Steve McEvansoneya

Employer: Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS trust
Qualifications: RN, RMN, further education teaching certificate, A&E certificate, certificate in education, masters in education

It was my interest in pre-hospital emergency care that led me to pursue a career in the ambulance service. Whilst there are no specific qualifications in this area, nurses are required to complete a conversion programme to be taught how to deal with the differing demands of the job. For example, nurses need to be taught how to use ambulance equipment. In addition to this, a background in accident and emergency or intensive care work is essential.

New skills

As a nurse in ambulance practice you learn advanced resuscitation skills and trauma care but you are not allowed to administer the same range of drugs a paramedic can. Although as an ambulance officer I have a management responsibility to fulfil at some incidents distinct from a clinical role, I am planning to undertake paramedic training to maximise my scope of clinical practice. The opportunities available for nurses in the ambulance service are becoming increasingly attractive as a logical post-qualifying career pathway.

Likes and dislikes

Now that I am a senior manager, I do miss the opportunity for everyday clinical contact. However, I am still a community co-responder, which means I can be called out from home at any time to provide a rapid response to a 999 call.