5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Student Paramedic

Student Nurse, Kyle Sands, outlines some of the insights he gained as a Student Paramedic, focusing on what he would have found useful before beginning his course. Having a driving license might help.

Topics covered in this article

Introduction

1. (1.37) You Might Need A Driving License

2. (3.56) Ask Around Before Buying Your Own Books

3. (5.05) Make Sure You Have Some Life Experience

4. (6.58) Be Open And Ask Questions

5. (7.46) Take Time For Yourself

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0.07 Introduction

Hello guys, and welcome back to a brand new video, I hope you guys are well.

So, before I started university, and started a paramedic science, I wanted to know what you needed to know before I started paramedic science.

And I couldn't really find anything on YouTube, and which is kind of the reason why I started to document my journey online, on YouTube, through the ambulance service and now as a student nurse as well.

So I'm making this video because when I first went to look at the videos, and what I needed to know before starting paramedic science, there wasn't any.

There were websites that were kind of relevant, but it wasn't from a student's perspective that makes sense.

So, I wanted to know kind of the things I needed to know before starting paramedic science.

This video isn't going to tell you everything you need to know, because that's not what I want from this video.

I want to kind of give you stuff that I thought you needed to know, actually you don't.

But also, some advice I can give you guys having done the course before.

1. (1.37) You Might Need A Driving License

Okay. Number one is, do you need to drive?

Or should I get a car?

Should I learn to drive?

Some university the difference, so I know from the University of Worcester, the university I attended, there wasn't a necessity to drive.

It wasn't a requirement to join.

You could join the university, you could start to train to become a paramedic, a student paramedic at the university, and not hold a driving license.

But what you need to consider is A, does the university that you're going to, or looking to go to, require you to have a driver license?

Because some do.

When you do qualify from the university, if they don't require you to have a driver license, is you will need to drive, obviously to drive the ambulance.

If you're going into that area, and they require you to have a C1 as well.

Paramedic science isn't always about driving the ambulance.

So that's kind of where some universities will want you to maybe not have your driving license, because there's not an essential, if that makes sense.

Most of the time when you're working as a paramedic, you probably need a driving license.

I know some areas you might work on an oil rig, for example, won't really require you to hold a driving license as such.

But you'll have to check and look around, which is why healthjobs.co.uk is really, really good, because it kind of tells you the requirements from that.

So it maybe the jobs that you're looking at, it will probably say you need to hold a driving license.

But also what I found personally is I was given a placement 20, 30 miles away, which as you know, you could drive there in half an hour, maybe.

But the trains don't run at six in the morning.

So sometimes I had to car share, and sometimes I had to readjust my shifts so I could book them.

Because sometimes on a Sunday, public transport just completely stops.

You have to take that into consideration.

Is if you're going to university, are you going to be able to get there?

And sometimes the answer will be no, sometimes you have a base locally, and you might be able to get a taxi, which costs you a little bit more.

So just take that in consideration before you do join paramedic science, because I did take into consideration, but I didn't think about it enough.

And if you also need to consider as well, that if you're looking to start driving when you go to university, university is quite intense.

If you're debating whether to get your license, do it before you start uni.

That is a massive, massive tip I would say, because I've struggled now to find time around my studies in order to concentrate on my driving.

If you're a nervous driver like me.

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2. (3.56) Ask Around Before Buying Your Own Books

Now, the next one would be buying your books.

Because when I first started university, I brought all my books because I wanted to look ready, prepared, and I spent probably 150, 200 pounds on buying.

All of the best books.

Asked all in the forums on what best books to buy for paramedic science, and blah, blah.

And then when I actually moved to university, I found out that the library at the university, you can just borrow them at the university, and you can borrow them for five weeks at a time.

And go online and just click, renew.

So completely free.

I'd always recommend checking out at your university on the library services on how good the library is.

What are their requirements, how long can you borrow a book for?

But also, is it a really good library, and talk to students maybe as well, because I wish I did that.

I wish when I first started university, I didn't just buy all the books.

I could have saved 150 pounds, which would go towards travel for me for placement.

Instead of just buying the books, I could have just gone to the library and borrow them from there.

So definitely, definitely, definitely consider doing this.

I know some people like to have the books with them, I was the same.

It's just the same as when you go to the library and you're helping out your local library as well.

3. (5.05) Make Sure You Have Some Life Experience

Something to consider, and this is just from my experience from seeing people starting university, is some people go straight from school.

From maybe A level, they're probably 18 years old.

And if you don't have that much experience with communicating with people, and I'm just talking about communicating with people, like a person to a person.

Or caring for someone that's maybe elderly, or dealing with a difficult situation, you've never done that before, then paramedic science could be really difficult.

Because obviously you're going to be doing this.

I'd always recommend having some experience beforehand.

So have some experience, maybe while you're at sixth form, or at school, or maybe do some volunteering.

It doesn't have to be healthcare, but something that you can vouch for, doing the job as a student paramedic, and as a paramedic.

Don't focus solely on the experiences you need to have as a paramedic, consider the things you might need when being a student paramedic.

You might have to transfer a patient to an hour away hospital, and you need to talk to them, just have a general conversation.

And if you're a shy person, then consider this, because if you need to entertain the conversation, ask the relevant questions.

And also, when you're taking a history, when you're taking a good history, these questions come in handy and the communication is vital.

Communication is one of the most important things in paramedic science, and as a student paramedic as well.

So, these experiences, any of this could be working behind a bar, in customer services.

If you could work maybe in a care home, or doing some volunteer in maybe a medical, and doing some medical events, and volunteering.

St. John's Ambulance is really good.

I always hear people talking about that, I did that as well.

But I would say working in a care home would give you some really good experience.

Some really good hands-on experience, dealing with difficult situations you do in a care home.

And interacting with the elderly is a massive, massive thing, and a massive, massive tick.

You can say, when you've done, you'll face that as a first year, second year, third year, student paramedics, sorry.

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4. (6.58) Be Open And Ask Questions

Now once you do start university, paramedic science, be open and ask questions.

Because if you don't understand something, ask the question.

That's how you learn.

There were situations when I was on the ambulance, and I scared away of asking questions, and was scared to ask feedback on how I did, and how I can work on this.

And eventually you become afraid to ask a question, because you didn't ask questions at the start of your degree.

I'd always say, ask questions, and if you feel like you're doing something wrong, or you can learn from something, you feel like you've been something good, ask for feedback.

Because feedback is the most important thing.

And get that written down, and get that written down in your placement documents, so you can look back at this and say, you know, I first started off doing this.

Maybe you didn't do very well. And then at the end of the year, your end of year free, you can say, actually I really improved from that.

5. (7.46) Take Time For Yourself

The last one of the tips I'm going to give really, is to take time for yourself.

Now, this is quite, maybe a generic point, and you've probably heard it before.

But it's really, really important, because you will see stuff that you didn't really expect to see.

You will be affected by the things that you didn't really think would affect you.

And it's important to take time for yourself, do things that you enjoy, have a supportive network there's really, really strong.

And always call home when you're at university and have regular contact with the people that you love and care for the most.

Because they will give you the best support.

And that supportive network is really, really important.

If you aren't already at university, you won't really know the challenges that lie ahead.

And it's an amazing, amazing course.

And I really, really recommend you go for it.

Like I mentioned, take all the points that I mentioned beforehand, the first four points.

And this one is just something to consider when you do go is, you will see stuff that will upset you.

Do you have that supportive network in place that will help?

If you do deal with stuff, how do you maybe release the stress?

How do you deal with difficult situations if you were to see first first-hand?

But if you consider the course it's going to be challenging.

Then you already half... you're already there.

And the fact that you're having a conscious effort to know that this is going to be a challenging degree.

And as long as you work hard, as long as you manage your time well, but also, take into consideration that it's going to be challenging.

And you're going to see just to see stuff, and have that supportive network in place, you will do okay.

You'll do your really well.

I hope these tips have helped.

Obviously, there are loads of things I want to maybe share with you guys, and do you want me to?

Drop it down in the comments, I've got thousands and thousands of bits of advice that I can give to you.

This video isn't going to be all of them, but if you want another video like this, maybe sharing some more knowledge, then drop it down in the comments, and I will happy to do that.

But in the meantime, thank you, make sure you subscribe, go and check out healthjobs.co.uk, if you're interested.

I know they would really, really appreciate it, and so would I.

Thank you guys for watching, and I'll catch you guys in the next video.

Bye.

Let me know in the comments your thoughts on becoming a Paramedic and my tips - let's chat there!

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