BACKGROUND: New and inexperienced emergency medical service (EMS) professionals lack important experience. To prevent medical errors and improve retention there is an urgent need to identify ways to support new professionals during their first year in the EMS.
METHODS: A purposeful sample and snowball technique was used and generated a panel of 32 registered nurses with 12-48 months of EMS experience. A Delphi technique in four rounds was used. Telephone interviews were undertaken in round one to identify what desirable support professionals new to the EMS desire during their first year. Content analysis of the transcribed interviews yielded items which were developed into a questionnaire. The experts graded each item in terms of perceived importance on a 5-graded likert scale. Consensus level was set at 75%. Items which reached consensus were removed from questionnaires used in subsequent rounds.
RESULTS: Desirable support was categorized into eight areas: Support from practical skills exercises, support from theoretical knowledge, support from experiences based knowledge, theoretical support, support from an introduction period, support from colleagues and work environment, support from management and organization and other support. The experts agree on the level of importance on 64 of a total of 70 items regarding desirable support. One item was considered not important, graded 1 or 2, 63 items were considered important, graded 4 or 5.
CONCLUSION: Even with extensive formal competence the EMS context poses challenges where a wide variety of desirable forms of support is needed. Support structures should address both personal and professional levels and be EMS context oriented.