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1). Demonstrated capacity to apply first aid knowledge and skills in
the pre-hospital environment
On clinical placement as a student paramedic I attended an incident where an elderly
female had fallen over when she was shopping at the local supermarket. When we
arrived the paramedics and I determined what had happened, performed a primary and
secondary survey and provided the patient with pain relief. My task was to
anatomically splint the patients¶ legs and hips to a position of comfort. I firstly
gathered a sheet and a triangular bandage from the ambulance. Initially I used the
triangular bandage to splint the patients¶ legs at her knees, preventing them from
moving before we rolled her onto a spine board. The patient was in a very difficult
position and in too much pain for me to apply the sheet around her hips before
moving her. She was moved from the spine board onto the stretcher and then loaded
into the ambulance where I was able to apply the splint to her hips and readjust the
splint at her knees and apply another to her ankles. As a result the patient¶s pain
decreased from the splinting and pain relief provided. She was transported to a local
hospital where it was confirmed she had fractured her neck of femur.

2). Ability to communicate effectively with patients, members of the community,

peers and superiors in stressful environments
While on clinical placement as a student paramedic I attended a motor vehicle
accident in a rural location. The crew I was working with was the first ambulance to
arrive at the scene, fire fighters where already in attendance. The occupants of the car
where out of their vehicles and where lying in a nearby paddock. I was given the task
of caring for one injured patient until further ambulance crews attended. The patient
was upset and anxious, I was able to reassure her by explaining what was happening
and stepped her through the stages of my assessment and treatment. When the other
ambulance arrived I gave them a handover of the event and informed them of the
patients¶ vital signs, GCS, and respiratory status. I continued to comfort and reassure
the patient to hospital also providing pain relief and performing a secondary survey.
The following day this patient needed to be flown to Melbourne for surgery. I was
able to give a handover to the flight paramedics when escorting them to the hospital.
At the hospital the patient and her parents both thanked me for my help the previous
day, which was incredibly rewarding. As a result I felt I had communicated
effectively with my patient, the paramedics involved and family members.

3). Ability to apply analytical skills and make effective decisions, taking into account
patient¶s clinical and social needs in a time critical environment
While on clinical placement I was dispatched to a middle-aged gentleman that was
suffering central chest pain. I asked the patient about his chest pain and quiz him on
relevant cardiac related questions. I also took his vital signs, listened to his chest,
determined his GCS and asked about medications, allergies and medical illness or
injury. From these assessments my task was to determine what treatment the patient
needed and I was to supply the paramedics with a rational behind each decision. I
initially made the choice to give the patient aspirin because he was not
contraindicated, was having 6/10 chest pain and aspirin minimizes platelet
aggregation. I also made the decision not to administer GTN because the patients¶
ECG showed a sinus bradycardia of 45bpm with no ST changes. A heart rate of
<50bpm is a contraindication for GTN. I also assisted the paramedics in cannulating
the patient and drew up the appropriate amount of morphine for pain relief. Once
intensive care paramedics arrived to perform a 12 lead ECG the patient was then
taken to hospital. The patient requested to go to a private hospital, the paramedics and
I where happy to take him to his desired destination. As a result I was able to provide
appropriate treatment for the patient using clinical decision making skills and
accommodate his social needs to be transported to a private hospital.

Demonstrated capacity to undertake postgraduate training in specialist clinical areas

After completing my Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2007 I have undertaken extra
training in cannulation. My task was to complete a day of training that was offered by
ºeninsula Health as continuing education to improve staff skills. The course provided
me with the knowledge and skills in order to perform cannulation on adult patients.
We were educated on the anatomy of veins, correct cannulation technique and when
cannulation is contraindicated. In order to gain accreditation and be able to cannulate
patients without supervision I was required to successfully cannulate 6 patients while
under supervision. I arranged with theatre staff to spend a morning with an anesthetist
to cannulate all the patients requiring surgery. I was signed off as being competent
and as a result I now can cannulate adult patients on the ward where it is often
difficult to get busy doctors to perform this task.

). Awareness of, and ability to comply with the Workplace Health and Safety Act
1995 and the Service¶s Workplace Health and Safety ºolicy and ºrocedures
During my graduate year of nursing in 2008 at Northeast Health Wangaratta I was
giving my patient their prescribed dose of heparin through a subcutaneous injection.
My task was to give the injection of heparin in subcutaneous tissue and dispose of the
needle in a sharps container. I prepared the correct dosage of heparin, keeping the vial
because it had to be checked by another registered nurse. I proceeded to take the
heparin injection to my patient, asked for permission to administer the drug, chose an
appropriate site to inject it, swabbed the area, injected the needle and when I
withdrew the needle I attempted to recap the needle. I missed the cap and gave myself
a needle stick injury. I informed my supervisor and I was told to go to the emergency
department to have blood tests to ensure I didn¶t have a communicable disease. As a
result I changed my bad practice of recapping needles and make sure that I¶m not
placing myself at risk. All my results came back negative and it was an unnecessary
worry that I will hopefully never have to go through again.

A commitment to undertake annually periods of relief in outer urban or rural stations

as required by operational needs
As part of my university course I am required to undertake clinical placements in
rural areas of Victoria. These placements have been some of the most challenging and
rewarding. I was always treated as a valuable team member and never made to feel
like a student when on rural placements. Rural placements have broadened my
knowledge and passion for working in remote areas. The rural paramedic is an
integral part of the community and they often have to operate in a more autonomous
role. They face logistical challenges such as long transport times and often rural
hospitals do not have adequate resources for critically ill or injured patients. I have
previously lived in and worked in rural Victoria and I enjoy the lifestyle and
community it has to offer.