Students’ perception of a paramedic shadowing experience during a critical care Advanced Pharmacy Practice rotation

ObjectiveTo describe students’ perception of a paramedic shadowing experience (PSE) incorporated into a critical care advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation based in a community hospital.MethodsAn electronic survey instrument was developed and distributed to students who completed a critical care APPE rotation and participated in a PSE to assess students’ perception.ResultsOf 18 students, 13 completed the survey. Students rated the PSE highly in opportunity to be exposed to pre-hospital medicine (mean = 4.46 ± 0.66) and as beneficial in enhancing student understanding of interdisciplinary patient care (4.69 ± 0.48). Most students agreed that the PSE encouraged the application of knowledge in a real-world setting (4.38 ± 0.76). The majority of students strongly agreed that the PSE should be offered to future APPE students as part of a critical care rotation (4.69 ± 0.48).ConclusionsThe PSE was perceived by pharmacy students to be a beneficial experience and a unique opportunity to apply knowledge to patient care in a pre-hospital setting. A paramedic shadowing experience for APPE students represents a novel method of introducing pharmacy students to interdisciplinary patient care.