As a community of paramedics, medics, EMTs and prehospital clinicians, we're a pretty resourceful bunch. Gathered together are some reflective and professionalism based suggestions to check out when a little inspiration is key.
With so many clinical resources already out there in the world, this page covers overall attitude and approach to paramedicine, rather than the skills, equipment and medications. Check it out for yourself, either scroll the page or jump directly to each section title below.
A-Z Paramedic Improvement Podcasts
Paramedic Improvement Podcasts
With so many excellent podcasts out there, it's difficult to narrow them down but, in keeping with the theme of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Paramedic book, the following list has less clinical focus and more of the behaviours, habits and self-management that impact what we give, and what we take, from the prehospital arena.
Answering The Call - First Responders Podcast
A great duo to listen to "Jersey Ed" and "Mike the Podfather" do a fantastic job of broaching every topic imaginable in the lives of first responders.
Australian Emergency Law Podcast
An audio version of Michael Eburn’s blog posts covering the legalities behind everything emergency services and emergency management related in Australia.
Behind The Shield Podcast
James Geering interviews a plethora of inspirational, frontline emergency and defence personnel about their drive, passion and what it is that keeps them forging ahead.
Between The Lines : Life As A First Responder Family Podcast
Marcia and John are a police officer and firefighter couple with a family, sharing their unique perspective on balancing family, work, life and health together.
Fit To Fight Fire: Lead Yourself Podcast
John Spera & Tom Johnson interview first responders about motivation, mental health, self-development, progressive approaches to the job and a whole host of inspiring topics.
Free Radicals Paramedic Podcast
Everything for new paramedics through to those getting ready to retire, there's always something interesting and relevant to listen to here.
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day Podcast
Inspirational interviews by the author of "How To Fail" with guests from every walk of life. Not paramedic related, but the type of approach that we can all benefit from, particularly in high pressure EMS roles when failure fills most of us with dread.
Inside EMS Podcast
Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson talk about everything EMS, from frontline safety and attitudinal behaviours through to leadership and decision making.
Lights, Cannula, Action Podcast
Scottish student paramedics Kathryn & Rachel talk through everything from application to placements and getting started on road.
Medic2Medic Podcast
Steven Cohen interviews a wide range of emergency medical services guests around how they got started, where their current EMS passions lie and the journey between the two.
Medic Mindset Podcast
Ginger Locke seeks out interesting guests from far and wide to cover every and any aspect of prehospital care, with the providers as the focus. Some well known participants and some anonymous, but always fascinating.
Shift Your Health Podcast
Police officer and nutrition coach Amy-Michelle covers some great options for managing health and wellbeing in shift work.
The Firefighter Deconstructed
Open conversations about the human inside the uniform, hosted by retired Fire Captain Christy Warren for all first responders.
The Happy Nurse Podcast
Not just for nurses, Elaina Mullery and guests cover a wealth of perspectives on compassion fatigue and burnout in healthcare.
The Professional Empathy Podcast
A non-paramedic series providing unique insight into the importance of empathy in every industry, including healthcare, with Leanne Butterworth.
The Student Paramedic Podcast
By students, for students, to gain insight into longevity, paramedic professionalism, career opportunities and a whole host of information along the way.
A-Z EMS Websites & Blogs
EMS Websites, Blogs & Resources
For information, news, journal articles, best practice and resources to develop, maintain and improve on every aspect of prehospital care.
Ambulance Today
UK based ambulance related website with everything from magazine archives to news stories, tips and resources for paramedics and prehospital personnel.
Australasian College of Paramedicine
Providing clinical professional development resources and events, media updates, vacancy listings and leadership.
Australian Emergency Law
Michael Eburn’s blog answering questions relating to the laws behind emergency services and emergency management in Australia.
Australian Emergency Services Magazine
A gathering of articles on best practice, professionalism, safety, the people involved both frontline and behind the scenes, as well as a multitude of other aspects relating to emergency services Australia wide.
Civility Saves Lives
Healthcare professionals aiming to raise awareness of the power of civility in medicine.
College of Paramedics
A UK based resource full of professional development, educational support, news, journals and recruitment information.
EMS1.com
This website has something for everyone, from EMS news, products, videos, podcasts and educational resources, right through to off-duty items for new, current and veteran paramedics and EMTs.
EMS.Gov
Faciliated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this site contains safety, preparedness, patient care, education, workforce and leadership resources for EMS personnel and organisations.
EMS World
News, resources, opinion polls, expo details and a whole host of prehospital based information.
Journal of Emergency Medical Services
Information and articles from around the globe covering patient care, operations, community paramedicine, airway management, major incidents, training, administration, leadership and more.
Paramedicine Association of Canada
Providing prehospital news, competencies, awards information as well as current vacancies and general guidance.
Paramedic HQ
Excellent website specifically for prehospital care and home of the brilliant "Red Flags Guides" which highlight short, snappy clues to look out for in patient presentation.
Reflective Practice Resources Pack
A few suggestions for a fresh approach to reflective practice and CPD for registered paramedics (accompanies "Taking The Pain Out Of Reflective Practice" webinar presented by Tammie Bullard and hosted by The Australasian College of Paramedicine)
A-Z Books for Patient Care & Professionalism
Books for Patient Care & Professionalism
A small selection of books aimed specifically at caring for patients and maintaining the highest level of professionalism possible.
(Don’t forget to check out The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Paramedic book for scenario based reflective practice, right here on the website.)
Books Behind The Badge
It’s not a book, but a website full of first responder related books, amongst others, with many written by those in uniform.
Compassionomics:
The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence That Caring Makes a Difference
by Stephen Trzeciak & Anthony Mazzarelli
For the skeptics amongst us, the authors of this amazing book present a review of the science, backed up by stories, demonstrating just how human connection and compassion in healthcare makes a difference.
How To Break Bad News: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
by Robert Buckman
This is a beautifully written book that helps to traverse the difficult task of breaking bad news with empathy and professionalism.
People Care
by Thom Dick
An absolute must read from Thom Dick's 44 year prehospital career perspective about actually caring for patients and avoiding burnout. It captures so many little things that we can do to make every patient’s day slightly better and increase how well they feel cared for in our privileged roles.
A-Z Physical & Mental Health Self-Care
Physical & Mental Health Resources for Paramedics
It’s not just about caring for patients, equipment and our profession, we need to feature highly on our priorities lists, too. A few useful links to check out for paramedic mental health, physical health and general wellbeing.
Behind the Seen
A range of useful links from this Australian based group, training emergency services personnel to work together to build resilience, increase support and reduce the stigma of mental health challenges.
First In Wellness
Specifically structured programs designed for firefighters and first responders to build health and resilience against stress, exhaustion and potential injury.
Fortem Australia
Free wellbeing and mental fitness resources and tools for Australian first responders currently working or volunteering in any of the organisations listed on their site.
fwards App
A free app to download for help in thriving at work and at home (must have a valid health department email address to sign up ie name@health.qld.gov.au).
Mental Health At Work
A UK based resource providing fantastic tools for emergency services workers in managing work related stress and general wellbeing.
MindTools “Avoiding Burnout”
Countless tools for healthy minds, every aspect of proactive career and mental health management is covered. This burnout page is perfect for first responders.
Nocturnal Nutrition
A great website full of resources to manage wellbeing in shift workers and combat some of the resulting damage to minds and bodies over time.
nSightify
An exciting app to bridge gaps within organisations, bring every level from frontline to leadership onto the same page and, most encouraging of all, facilitate feedback in the most genius but simplistic ways.
Pandemic Kindness Movement
An Australian initiative to support all healthcare workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Full of a whole host of excellent, free resources available online.
Professional Quality of Life
This website is a fantastic and free hub to assist in seeking compassion satisfaction while avoiding fatigue and burnout. Their PROQOL measure tool is an excellent way to find out how we’re feeling about our role and is a MUST do exercise.
Self-Care for Healthcare Workers by Brigid Larkin
Downloadable PDF resource for all healthcare workers, a fantastic free tool to create an individual and proactive approach to self-care during any disaster.
Sirens of Silence
An Australian charity focused on encouraging positive peer support and reducing stigma, with plenty of resources to prevent and deal with mental health issues in emergency services.
The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC)
Providing support, assistance and information to UK based paramedics, but useful information and resources available online wherever we may work.
Disclaimer : Each resource is listed here in good faith simply as a suggestion and, despite recommending podcasts, books, websites, blogs and more based on the positive aspects of prehospital care depicted, any opinion, interest, comment, notion, idea or otherwise expressed by or as a result of these resources is not necessarily the opinion of Tammie Bullard or any associated entities.