Doctorate
Doctorate Title: Paramedic Professional Identity: A Realist Exploration
Doctorate Description: Paramedics have a unique professional identity that emerges from the complex and challenging nature of ambulance work. As paramedic education and occupational roles diversify, to meet the changing needs of contemporary healthcare, understanding how paramedics’ identity is shaped by their experiences may facilitate the development of the profession without compromising its integrity.
How the experiences of becoming and being shape the development of paramedic professional identity has not been explored empirically at doctoral level. This thesis aims to address this by employing a realist approach to create an initial programme theory of paramedic identity construction and testing it empirically.
The initial programme theory was refined through an empirical study using realist qualitative interviews subjected to a realist thematic analysis resulting in a high-fidelity realist study of paramedic identity.
The empirical phase of the study culminated in the development of a mature programme theory encompassing six conceptual categories: ambulance work, omnicompetence, adaptability, education, belonging, and philosophy of practice.
The study concludes that although paramedic identity construction is complex it is tractable and contingent on the unique experiences that they have in the process of becoming and being paramedics. Ambulance work remains the metaphorical cornerstone of paramedic identity from which a diverse, unique, and evolving identity can continue to flourish.
Details:
Type: Professional Doctorate
University: University of East Anglia
Primary Supervisor: Dr Paul Linsley
Category: Professional Development
Funding:
Start Date: 2019
End Date: 2024
Status: Complete
Thesis
ThesisResearch Interests
Paramedic Metaphysics, Simulation-Based Education, Critical Realism.
Publications
Hill, L. (2024). 50 Shades of Green: How paramedic identity emerges from ambulance work. College of Paramedics National Conference.
Hill, L., & Eaton, G. (2023). Exploring paramedic professional identity. British Paramedic Journal, 8(3), 42–51.
Hill, L., & Eaton, G. (2023). The paramedics ’ pledge : a short commentary on its inception and development. British Paramedic Journal, 8(3), 52–54.
