Stephanie Wraight1
1St John WA, Perth, Australia
Situation: The Clinical Support Paramedic team within St John WA is considered a clinical leader in high acuity cases and leading high-performance teams. Previously these officers had to learn and develop their leadership and communication skills ‘on the job’.
Task: The clinical leadership program was designed to enhance the leadership and communication skills of the Clinical Support Paramedic group, to effectively lead and manage their teams in high-pressure situations.
Action: The program comprises of modules on cognitive bias, critical thinking, situational leadership theory, and performance in high-pressure situations. It also includes practical exercises and simulations that reflect real-world scenarios in the emergency ambulance setting. A session is also held where officers share clinical errors and lessons learned in a psychologically safe and reflective practice environment. Training on situational leadership theory is provided, with simulations involving varying levels of competency and followership to apply concepts in practice.
Result: The program has helped foster a culture of leadership, teamwork and reflective practice among Clinical Support Paramedics. Officers who have completed the training have provided extensive positive feedback, stating they feel more confident and better equipped to manage high pressure situations. The program is now being reviewed for implementation within the paramedic training program for students ready to graduate to paramedics. Clinical Support Paramedics have reported improved confidence in leading teams, and this demonstrated leadership is reflected in the out of hospital cardiac arrest audits and patient outcomes.
Biography:
Stephanie is a Registered Paramedic with a passion for clinical leadership and refining prehospital practice. Stephanie has worked as a Clinical Support Paramedic and Clinical Educator, utilising her experience to guide and develop paramedics to deliver high quality healthcare and achieve the best possible patient outcomes.