Prehospital Emergency Medicine - Interprofessionally, 7.5 credits

8 terms of medical studies or stage B or 15 credits from the graduate nursing education in ambulance care.

The course aims at giving the students skills in the initial handling of patients, prehospitally. The student should understand the importance of early prehospital treatment and how important the course of treatment is in the nursing chain for a good final result. On completion of the course, the student should: Skills to be able to interpret what is an acute/life-threatening situation in a patient and make a correct first assessment. Be able to treat prehospital patients based on general principles within prehospital healthcare. be able to function in the professional role as a leader in the prehospital work. Knowledge and understanding, be able to explain and discuss the background of the most common acute situations: heart problems, unconsciousness, respiratory disorders, trauma. Be able to understand and discuss initial treatment in a prehospital environment, have knowledge of prehospital organisation, the nursing chain from alarm 112 to emergency clinic. Attitude Show an understanding of the responsibility of different professions and authorities within prehospital healthcare. Understanding of how other actors in the prehospital nursing chain cooperate (emergency operators, paramedics, ambulance nurses, physicians, emergency reception staff, police and rescue service) Have an understanding of the obligation to act in critical urgent situations Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues in relation to difficult diseases, injuries and the special circumstances prehospitally. Be able to integrate a humanistic and a scientific perspective Have an understanding of equality and diversity aspects of in urgent situations. Be aware of the role tha the own values play in the interplay with patients and staff.

Blocks that give entry requirements to work in the emergency ward, in an ambulance or the equivalent will be included in the course. These blocks are advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) and Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS). A repetition of A-HLR and underlying reasons of guidelines are included. The course intends to give students the required knowledge to investigate causes of acute unclear unconsciousness, heart problems, respiratory disorders, trauma and the skill to take care of child patients. The background can be several important medical diseases with varying influence on the vital parameters. The student is trained in a correct systematic examination technique, initial assessment and early treatment. The student is trained to take measures, so that vital functions are maintained in a safe way, at the same time as the condition is analysed. Also here, the importance of time aspects will be taught. The team work has a special role here, and the student is trained to coordinate different actors' activities, as a leader, . All teaching mentioned above take place under teacher supervision. Proficiency training takes place through practice on markers or a simulation doll, subsequent group discussions, case discussions and other practical parts. All sections include an update about what is evidence based in prehospital care. The course is heavy on teaching, and attendance is required if the course content is to be absorbed. In all the course modules, physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, disease theory and nursing are integrated. At least 10% of the course consists of basic scientific parts. Perspectives of special concern are prehospital healthcare, acute treatment, knowledge and personal preparedness, an ethical attitude and the importance of values in decisions that concern acutely, seriously ill patients, gender perspectives in all cases.

The students are trained in the role as decision makers in urgent situations. Several simulation exercises followed by discussions in small groups are part of the course. These interactive parts are present in all the subject fields included in the course. Furthermore, the knowledge is further extended through analyses of clinical situations. Basic scientific parts are brought into the teaching. Other prehospitally working professional groups participate as lecturers in the education to give a good overall picture of the prehospital care. The course intends to provide a balanced mixture of general lectures, case discussions, practical exercises on markers or other forms of simulation with immediate feedback from teachers, Part of the teaching is carried out in a "pre-hospital environment" at a location specially prepared for such education at Stockholm's Prehospital Centres at Södersjukhuset.

Compulsory parts are all practical parts with a teacher present, simulation situations with clinical case presentations, seminars, auscultation in ambulance and teaching of A-HLR. Necessary absence should be discussed with the course coordinator. The examination takes place through written and practical tests and active participation in compulsory and practical parts, presentation of seminar assignments and a final practical test. Here, markers that simulate urgent clinical conditions are used. In all examinations, both knowledge, skills and attitudes are examined. At the students' presentation, considerations will be taken the students' ability to analyse the clinical situations, present basic scientific background and evidence for investigation and initial treatment. Possible differential diagnoses will be requested. The student's professional approach will also be assessed and the ability to see the big picture in the prehospital nursing chain.

The course can be given once a term. Since it has a high pupil-teacher ratio and is based on a lot of practical parts, the examination will be limited to regular courses.

The course takes place in cooperation with Stockholm's Prehospital Centres (SPC) at Södersjukhuset. The five ambulance contractors of Stockholm participate in the education.