My name is Hannah, and I’ve just finished my second year in BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science at BNU!

The past two years have definitely been a whirlwind with a mixture of meeting lots of new people, ambulance and hospital placements, and learning new skills in practical sessions.

BNU offers placements with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and London Ambulance Service (LAS), who you stay with for your three years of study. This has allowed me to settle into a station and get to know the people I will work with on a day-to-day basis. It’s really helped me build confidence on the road, especially during my first few placements which can feel like a daunting experience when you are the newbie.

Although, before you even go out on placement in your first year there will be plenty of teaching time at university that while equip you with the basic knowledge for when you go about treating real patients. This teaching is then further built on in second and third year where you will eventually work at the same level as a paramedic.

Recently, the Paramedic team at BNU has invested more money into the simulation side of things with a brand-new simulation A+E, along with multiple simulation ambulances that are frequently used during practical sessions. This means that situations can be simulated, repeated, and evaluated. Which makes it feel a lot more realistic and prepares you for when you are faced with the real thing. There are also many realistic mannequins that you can find in the skills labs some of which can be controlled by the lecturers, so they are able to make noises or responses when you try to attempt them.

If you are the type who likes to perfect certain scenarios, or are struggling with a particular skill area, there are always practice rooms that you can book outside of university time. This is something I have started to utilise more the further I am into my studies because it gives me a chance to go over everything I have learnt in my lectures.

One thing that makes BNU different from other universities is that our cohorts are a lot smaller. There are only around twenty people in my cohort! This means that I have been able to form a close-knit friendship group within my course and I hope I stay in contact with many of my friends after I graduate. Also, having so few people on your courses means you can get to know your personal tutor and other staff members on a 1 to 1 basis, all of whom are more than happy to chat with you if you ever need it.

In the future, with the degree and experience I have gained from studying at BNU I hope to work frontline as a paramedic for my local ambulance service where I will be able to help those who call 999 every day.