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learning
student paramedic
mentorship

Interprofessional graduate programme for nursing-paramedicine degree graduates: work outcomes and participant experience

02 March 2016
Features
02 March 2016
Volume 6 · Issue 1

Abstract

The 2011/12 interprofessional graduate programme (IPG) was Australia's first programme for graduates of double degrees in nursing and paramedicine.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to examine the employment outcomes and participant experience of the first cohort of 10 IPG participants.

Methods:

Data were collected by repeated surveys (6 months prior to, 6 months and 18 months following IPG completion) and interviews.

Results:

There were 10 IPG participants, nine completed all surveys and nine agreed to be interviewed. Two were males and the average age was 23.7 years (SD=1.3). At IPG completion, all participants were employed by Ambulance Victoria: five participants were working casual shifts in emergency nursing. Themes related to career choice were that casual employment was easier in nursing and paramedicine had higher levels of freedom and more regular shift patterns. Mean scores for involvement decreased (p<0.018) and manager control increased (p<0.018). The four themes related to participant experience were: i) best of emergency health care; ii) knowledge and experience; iii) understanding and respect; and iv) chopping and changing.

Conclusions:

Participants' experience of IPG were mostly positive. Traditional professional and industrial structures still prevent double degree graduates using their skills and knowledge to their full capability.

Despite a number of Australian universities offering double degrees in nursing and paramedicine, there are currently no mainstream employment models that facilitate integrated graduate practice in both nursing and paramedicine. The inflexible graduate programme structures and lack of employment models for double degree graduates means double degree graduates are forced to practice in one discipline. Lack of integrated graduate and ongoing practice negates the intent of a double degree and results in suboptimal use of graduates' skills and knowledge.

Australia's first graduate programme for graduates of double degrees in nursing and paramedicine occurred in 2011 as a joint venture between Northern Health and Ambulance Victoria (Considine et al, 2015). The interprofessional graduate programme (IPG) was 18 months in duration and participants rotated between graduate paramedic experience with Ambulance Victoria and graduate nursing experience in emergency nursing at Northern Health. Details of the development and implementation of the IPG are published elsewhere (Considine et al, 2015).

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Education
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