Primary Care Paramedic

Assiniboine is gathering interest for a possible one-year Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) certificate program designed to prepare students for front-line roles in pre-hospital care. PCPs are essential healthcare providers who respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls, delivering patient care in a variety of settings, including ambulances, industrial sites, air medical transport, and community-based environments.

The PCP program is expected to develop key skills in basic and limited advanced life support, including airway management, defibrillation, IV therapy, and medication administration. With a strong emphasis on patient assessment and clinical decision-making, this program will prepare graduates to handle complex medical scenarios and contribute meaningfully to emergency healthcare teams.

A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is strongly recommended given the potential need to travel for clinical placement to rural and remote locations within Manitoba.  
 

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

1. Deliver professional, ethical, and safe patient-centered care across the health and 
   social continuum, from first contact through assessment, treatment, transport, and 
   transfer of care.
2. Communicate effectively with patients, families, bystanders, and healthcare 
   partners using trauma-informed, culturally safe, and patient-centred approaches 
   across diverse practice settings.
3. Produce accurate, timely, and legally sound documentation and handovers that 
   support clinical decision-making, patient safety, and continuity of care.
4. Demonstrate professional identity and represent the paramedic profession through 
   accountable practice, ethical conduct, collaborative teamwork, and leadership in 
   interprofessional and community settings.
5. Ensure safety and risk management by maintaining situational awareness, 
   controlling hazards, and applying infection prevention and control practices to 
   protect patients, providers, and the public.
6. Conduct comprehensive patient assessments across populations and conditions to 
   identify time-sensitive threats, generate differential impressions, and refine care 
   plans through ongoing reassessment.
7. Prioritize and manage time-sensitive conditions (e.g., Acute Coronary Syndrome, 
   stroke, shock, respiratory distress, anaphylaxis, diabetic emergencies, obstetrics, 
   major trauma, overdose/poisoning) while coordinating with specialty pathways.
8. Administer pharmacological agents and clinical interventions within the Primary 
   Care Paramedic scope safely and effectively, including airway and ventilation 
   adjuncts, intravenous where provincially authorized, cardiac monitoring, and 
   protocol-guided medications.
9. Stabilize patients and prepare them for transport or transfer of care by applying 
   appropriate packaging techniques and producing accurate, timely documentation 
   of findings.
10. Collaborate on scene with dispatch, public safety agencies, healthcare teams, and 
    receiving facilities in complex, multi-casualty, or remote environments.
11. Adhere to legislation, regulation, medical oversight, and clinical governance by 
    practicing within authorized scope and following protocols/directives, consulting or 
    escalating when required.
12. Promote personal wellness and resilience by maintaining psychological health, 
    fitness for duty, and contributing to a supportive team culture.
13. Advocate for patients and communities by promoting equity-oriented care, harm 
    reduction, and navigation to appropriate health and social services.
14. Integrate evidence, feedback, and self-reflection to adapt practice, sustain 
    continuing competence, and respond to evolving protocols, technologies, and 
    scope of practice.

Success Factors

You might be a good fit for this program if you:

• Enjoy helping people and making a difference in emergency and community care 
  settings.
• Can stay calm and make sound decisions under pressure, even in unpredictable or 
  high-stress situations.
• Have the physical ability to lift, carry, and move patients and equipment safely.
• Communicate effectively and compassionately with patients, families, bystanders, 
  and healthcare partners.
• Work well in a team, often in collaboration with police, fire, dispatch, or hospital 
  staff.
• Value ethical practice, patient confidentiality, and public safety.
• Are adaptable and comfortable working in diverse environments, including homes, 
  streets, remote communities, and hospitals.
• Can follow medical protocols while also applying problem-solving and critical 
  thinking when situations are complex.
• Are prepared for shift work, including evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and oncall hours.
• Are motivated to maintain your own wellness and resilience in a physically and 
  emotionally demanding career.
• Are interested in a fast-paced, hands-on program that combines classroom 
  learning, simulation, and field experience.

The industry and program environment often requires individuals to:

• Be present in-person for full-time hours
• Attend clinical and field placements anywhere in Manitoba, including rural or 
  remote locations that may require temporary relocation.
• Work in unpredictable environments, including homes, streets, vehicles, and 
  remote locations, sometimes in hazardous weather or unsafe scenes.
• Be exposed to blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials while 
  providing patient care, requiring consistent use of infection prevention and control 
  practices and adherence to universal precautions.
• Lift, carry, and move patients and equipment, often in confined spaces or under 
  physically demanding conditions.
• Provide care to patients of all ages and conditions, including those who may be 
  critically ill, injured, or deceased, requiring emotional maturity and professionalism.
• Wear and maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, 
  gowns, and protective eyewear.
• Make rapid, sound decisions under time pressure while following medical 
  directives, protocols, and legal frameworks.
• Communicate and document accurately in high-stress situations while maintaining 
  patient confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Adapt to evolving clinical guidelines, technologies, and healthcare system needs