A simulated wilderness exercise: the development of relational competence in paramedic students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a cognitively and physically challenging simulated wilderness exercise (SWE) on the development of relational competence in senior paramedic students. New paramedic graduates reportedly bring limited relational competence to their work role. The SWE, conducted in a wilderness landscape in Central Victoria, Australia was developed to address this limitation. Our study, an interpretative qualitative design, used a convenience sample of paramedic students who attended the three-day event (n=29). Qualitative data were collected through participant field diary and focus groups. Thematic analysis of study data identified four themes associated with relational competence, with each giving voice to participants’ new understandings of themselves in the work environment, namely: ‘interpersonal relating’, ‘maturity, respect and tolerance’, ‘self-awareness in the team environment’ and ‘belonging and professional identity’. It is clear that the challenge of working in teams in an unfamiliar and physically taxing environment prompted and/or extended relational competence in study participants. The practice implication of this finding is that these graduates will perform the relational aspects of their work role with greater ease, thus strengthening transition to normal work pressures in their first professional work role.

Emergency medical services core competencies: a Delphi study

“…According to Spencer (30), 'health outcomes deteriorate when health professionals do not provide care that is culturally appropriate'. The concept not only affects patient interaction, but also other team members in their dealings with one another (31). As the workforce in Saudi Arabia is multi-national, educational curricula should accommodate the need for training and simulation which represent societal needs.…”

Community Ambulance Response Trolleys (Cart): Preparing Students for the Paramedic Workplace

“…Evidence shows that peer assisted teaching and learning can be a positive feature of paramedic education (13) and students viewed the CART as having made a positive contribution to their ability to relate to peers and a conduit to a collaborative learning. As such, CART can be viewed as improving 'relational competence' in a similar way to other exercises premised on improving peer interaction (14). Further, the CART system facilitated collaborative approaches to learning, which familiarised students with the 'language' of expectations around the management of paramedic equipment and the roles paramedics play in maintaining 'tools of trade'.…”

Experiences of learning, development and preparedness for clinical practice among undergraduate paramedicine students, graduate/intern paramedics and their preceptors: a qualitative systematic review

“…The twenty six qualitative studies were published over a thirteen-year period from 2006 to 2019. Studies used semi-structured in person interviews; 19,20,29,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] open ended interview questions, 8,[47][48][49][50] or focus groups, 2,9,25,[51][52][53][54][55][56][57] to collect data. Sample sizes ranged from 1 to 96 for studies using verbal interviews or focus groups.…”

“…Sample sizes ranged from 1 to 96 for studies using verbal interviews or focus groups. 19,20,25,29,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] For studies that used a written narrative approach the sample size ranged from 8 to 54. 8,[47][48][49][50] The total sample size for participants in this review was 564.…”

“…Three counties were represented in the studies: Australia, 19,38,[40][41][42]44,46,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54]58 Australia and New Zealand, 25,59 the UK. 8,29,39,43,56,57 and Australia and the UK.…”