| 008 |
|
200507n^^^^^^^^xx^ad^^^o^^^^^|||^u^eng^d |
| 024 |
7 |
|a R697.A4 S85 2009_SullivanDavid |2 BU-Local |
| 245 |
10 |
|a Paramedics' and employers' perceptions of critical thinking |h [electronic resource]. |
| 260 |
|
|a Miami, Fla. : |b Barry University, |c 2009. |
| 300 |
|
|a xi, 111 leaves : |b ill., charts ; |c 28 cm |
| 490 |
|
|a Barry University Dissertations -- School of Education. |
| 502 |
|
|a Thesis (Ph.D.)--Barry University, 2009. |
| 504 |
|
|a Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-96). |
| 506 |
|
|a Copyright David L. Sullivan. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. |
| 520 |
3 |
|a Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to summon paramedics’ and paramedic employers’ perceptions of critical thinking. To explore this phenomenon, the researcher sought to answer an overarching question by collecting participant responses to interview protocol questions. Method: This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with eight-paramedic and eight-paramedic employer participants that were purposively selected from a convenient sample population. The paramedic participants work for one of nineteen fire department or EMS agencies located within a single county and are required to attend a four-day paramedic orientation class. The paramedic employer participants employ the paramedic participants in this study. All nineteen employers from this county and paramedics from this orientation class were provided with a recruitment flyer via a non-partial gatekeeper. Only the first eight paramedic and first eight employer participants who completed an online anonymous, open-ended questionnaire via a secured website, were included in the study. Participants provided their perceptions of paramedic critical thinking and included: (1) what they thought critical thinking was; (2) how important critical thinking is to the paramedic profession; (3) type of paramedic program paramedics attended and type of program the employer preferred; (4) whether there is a difference between degree and non-degree programs; (5) whether or not paramedic programs provide adequate (if any) critical thinking education; (6) recommendations for improving or adding critical thinking education; and (7) if there was anything else that would benefit the study. The data collected from the questionnaires was analyzed by comparing paramedic and paramedic employer responses for common themes (or differences) and aligning responses with the attributes of critical thinking using the Richard Paul Model (RPM) of Critical Thinking. The RPM of CT is an established and widely recognized model for attributes of critical thinking. Major Findings: Using an inductive process for analyzing participants’ responses, the study revealed four common themes. First, the findings revealed that both paramedics and paramedic employers (combined) have (at least some) understanding of what critical thinking is and believed that it does have value within the paramedic curriculum. Second, both paramedics and employers revealed that they valued critical thinking ability and that critical thinking was essential to what paramedics do in the prehospital patient care setting — take care of patients. Third, only a minority of paramedics (25%) and employers (12.5%) believed that paramedic programs offer adequate critical thinking education. And fourth, most paramedics and employers recommended significant changes to critical thinking education being offered in paramedic programs. Other interesting findings from this study revealed that a majority (62.5 %) of paramedics attended community college programs for their initial paramedic education and half (50%) of the employers preferred that their paramedics attended a community college program. When asked about the difference between associate degree and certificate paramedic programs, a majority (62.5%) of employers believed that associate degrees were more favorable and a minority (37.5%) of paramedics believed there was no difference between degree and certificate programs. |
| 533 |
|
|a Electronic reproduction. |c Barry University, |d 2020. |f (Barry University Digital Collections) |n Mode of access: World Wide Web. |n System requirements: Internet connectivity; Web browser software. |
| 535 |
1 |
|a Barry University Archives and Special Collections. |
| 650 |
0 |
|a Allied health personnel |x United States. |
| 650 |
0 |
|a Paramedical education. |
| 650 |
0 |
|a Emergency medical technicians. |
| 830 |
0 |
|a Barry University Digital Collections. |
| 830 |
0 |
|a Theses and Dissertations. |
| 852 |
|
|a BUDC |c Theses and Dissertations |
| 856 |
40 |
|u http://sobekcmsrv.barrynet.barry.edu/AA00001761/00001 |y Click here for full text |
| 992 |
04 |
|a https:/budc.barry.edu/content/AA/00/00/17/61/00001/R697_A4 S85 2009_SullivanDavidthm.jpg |
| 997 |
|
|a Theses and Dissertations |
