PARA3002 Decision Making in Paramedic Practice

This topic is designed to develop the student's ability to integrate their knowledge derived from their formative education including the first year Bioscience, and all second year Pathophysiology topics, and the concurrent Clinical Assessment topic and apply this to the complexities associated with making Clinical Decisions.

This topic aims to:

• Explore the complexities of patient presentations and decisions about emergency health care, taking into account individual variations in pathologies, age, social status, racial traits, comorbid health status and drug use
• Explore complex decision making in the setting of a multi-casualty incident or disaster

1. Demonstrate high levels of problem solving skills
2. Develop the ability to prioritise care provisions related to clinical need
3. Formulate arguments which reflect the evidence base in support of clinical decisions
4. Demonstrate the ability to make decisions under pressure
5. Describe the challenges and strategies for the management of patients with chronic, complex or multiple health problems
6. Demonstrate the key concepts of triage and scene management in multi-casualty incidents
7. Analyse operational management issues relevant to the concept of pre-hospital care including resource management, performance measurement and autonomous practice
8. Analyse professional concepts relevant to service delivery such as professional behaviours and leadership
9. Reflect on the individual's professional identity development with consideration to impending employment in the pre-hospital care field