The National Diploma in Ambulance Practice [Level 5] is the national qualification for the ambulance sector. This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Ambulance [Patient Care and Transport] [Level 4].

National qualifications are made up of unit standards, these are set at different levels to indicate the skills and knowledge required to gain them. When a unit standard is completed credits are earned for that particular unit and once all the required credits have been achieved for that qualification, a national qualification is awarded

National Diploma in Ambulance Practice [Level 5]

This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Ambulance [Patient Care and Transport] [Level 4] [Ref: 0206]

Holders of this qualification are able to manage patients with a wide range of trauma and medical conditions in an ambulance context. They have knowledge of patient assessment, anatomy, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis and patient management. They have applied a symptom-based approach to clinical management and integrated clinical practice in the ambulance context.

Holders of this qualification also have knowledge of research and law in an ambulance context; and skills in communication, observation, problem-solving, reasoning, and deductive logic. While this is done specifically in an ambulance context, the knowledge and skills developed are transferable to other healthcare contexts, as well as non-healthcare-related industries.

All standards required for the award of the qualification are compulsory due to the nature and quantity of the knowledge and skills required to perform competently in the ambulance context.

There is also an optional section designed for particular industry contexts that assess against Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, ambulance vehicle, and various driving related standards.

National Certificate in Ambulance [Patient Care and Transport] [Level 4]

This qualification has been replaced by the National Diploma in Ambulance Practice [Level 5].

The last date for entry into programmes leading to the award of the replaced qualification is December 2009. The last date for assessment of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2012. Industry and NZQA will continue to recognise the former qualification, and there should be no need to ‘upgrade’ by those who have already achieved it.

This qualification is designed to give ambulance officers and others involved with pre-hospital emergency care recognition of the skills and knowledge necessary for providing pre-hospital emergency care and patient transportation.

Those who gain the qualification will be currently working as pre-hospital emergency care providers, with a knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology. They’ll also have the skills to manage a wide range of trauma and medical conditions, including crisis intervention and the application of clinical problem solving techniques to patient care.

Made up of compulsory and elective components, this certificate covers subject areas including:

• Care for patients during transportation
• Ethical responsibility towards consumers in a health care context
• The cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems

National Diploma in Ambulance [Paramedic] [Level 6]

This qualification is expiring.

The last date for entry into programmes leading to the award of the qualification is 31 December 2010. The last date for assessment of the qualification is 31 December 2012.

This qualification recognises the skills and knowledge required for ambulance officers to work in the field as paramedics. It builds upon the National Certificate in Ambulance [Patient Care and Transport] [Level 4] [Ref: 0206], which is one of two possible prerequisites for this qualification.

People awarded this qualification will be able to demonstrate advanced patient care skills particularly in the following areas:

• initiation of intravenous therapy in cases of severe hypovolaemia or medical emergency;
• cardiac monitoring, basic arrhythmia recognition and defibrillation;
• assessment of patients and initiation of care;
• administration of selected drugs;
• advanced arrhythmia recognition and subsequent drug therapy;
• advanced airway management by endotracheal intubation, emergency crycothyrotomy, and the use of chest drains for thoracic traumatic emergencies.