Clinical Skills Assessment for Paramedics

Competency-based education focuses on the ability of students and practitioners to use skills attributes and knowledge to perform specific tasks or roles (Brownie et al., 2011). Competency in paramedic practice is defined as “skills, attitudes and other characteristics (including values and beliefs) attained by an individual through knowledge (gained through vocational study) and experience (gained ‘on road’), which together are considered adequate to enable the individual to work as a paramedic. Competence is defined as “the consistent application of knowledge and skill to the standard required by the industry in the workplace” (CAA, 2010, p.6). Clinical skills are only one aspect of the overall competency of an individual paramedic. In the context of this book clinical skills represents the performance of health assessment and psychomotor skills to the competent level. Whilst this book is focused on skill performance, it should be understood that using multiple assessments is the best approach in forming a comprehensive view of an individual’s level of clinical competence. It is also important to recognise that achieving clinical competence is a career long learning routine not a one-off event (Epstein, 2007). This chapter presents an overview of the purpose and principles of clinical skills assessment. It introduces the methods and tools that can be used to assess clinical skills competence and outlines a framework for implementation of these tools in paramedic clinical settings.