaluation as needed. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

20 credits overlap with the course PARAPRA1 Clinical Studies Part 1