James Kendrick
Extended Care Paramedic, Hato Hone St John
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science in Paramedicine
Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine
For James Kendrick, working as an extended care paramedic for Hato Hone St John and being able to make a positive impact is rewarding.
“I get to support patients with a niche level of clinical skills that can’t otherwise be performed in the community in the timeframe that is required. I most enjoy resolving clinical complaints and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.”
He also enjoys that his career as a paramedic offers him opportunities to work in different environments and communities.
“I’ve had the honour and opportunity to be deployed to multiple parts of New Zealand and the world as a medic and community paramedic. This includes the deployment as a paramedic to assist in rural parts of New Zealand during Cyclone Gabrielle and working on Great Barrier Island.”
Finding his path
James says his interest in a career in paramedicine started when he became involved in surf lifeguarding.
“I was a surf lifeguard when I was in school and dealt with a few emergencies. I had an interest in becoming a paramedic, and at school I was advised of the Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine. At the time AUT was only one of two tertiary education providers to provide this career path, and I was awarded a scholarship from AUT to support the cost of my studies.”
He went on to complete his Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine in 2015, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science in Paramedicine with a focus on extended care paramedicine in 2021. Even today he still has strong memories of his time at AUT.
“The simulation suites in the paramedicine department were great and learning skills that we then could apply on clinical placements was a fantastic opportunity. I also still remember the wise words from our lead paramedic lecturer; ‘Get the whole picture’. Doing a full assessment, then moving into a treatment regime was golden advice for my time at AUT.
“As a student, my biggest learning was knowing that you need to work hard to do well. After my first semester of not doing as well as I hoped, using the support the AUT has in place was essential to my success in my studies. Only knowing 50% of the education material isn’t good when you’re faced with a role involving critical patient care.”
Advice for other students
James has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own university journey.
“Treat full-time study as a full-time job. You need to work hard. You’ll regret things you didn’t work hard on. Work hard to get good results!”
Don’t focus on the exam, focus on learning the content and practising the skills, he adds.
“Don’t learn to memorise and recite information. Be proficient and learn to understand. Understanding and formulating your own ideas is key both at university and as a healthcare provider.”
