'What Should Paramedic Mentorship Look Like' with Radu Venter

In this episode, we explore Radu Venter’s proposal for a structured Paramedic Internship Model, inspired by medical training frameworks. Venter argues that current orientation programmes don’t provide enough time or support for new paramedics to develop the confidence and competence needed for safe, independent practice.

He suggests a tiered approach where new paramedics first orient with an experienced crew, then spend a defined period working exclusively alongside seasoned practitioners before achieving full independent status. This system aims to improve practitioner readiness, enhance patient safety, and foster a culture of continuous learning within pre-hospital care.

While acknowledging potential logistical challenges and the risk of worsening staffing shortages, Radu maintains that the long-term benefits better clinical confidence, reduced burnout, and stronger team dynamics, make the proposal worth exploring.

Key Themes we explore:

• Paramedic orientation vs. internship models

• Building confidence and competence in new practitioners

• Balancing mentorship with workforce pressures

• Lessons from critical care and medical training

Radu reinforces the model’s potential, noting that extended in-field mentorship has long been proven successful in high-acuity environments such as critical care. You can read the blog here: https://theparamedicphilosopher.substack.com/p/what-should-paramedic-mentorship

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