
Paramedic Principles and Practice in the UK
- 1st Edition - April 13, 2023
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Editor: Aidan Ward
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 8 7 3 9 1 - 8
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 8 7 3 9 2 - 5
Paramedic Principles and Practice in the UK is a key textbook designed to support paramedicine students in this country throughout their studies. The volume takes a practica… Read more

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Request a sales quoteParamedic Principles and Practice in the UK is a key textbook designed to support paramedicine students in this country throughout their studies.
The volume takes a practical approach, with case histories covering a broad range of clinical presentations and treatments, all incorporating a patient-centric perspective that acknowledges the longer patient journey.
This must-have textbook will not only arm readers with technical knowledge and expertise, but also with the non-technical principles of the profession, developing future paramedics who are able to provide a safe and effective management plan in the out-of-hospital environment.
- Aligned to UK paramedicine curricula
- More than 40 detailed case studies covering essential pathologies most commonly seen by UK paramedics, as well as less typical scenarios
- Evidence-based clinical decision-making models to support paramedics in practice
- Essential physiological concepts to help readers bridge the gap from principles to practice
- Focus on the wellbeing of both the patient and the paramedic
- Useful appendices including medications commonly encountered in paramedic settings
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Foreword
- Preface to the UK edition
- Preface to the second ANZ edition
- Contributing authors
- Acknowledgements
- About the ANZ editors
- About the UK adaptation editor
- The key to improving your clinical practice
- Paramedic Principles
- Section 1. Introduction to Paramedic Principles and Practice
- Chapter 1. Introduction
- Professionalism
- Paramedic Principles and Practice 2nd edition
- Summary
- Section 2. Foundation Knowledge
- Section 2. Foundation Knowledge
- Chapter 2. Perfusion
- Introduction
- What is perfusion?
- Factors leading to normal perfusion
- Disturbances of perfusion
- Assessment of perfusion
- Principles of medical management of perfusion
- Summary
- Chapter 3. The Autonomic Response
- Introduction
- The autonomic nervous system
- Assessment of autonomic nervous system function
- Principles of management
- Summary
- Chapter 4. The Inflammatory Response
- Introduction
- What is inflammation?
- Abnormal inflammation
- Summary
- Chapter 5. Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
- Introduction
- Definitions
- Pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body)
- Pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug)
- The effects of population variance on pharmacokinetics
- Summary
- Section 3. Foundation Concepts
- Section 3. Foundation Concepts
- Chapter 6. Paramedic Education
- Introduction
- Experience versus education
- The history of ambulance and paramedic education in the UK
- International educational standards
- Programme endorsement/approval and professional regulation
- Continuing professional development and postgraduate education
- Educational challenges and future directions
- Summary
- Chapter 7. Evidence-Based Practice in Paramedicine
- Introduction
- Introduction to evidence-based practice
- Strengths of evidence-based practice
- Barriers and weaknesses of evidence-based practice
- So what does this all mean for paramedics?
- Chapter 8. Developing a Philosophy of Practice
- Introduction
- Models of practice
- Building a philosophy of practice
- Summary
- Chapter 9. The Clinical Reasoning Process
- Introduction
- How do paramedics make decisions?
- Theoretical and conceptual foundations of clinical reasoning
- Dual-process theory—a framework for reasoning
- Approaches to decision-making ‘on the ground’
- Factors affecting the clinical reasoning process
- Strategies to enhance quality of clinical reasoning
- A step-by-step guide to clinical decision-making
- Step 1: Assess
- Step 2: Confirm
- Step 3: Treat
- Step 4: Evaluate
- Summary
- Section 4. Communication and Non-Technical Skills
- Section 4. Communication and Non-technical Skills
- Chapter 10. Interpersonal Communication and Patient-Focused Care
- Introduction
- Fundamental concepts of communication
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- The science and art of patient communication
- Effective listening
- Patient-centred communication
- Emotional and behavioural components of effective communication
- Summary
- Section 5. The UK Healthcare System
- Section 5. The UK Healthcare System
- Chapter 11. The Paramedic Role in Healthcare
- Introduction
- The roles of ambulance services and paramedics in the United Kingdom
- Professionalism, regulation and professional standards
- The future paramedic role
- Summary
- Chapter 12. Characteristics of Ambulance Patients
- Introduction
- Who is using ambulance services?
- What factors can lead to people calling for an ambulance?
- From problem onset to the decision to call for an ambulance
- The process of calling for an ambulance
- Summary
- Section 6. Patient and Paramedic Safety
- Section 6. Patient and Paramedic Safety
- Chapter 13. Patient Safety and Paramedicine
- Introduction
- The harm caused by healthcare errors
- Types of medical error
- Models of error
- Reducing diagnostic errors
- Error defence
- Error management
- Risk management controls
- Evidence-based practice and patient safety
- Evidence-based practice, individual patients and clinical reasoning
- Summary
- Chapter 14. Paramedic Health and Wellbeing
- Introduction
- Paramedic health and safety
- Definitions
- Stress
- Managing emotion
- Fatigue
- Shiftwork
- Occupational violence
- Getting help
- Physical injury, physical employment standards and physical activity
- Nutrition
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Summary
- Section 7. Legal, Ethical and Professional Considerations
- Section 7. Legal, Ethical and Professional Considerations
- Chapter 15. Legal and Ethical Considerations in Clinical Decision-Making
- Introduction
- Ethics and the law
- Consent
- Refusal of treatment
- Elements of consent from a paramedic perspective
- Case study evaluation
- Documentation
- Summary
- Paramedic Practice
- Section 8. The Paramedic Clinical Approach
- Section 8. The Paramedic Clinical Approach
- Chapter 16. The Structured Clinical Approach
- Introduction
- The structured clinical approach
- Chapter 17. The Patient-Centred Interview
- Introduction
- The structured patient-centred interview
- Paramedic–patient interview structure
- Summary
- Section 9. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Respiratory Condition
- Section 9. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Respiratory Condition
- Chapter 18. Airway Obstruction
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Follow-up
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 19. Asthma
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 20. Acute Pulmonary Oedema
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 21. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Definitions
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 22. Pneumothorax
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Long-term impact
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 23. Pleural Effusion
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Follow-up
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 24. Pulmonary Embolism
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Risk factors
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Follow-up
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Research
- Summary
- Section 10. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Cardiac Condition
- Section 10. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Cardiac Condition
- Chapter 25. Chest Pain
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Myocardial perfusion and myocardial workload
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Investigations
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Follow-up
- Acute coronary syndrome across the lifespan
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 26. Arrhythmias
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Arrhythmias across the lifespan
- Wolff-Parkinson-White
- Long QT syndrome
- Commotio cordis
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 27. Cardiac Arrest
- Introduction
- Chain of survival
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Long-term outcomes
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Section 11. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Medical Condition
- Section 11. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with a Medical Condition
- Chapter 28. Haematological Presentations
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 29. Hypoglycaemia and Hyperglycaemia
- Introduction
- Hypoglycaemia
- Hyperglycaemia
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis
- Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar states
- Assess
- Confirm
- What else could it be?
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 30. Stroke
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Clinical manifestations
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Stroke across the lifespan
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 31. Overdose
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Other drugs
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing treatment
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 32. Anaphylaxis
- Introduction
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Investigations
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Post-discharge management
- Anaphylaxis variations between adults and children
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 33. Seizures
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Seizure classification
- Management
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research and trends
- Summary
- Chapter 34. Pain
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 35. Acute Abdominal Pain
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Specific conditions
- Pressure
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management in hospital
- Hospital admission
- Assess
- Initial assessment summary
- Confirm
- What else could it be?
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Initial assessment summary
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Initial assessment summary
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Assess
- Initial assessment summary
- Confirm
- What else could be the cause?
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Bowel obstruction across the lifespan
- Summary
- Chapter 36. Sepsis
- Introduction
- Definitions
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Sepsis across the lifespan
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future Research
- Summary
- Chapter 37. Bleeding From the Gastrointestinal and Urinary Tract
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Hospital management
- Summary
- Chapter 38. Renal Colic
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Investigations
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Long-term role
- Renal stones across the lifespan
- Summary
- Chapter 39. The Patient on Out-of-Hospital Dialysis
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Neurological
- Dialysis
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Follow-up
- Long-term role
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Section 12. The Paramedic Approach to the Trauma Patient
- Section 12. The Paramedic Approach to the Trauma Patient
- Chapter 40. Head Injuries
- Introduction
- Anatomy
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Hospital discharge
- Head injuries across the lifespan
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 41. Chest Injuries
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Long-term role
- Chest trauma across the lifespan
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future Research
- Summary
- Chapter 42. Burns
- Introduction
- Anatomy of the skin
- Pathophysiology of burn injury
- Burn injury severity
- The inflammatory response to burn injury
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat and Evaluate
- Assess
- Treat
- Assess
- Confirm
- What else needs to be considered?
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Other types of burns
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 43. Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Investigations
- Ongoing management of uncomplicated injuries
- Torn muscle repair
- Management of specific fractures
- Complications of musculoskeletal injuries
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term impact
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 44. Traumatic Spinal Injuries
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Long-term issues and care
- Life expectancy for spinal cord injury survivors
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 45. Lower Back Pain
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 46. Major Incidents
- Introduction
- The ‘all-hazard’ response to major incidents
- Managing the scene at a major incident
- Summary
- Section 13. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with an Environmental Condition
- Section 13. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient with an Environmental Condition
- Chapter 47. Hypothermia and Hyperthermia
- Introduction
- Hypothermia
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Hyperthermia
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Chapter 48. Decompression Injuries
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 49. Tropical Medicine
- Introduction
- General approach
- Guidelines
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Malaria and other vector-borne diseases
- Tuberculosis
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Other tropical and emerging diseases
- Future research
- Summary
- Section 14. The Paramedic Approach to Complex Cases: Specific Challenges to Paramedic Reasoning and Management
- Section 14. The Paramedic Approach to Complex Cases: Specific Challenges to Paramedic Reasoning and Management
- Chapter 50. The Socially Isolated Patient
- Introduction
- Background
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 51. The Dying Patient
- Introduction
- Death and dying across the lifespan
- Pathophysiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Ongoing management
- Hospital admission
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 52. Older Patients
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Approach to assessment
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 53. Cultural Competence
- Introduction
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 54. Family Violence and Safeguarding
- Introduction
- Background to abuse and neglect
- The role of paramedics and ambulance services
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Section 15. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient Displaying Changes in Behaviour: Mental Health and Mental Illness
- Section 15. The Paramedic Approach to the Patient Displaying Changes in Behaviour: Mental Health and Mental Illness
- Chapter 55. Mental Health Conditions
- Introduction
- Prevalence of out-of-hospital and emergency department mental health presentations
- The mental health system: why the increase in the out-of-hospital attendance to those with mental health concerns?
- Concepts of recovery and the biopsychosocial model of care
- Pathophysiology
- Law and mental health
- The Mental State Assessment
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Specific treatment guidelines
- Investigations
- Hospital admission
- Long-term treatment and its impact
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Chapter 56. De-Escalation Strategies
- Introduction
- Aggression
- De-Escalation
- Summary
- Section 16. The Paramedic Approach to Obstetric (Maternity), Neonatal and Paediatric Patients
- Section 16. The Paramedic Approach to Obstetric (Maternity), Neonatal and Paediatric Patients
- Chapter 57. Imminent Birth
- Introduction
- Physiology
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Hospital admission
- Investigations
- Follow-up
- Assess
- Treat
- Assess
- Treat
- Assess
- Treat
- Assess
- Treat
- Further research
- Summary
- Chapter 58. Neonatal Resuscitation
- Introduction
- Pathophysiology
- Identifying the newborn at risk of disorders during transition
- Failure to breathe effectively at birth
- Failure to establish effective ventilation after birth
- Preparing for the birth of a baby
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Newborn airway management
- Ongoing management
- Documentation
- Birth during transport
- Discontinuing resuscitation
- Hospital admission
- Investigations
- Follow-up
- The preterm baby
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Long-term role
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Hospital management
- Future research
- Summary
- Chapter 59. Paediatric Patients
- Introduction
- Important differences in children
- Respiratory distress
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Confirm
- Treat
- Evaluate
- Summary
- Appendix 1. Medications Commonly Encountered in Community Emergency Health
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: April 13, 2023
- Imprint: Elsevier
- No. of pages: 1104
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780323873918
- eBook ISBN: 9780323873925
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