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By Rachel May

North East EMS

Nipawin’s new primary care paramedic program is generating excitement within North East EMS

Apr 13, 2023 | 12:56 PM

The North East EMS service is excited about the new primary care paramedic (PCP) program starting in Nipawin.

Cumberland College recently announced the addition of new educational opportunities at its campus in Nipawin including the PCP program.

Operations Manager Jessica Brost told northeastNOW that this program is opening doors for people who may not have the opportunity to take the program.

“For people who are in Nipawin and the surrounding area who can’t really afford or be away from friends, and family, maybe they have a part-time job while they go to school,” she said. “Now, this is an option that they can kind of keep connected to their life and go to school.”

The province currently has openings for full-time paramedics and Brost said this is the perfect way to get those who want to help others into the field while helping the labour shortage.

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The program also offers the chance for students to learn in a rural community which presents different opportunities that PCP students might not get.

“It is different because quite often the people that you’re going to, you know of them or you see them again in town,” said Brost. “Sometimes it’s really wonderful because you already have that inherited trust with them.”

Although rural communities offer the benefit of connecting with patients that working in a city doesn’t provide, there is a lot of thinking on your feet.

“If you’re in a large centre, you quite often have firefighters that are all PCP trained as well or you have supervisors that roam around and help,” Brost continued. “In a rural service area, you might be the only car in that whole area. So you have to be really innovative and use all the resources around you.”

Brost has been a paramedic for 18 years and reflected on going to Saskatoon for her schooling. She described her education as a valuable experience but is thankful that rural programs are available.

Although students enrolled in the program won’t have to worry about COVID precautions, there are still some practices that were passed down such as masking patients that have a cough and increased hygiene practices.

Brost explained that the practical learning portion is an invaluable experience for the program.

“We pretend that we’re shorter breath or that we have chest pain but until you see it in real life you don’t know how you’re going to react and that changes everything,” she said.

For students on the fence about joining this line of work, Brost encourages you to reach out to a paramedic to discuss what a day on the job looks like. She also suggests taking your first aid and CPR program.

“If that really sparks your interest and you’re asking a million questions and you want just want to learn more, then that might trigger wanting to upgrade your education,” said Brost.

Brost encouraged prospective students to look into the programs being offered for emergency medical responders, if that piques their interest.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM