Amelie

What do you like about your course and why?

I like the close-knit relationship with the lecturing team and my peers. We are able to work closely together during simulation sessions to better our practice and teamwork. The course has been well designed and the lecturers take our feedback seriously, implementing new strategies to make the course better. The balance between lectures and placement has been well thought out and I like that we never mix weeks between these two. 

This year, two members of my cohort created Peer-Led Sim, where we have out-of-hours access to the Simulation Centre and the wide range of manikins to practise emergency scenarios. We were able to ask questions, discuss different treatment plans and help each other in a close-knit environment. It's been a safe space for students to learn from and help each other, in smaller, mixed-year groups.

My favourite aspect of the course has to be the Real-Time Simulation event where the entire School of Health Sciences gets involved. We are able to work as paramedics, managing emergencies as a crew and then transporting the patient to the simulation centre, handing over to a nurse. This event allows us to build our confidence, practise our autonomy, and work closely with the other healthcare students as we would in the real world.

What do you enjoy most about Surrey?

I enjoy the wide range of sports clubs at the University of Surrey. As a triathlete, I found the running club and the triathlon club friendly spaces for me to make friends outside my course. The campus is stunning and I enjoy visiting Manor Park Social and the Lakeside Bar in the summer.

My experience with the Paramedic Society has been nothing short of supportive and inclusive. When I was in my first year, I attended one of the socials and made friends with some of the third years, which I found extremely helpful when I had any worries or concerns regarding placements, the course or assignments. Having the support network from the committee has been amazing and really helped me to grow as a student paramedic.

"I organised an observer day with the Silverstone Medical Centre, driving round the track in the safety car and attending patients that had driven off track. I’ve been proactive in exploring different avenues that paramedics can enter once qualified and seeing what opportunities are out there."

What clinical placements have you completed? What were the highlights?

My favourite clinical placements have been A&E, theatres, maternity, and CCU [coronary care unit]. There are so many different short placements that you complete during the three years. The lecturing team have insured that we gain a wide range of experience in different areas to fully broaden our awareness. 

We also have the opportunity to complete a four-week elective placement and I chose to complete mine abroad in Tanzania. I worked at a hospital where I spent one week in the maternity unit, one week in the paediatric operating theatre, and two weeks in the A&E department. I enjoyed exploring the varying aspects of their healthcare system and understanding the difficulties of being able to access medical care. They don't have paramedics over there, so I enjoyed being able to explain our scope of practice and how we work, which they found extremely interesting.

What do you want to do when you graduate?

I would like to work as a Newly Qualified Paramedic, with the aspirations to enter either critical care or motorsport medicine.

What advice would you give to students thinking of studying your course?

My advice would be to absolutely nail your anatomy and physiology early. This provides key foundations for your knowledge which you will build on at a good pace during the course. Also, try and do as much CPD [continuing professional development] as you can! There are so many opportunities out there for students that not very many people know about. I organised an observer day with the Silverstone Medical Centre, driving round the track in the safety car and attending patients that had driven off track. I’ve been proactive in exploring different avenues that paramedics can enter once qualified and seeing what opportunities are out there.

Find out more about our Paramedic Science BSc