Danielle Pinoni
Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Cohort 19
While in university studying kinesiology, Danielle Pinoni realized what she wanted was a more hands-on learning environment. That led her to JIBC where she took the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course and loved it so much she followed it up by completing the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program and pursing a career in paramedicine.
After working as a PCP for several years, she decided to further her education by taking the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) program, a longstanding interest she says stems from her conversations with two of her PCP program instructors who also worked as ACPs.
Why did you want to become an Advanced Care Paramedic?
I wanted a fast-paced job that was challenging yet rewarding in the medical field. I was initially studying kinesiology at university but decided that a hands-on, in-field training program where I can learn skills for the job was a better fit for me.
what was the Best thing about your course?
There were so many great things about the course. The staff and faculty are top notch. Coming into class every day with eager classmates and experienced instructors made the process so enjoyable. Every single instructor we had was specialized. From infant transport team members on the pediatric course to midwives on obstetrics and neonatal resuscitation day. All of the instructors running simulation days are working ACPs or CCPs (Critical Care Paramedics) which made it very relevant and realistic to the job.
If you are ready to work hard, push yourself, learn from great instructors and meet unreal people - send in your application
What did you think about the facilities and equipment?
The facilities at JIBC were open early hours of the day to late in the evening. We all spent many hours practising before and after class. We had a group that came in every weekend as well. The equipment is all up to date and is the same as the equipment being used on ambulances. The training dolls are MegaCode Kelly and we used real LP15 monitors as well as iSimulate which increased the fidelity in practice.
How would you rate your experiences in practice education?
I was very pleased with my practice education experience. We shadowed emergency room physicians at level 1 tertiary care centres and worked one-on-one with anesthesiologists in the operating room intubating patients for surgery. We spent a day in the NICU where we got to examine neonates, and we spent months on advanced life support ambulances throughout the province which was my personal favourite.
What are you doing now?
I just received my Advanced Care Paramedic license after writing the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR) exam and completing practical examinations. Now I am waiting for the mentorship program to begin where I can practise my newly acquired skills and become a signed off ACP. In the meantime, I am working my regular rotation and enjoying my free time.
What are your plans for the future?
In the future I hope to be working as an ACP in the city and eventually get my community paramedic qualifications. My goal is to eventually be in a rural community where I can work as a community paramedic while still using my advanced care scope of practice.
Would you recommend JIBC?
I would recommend JIBC to anyone who is interested in starting, continuing or upgrading their education. I enrolled in my EMR training at the JIBC New Westminster campus in early 2017, loved it so much I continued on with Primary Care Paramedic training in late 2017 and began the ACP program in 2019. Clearly, I can’t get enough of this place!
What advice would you offer to students thinking of coming to study here?
A lot of people at work have told me they are contemplating doing the ACP program here at JIBC and my advice to them is always “do it.” If you are ready to work hard, push yourself, learn from great instructors and meet unreal people – send in your application. To those of you wanting to do it but feeling like you haven’t got enough experience on the job – I enrolled with only two years as a PCP, the experience you get throughout this program is incomparable to anywhere else.