How to balance working as a student paramedic while studying

Are you looking at pursuing a degree in paramedic science or undertaking a student paramedic apprenticeship? If so, you might be concerned about finding it hard to balance the demands of working as a paramedic with your studies. You’ll know how essential it’s going to be to manage your time effectively and have a healthy routine between your work and academic commitments. With that in mind, let’s explore some practical strategies that will set you up for success.

Learning time management

Between working shifts and late nights trying to cram in your coursework, time can start to feel like a really scarce resource - which is why learning how to plan your schedule is a vital life skill. Use your phone’s calendar or other time management apps to block out time for your apprenticeship, lectures, study sessions, personal life and rest. Setting clear priorities for each day like this will help you stay organised and prevent last-minute stress.

With that being said, the life of a student paramedic is often unpredictable, so plan your study sessions in advance and take advantage of quiet moments at work to brush up on your coursework. Learning to be adaptable like this will make you far more resilient in your professional and personal life.

Be realistic about your workload

Nobody expects you to be a robot. Although both real-world training and classroom study can be intense for anyone, remember to set realistic expectations of yourself and how much you can handle at any given time. Taking on too many hours is just going to negatively affect your performance and risk of burning out. In order to protect your personal wellbeing, don’t be afraid to talk to your lecturers to make sure your schedule is manageable and aligned with your goals.

Tip: Remember to take regular breaks, get sufficient sleep and don’t neglect to pursue your hobbies, interests and social life to help you wind down.

Put your learning into practice

You have the advantage of immediately applying what you’re learning in your paramedic science degree to real-world scenarios, so use it! Every shift is an opportunity to reinforce the things you’ve learned which can help make it stick and lessen the burden on revision. On the flip side, your work experiences may give you new insight that will help you in your studies too. Ask questions, seek feedback and use every call as a learning opportunity!

Seek advice from other students, colleagues and lecturers, particularly if you’re finding things hard. The University of Bolton also has excellent student services if you need someone to lend an ear or offer advice.

Fancy building a fulfilling career as a paramedic but don’t know where to start? Talk to us on 01204 903394 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to experience #UniAsItShouldBe and study somewhere that will prioritise your self-care and give you a strong support network.