The placement programme ensures that you are adequately prepared for professional work and that they are fit for practice.
As paramedic students at Bournemouth University you will be required to complete four specialist placements by the end of your two year course. They consist of: Theatres, Maternity, Child Health (Paeds) and Mental Health. Each student has to complete a full working week in all of these areas. They are observational placements only, apart from Theatres where you will carry out intubations and other theatre practices. Specialist placements usually take priority over your ambulance shifts. We aim to inform students of their allocations approximately three to four weeks in advance of the placement.
Placements can be throughout Dorset, Somerset and Salisbury in Wiltshire, so be prepared to travel and stay away from your term time address.
How will I find out my Placement details?
The Placement Support Officer will send out emails to your BU email address, as far in advance as possible, to advise you of your placements. Once you receive the email you will need to get in touch with the named contact in the email to discuss the placement and ask any questions that you might have. It is important to make yourself known as soon as possible, at least two weeks before your placement starts.
What hours will I have to work?
When on placement you are required to work 37.5 hours per week and experience the full 24-hour shift pattern including 12-13 hour shifts, long days, weekends and night shifts. The general rule of thumb is that you work the same hours your PPE works throughout the week. Talk to your PPE about the hours and what your working week will look like.
The work carried out during these 'out of hours' times is often quite different and interesting. You will usually get a day off in the week in lieu of a weekend day (the systems for working vary from area to area, so this is just a guide for what you might expect). Areas will also work different hours during the week.
Weekend and shift working is the way that many services are now functioning, or will be in the very near future. It will be the world into which you qualify so it is best to understand these patterns and systems of work now whilst you are training.