Nova Scotia Health paramedics work in diverse environments throughout the province, including emergency departments, orthopedics, education, research, collaborative emergency centres, and simulation programs. They are unique in that they work in hospital settings rather than on the road and are fortunate to work closely with an interprofessional team. Nova Scotia Health paramedics also administrate Nova Scotia Health’s Critical Care Paramedic education program—the only program of its kind east of Ontario.
Nova Scotia Health hires three different classifications of paramedics: Primary Care, Advanced Care, and Critical Care.
Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) assist in patient care by providing support to health centre physicians and nurses. Duties include, but are not limited to, medication administration, IV initiation and fluid administration, blood work, CPR urine analysis, and pregnancy testing.
Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) work in collaboration with other interdisciplinary team members to meet patient care needs efficiently and effectively. They are assigned tasks by the Clinical Leader and are responsible for maintaining and continually enhancing competencies through ongoing professional development, including participation in education programs, research, and continuous quality activities. They also support the development of colleagues and students by acting as a preceptor and providing ongoing mentorship.
Critical Care Paramedics (CPC) have a broad scope of practice. They operate with the goal of instituting and maintaining tertiary-level emergency and ICU care for the patients with the greatest need while facilitating their transport by air, land, and sea to the appropriate medical facility. Nova Scotia Health Critical Care Paramedics also work in some emergency departments, providing procedural sedation and analgesia as part of a patient’s care team.
