A possible new hire for the Parkland Ambulance is put through a scenario simulation test on Wednesday. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Opportunity Is Now

Parkland Ambulance examines potential new paramedics

Oct 2, 2019 | 4:59 PM

Parkland Ambulance put potential new hires to the test on Wednesday.

The day-long testing for the candidates consisted of various stages.

This morning 14 candidates were put through strength, flexibility, and overall fitness testing.

“It’s not to put them through a specific fitness course like they’re not out exercising but we want to see what their range of motion is. Can they lift a certain amount of weight? How flexible they are in certain parameters that fit to our style of work place?” Lyle Karasiuk, director of public affairs for Parkland Ambulance, said.

Following the physical assessment, applicants moved on to the written evaluation aspect of the testing.

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“They’ve written an examination to say what do you know?” Karasiuk said.

The candidates were then put through scenario testing both a trauma and medical scenario in a simulation type assessment. They were evaluated and scored on the type of care they give the patient.

Following that, the training staff scored the applicants to determine if they performed to satisfaction. The final stage was an interview to determine who would join the team.

“We are always fortunate to have a number of options to us and by that I mean we can have people who are already in the workforce, so in other words they might be working casual and are looking for closer to home, closer to family whatever the case may be, they’re thinking this is there career spot for them,” Karasiuk said.

He said they are also fortunate to evaluate students for future career openings.

“It does become a little bit of a long process for them but it all again is designed to provide for us the best possible candidates and to the public at large it provides the best quality paramedics that we as a service can offer to them,” he said.

Even if the candidates ace all the tests that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be hired.

“We might take two or three out of the candidates based on what we get, and we might short-list them,” he said.

With the 14 that started this morning that number was pared down to nine before the scenario testing.

“For various reason we eliminated a couple of people along the way and we look forward to seeing all of them successfully complete, but again today just might not be the day for them,” Karasiuk said.

Ashley Iverson, one of 14 candidates said she felt confident in how she did in her testing.

“I applied actually a couple months back for P.A. as well so I kind of knew what I was getting into and I feel a lot better than I did the first time,” Iverson said.

“I feel a little nervous with the scenarios just because there is so much going through your head all the time and we just want to make sure we’re getting all out to the instructors.”

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Ian.Gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12