1. Explain me how rural Paramedic is different than urban Paramedic?
☛ Rural paramedics focus on the whole community rather than case dispatch approach
☛ Rather than operating solely with ambulance teams, it operates with multidisciplinary team members
☛ It has extra responsibilities
2. What part of your duties as a Paramedic do you dislike the most?
Away from the patients, there has recently been an increase in form filling with procedures a little complicated and ill thought out. Streamlining these would be most welcome.
3. Explain about your experience working in teams as Paramedic?
I enjoy teamwork, I value other peoples ideas and enjoy making group decisions as much as I enjoy making my own. I feel as though I work well in the group dynamic as I can also bring new ideas to the table and I feel as though my personality helps me to work in harmony with other members of staff.
4. Tell me how you can treat a person suffering from burn?
If it is a minor burn, then cool the burn by immersing it into the cold water.
First-degree burn:
☛ Cooling will reduces swelling by conducting heat away
☛ Use sterile gauze bandage to cover the burn
☛ Give over-the-counter pain killer
Third-degree burn:
☛ Do not expose large severe burns in cold water or running tap
☛ Don't remove burned clothing it could make burn more severe
☛ Check for signs of circulation and begin CPR if there is no sign
☛ Cover the area of the burn
☛ Give a tetanus shot
5. Tell me how do you build relationships when you join a new team?
I would prove my worth and let them know when I need help and not pretend to know everything and admit my faults. I would let them know I am will to help with whatever they need without being abused, for lack of a lighter term.
6. Tell me what is the difference between EMT and Paramedics?
The main difference between EMT and Paramedics is that, basic EMT training receives 120-150 hours of training while paramedics get anywhere from 1200 hours to 1800 hours of training. Paramedic degree course duration is about two years.
7. Explain me what are the types of Paramedics?
Paramedics can operate in various fields
☛ Air Ambulance Paramedics
☛ Ambulance Community Officers
☛ Bi-cycle Response Paramedics
☛ Graduate Paramedics
☛ Paramedic Community Support Co-ordinate
8. Why do you want to work for our organization as Paramedic?
You are an NHS Trust organisation, you cover a massive geographical area that includes urban and rural areas, as well as busy motorways. Yo respond to half a million calls per year.
9. Explain me how do you resolve conflict with co-workers?
I would analyse what was happening to make an assessment of what was happening . This would enable me to be focused on the task and reduce my stress. In the past I have had to deal with major accidents on the water. The worst being when a chentleman fell over board with a rope around his leg. This was dragging him face down. If I had panic he would of drowned instead I stopped the boat and got his head above water. Then checking his legs dealt with the major bleeding that had happened.
10. Tell me what are responsibilities of a Paramedics?
☛ Paramedics often work in emergency scenes to provide immediate medical attention to injured individuals
☛ The operate heart monitors, defibrillators and other equipment's, transport patients to medical facilities and interpret reading recorded by heart monitoring devices
☛ Perform endotracheal procedures and give important information to emergency staff
☛ Clean areas that become contaminated from patients
☛ Make sure equipment is functioning properly
11. Explain me how do you treat an epileptic patient after a seizure?
After seizure:
☛ Check the person for injuries
☛ Turn the person in a position that is more relaxed and easy for him to breath
☛ If person is having trouble breathing, use your finger gently to clear any obstruction in his mouth
☛ Loosen tight clothing around the person's neck and waist
☛ Take the victim to a safe and spacious area where he/she can rest
☛ Until the person is not fully awake don't give them to eat or drink
12. Tell me as a Paramedic what should be your approach for treating broken bones?
☛ Safety first: Make sure that victim is in a safe location.
☛ Check for ABC: Airway, Breathing and Circulation
☛ Stop Bleeding
☛ Look for other injuries: Head, Neck or Back
☛ With sterile dressings cover broken skin if there is any
☛ Wait for an ambulance, while shifting make sure the joints remain immobilize
☛ To reduce swelling you can use ice-bag, put towel between ice and skin surface to avoid frostbite
☛ If leg is broken, keep it elevated above the level of the heart
☛ Lay the victim on his or her back to reduce the chance of shock
13. Explain me what would your previous co-workers say about your work performance?
Yes. I remember missing many IVs, but especially one on a critical patient that had huge veins. I then heard from my preceptor a tip for putting in the IV and since then I have been able to get the IV nearly every time. It pays off to listen to constructive criticism.
14. Tell me how do you handle death?
I have had loss in my life and personally I believe that death needs to be treated with a huge amount of respect and dignity. However I understand that in this profession death can play a big part and understand that there cannot be anything that gets in the way of doing the job and so I have and would face death with a brave and professional face but also make sure that my empathy for relatives is felt.
15. Explain me what drew you to emergency medicine?
Variety, and the ability to practice pretty much autonomously within certain guidelines, and the fact that I enjoy meeting a people from all different backgrounds.
16. Tell me what are the diseases for which Nebuliser is used?
Nebuliser is used for treating Cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma and respiratory diseases
17. Explain some of the activities that Paramedics have to do in emergency condition?
☛ Perform CPR on a person who has suffered a heart attack
☛ Deliver a baby if it is not possible to reach a hospital
☛ Stabilize car accident victims and move them to the nearest hospital
18. Explain me about a mistake you made at work. How did you handle it?
I attended an emergency at an airfield and due to the nature of the emergency I needed to see all of those people aboard the aircraft. They were all more superior than myself and did not consent straight away. I was under a lot of pressure first of all to attend the emergency quickly with all the kit I required. Secondly, I had a duty of care to those who refused my treatment so I managed to convince them to be seen.
19. Tell me what are a few traits you think a paramedic needs to have?
Compassion, understanding, fitness, an ability to work as part of a team, and a great personality to face the public with.
20. Tell me what are the advance optional does Paramedic carries with them?
☛ Respirator
☛ Blood Sample tubes
☛ Automatic blood pressure device
☛ Laryngoscope ( Adult & Paediatrics)
☛ Paediatric feeding tubes
☛ Nasogastric tubes
21. Tell me what medication you can give to an epileptic during attack as Paramedic?
As Paramedics, life threatening seizures of an epileptic person can be treated by giving them injections of Valium or Benzo-diazepine drugs till the patient reach to the hospital
22. Explain me how do you handle situations that could cause you to be tardy or absent?
By limiting their effect as far as possible, including obtaining the appropriate treatment for injuries and by keeping my employer fully informed of any impacts on my work.
23. Explain me what can you bring to the job that exceeds what other candidates can bring?
Firstly I am bilingual which is very convenient when patients are more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue. I also have a very unique work experience coming from an isolated community. I am used to having little to no resources, no allied services, working with language barriers. Since I was a part time paramedic I am also used to switching partners and adjusting to different team chemistry.
24. Tell me have you ever suggested a improvement that was put into practice in the paramedic field?
They could have eac paramedic specialze in a certain area of incidents. This means the victims will be distributed the staff that are most experienced within the type of situation.
I would focus mainly on patient treatment and fill out the paperwork later. I would make sure in the quick time between the calls I can get whatever supplies out that I can. In these instances there is really nothing else you can do but focus on the patient.
26. Tell me how can you stop bleeding in case of an accident or patient suffering from injuries?
Paramedics are aware of pressure points, and they can apply direct pressure to the injury from where bleeding occurs. The pressure points will lessen blood flow to the injury site, which causes slower haemorrhage from the site.
27. Operational and Situational Paramedic Job Interview Questions:
☛ Why did you decide to be a paramedic?
☛ Describe the most challenging call you ever received as a paramedic.
☛ How would you handle a multi-agency call?
☛ What have you recently done to improve or update your skills as a paramedic?
☛ What kinds of environments have you worked in as a paramedic?
☛ How would you remove a heavy patient from a difficult or dangerous situation?
☛ In as much detail as possible, describe the process of administering morphine through an IV. What would you do differently if the patient was a child?
☛ In as much detail as possible, describe the process for treating broken bones.
☛ What are some ways to treat drug overdose?
☛ What are some ways to treat burns?
☛ How would you treat a hypothermic patient?
☛ How would you handle an epileptic seizure?
☛ As a paramedic, what kinds of life support medication do you usually have with you?
☛ Have you ever responded to a crime scene as a paramedic? What did you do?
☛ Describe a time you had to act professionally, despite your personal feelings.
☛ Describe a time you did the right thing, even though it was more difficult for you.
☛ This job can be stressful. What do you do to stay calm?
I would comfort them and reassure them the child get hurt and they generally recover better then adults. I would calm the relative as they aren't helping the the child as a child will react to our reaction more then they would if we didn't react. Having the person staying close by and watching the assessment of the child (if possible) to show them that we are confident and competent.
I would do what had to be done at the time whilst ensuring im showing the teammate exactly what im doing in case it is down to lack of knowledge. The more the person knows, the more weight they can pull.
Being a Paramedic is not like working a 9-5 job, it is not always possible to leave exactly at the time you should, alothough, I would ensure I was at my job at least 15-20 minutes early so if a call came in, I would take it rather than a crew member having to stay late.
Triage the patients using triage cards that are clearly marked so that crews arriving can see them. Delegate once help arrives and in the mean time, attend to the most seriously ill patient, using ABC as a guide.
I would first ask the crowd before leaving the address if they wouldnt mind showing some respect to the patient by turning away and giving ourselves and the family some space. Following this I would ensure the patient was covered to preserve dignity and make a quick transition to the ambulance, again asking people if they wouldnt mind turning away for a moment and offering a few words of comfort to anyone who appeared distressed by the situation.
33. Explain what is the machine used by Paramedics to bring heart beat back in an emergency?
The machine that is used by Paramedics to bring heart beat back is referred as defibrillator.
34. Explain what are some optional basic life support medication does Paramedics carries with them?
Some of the basic support medication are
☛ Albuterol
☛ Epi pens
☛ Oral glucose
☛ Nitroglycerin
35. Tell me what do Paramedics do when they found somebody unconscious?
When they found somebody unconscious, they follow the following techniques
☛ They will check the response for AVP ( Alert, Verbal and Pain)
☛ If the patient is not responding, any of this sign they will check for heart beat and airways ( neck crooked, obstruction in their throat)
☛ If patient is not breathing, they will put on ventilator and start CPR
☛ Also, can give IV injection
