Diploma in Paramedic Science

Summary

The Diploma in Paramedic Science is for students who want a career in pre-hospital emergency healthcare, primarily in an ambulance setting.

After completing the Diploma in Paramedic Science you will have successfully met the requirements to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). This paramedicine diploma is only offered at the AUT South Campus in Manukau.

Career opportunities in New Zealand include employment with St John, Wellington Free Ambulance services, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and other pre-hospital medical providers.

An emergency medical technician administers pre-hospital emergency care – looking after patients during the time between when an ambulance locates the patient and when that patient arrives at the hospital or treatment centre. EMTs are required to provide a high level of professional medical care to patients under a variety of circumstances.

Responsibilities of an EMT include

• Attend accidents and emergencies
• Treat sick and injured people
• Stabilise the patient’s condition by delivering basic life support care of the injured and medically unwell
• Transport patients and accident victims to medical facilities
• Liaise with other emergency services, including fire and police, at the scene of an emergency
• Ensure the ambulance and equipment are kept clean and in good working condition
• Ensure that patient paperwork is complete and kept confidential
• Transfer non-emergency patients to and from medical facilities
• Work a roster pattern with day and night shifts
• Provide a high level of professional medical care to patients under all circumstances