I am a Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science having spent over a decade working in a variety of roles within several UK ambulance services. Although I teach across all modules on the BSc Paramedic Science programme, I have a particular interest in resuscitation, trauma and the biological sciences which underpin our discipline. In addition to my teaching role, I am the joint course lead, an instructor for the Resuscitation Council and I remain clinically active undertaking frontline shifts with South Central Ambulance Service.

The focus of my masters’ dissertation was to ascertain whether chest compressions were as effective when performed from an over-the-head position, as chest compressions performed from a lateral position in a small cohort of Student Paramedics in a manikin based simulation. The context to this is that both positions are ubiquitous in clinical practice and few studies had sought to discern if either position conferred an advantage in terms of quality of chest compressions. This small scale crossover study randomised Student Paramedics to perform either over-the-head or lateral chest compressions first and quantitatively assessed metrics such as compression depth, compression fraction and chest wall recoil. We found no statistically significant difference in the quality of chest compressions in either group. 

Previous research has sought to understand the application of pelvic circumferential compression devices (PCCD's) by Student Paramedics and the implications for patients who present with pelvic trauma. This observational cohort study sought to ascertain whether Student Paramedics can appropriately locate key anatomical landmarks and to identify whether a theory/practice gap exists. We found that whilst a large number of Student Paramedics were able to state the appropriate anatomical landmarks, there was a high degree of variability in placement of these devices with 34% of Student Paramedics being unable to locate the Greater Trochanters. The research won best poster at the College of Paramedics Student Paramedic Conference in 2019 and was published in the Journal of Paramedic Practice.

Registered Paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Member of the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Member of the College of Paramedics (COP)

Prof. Doc (Professional Doctorate in Health), University of Wolverhampton. 2024 - Present

M.Sc Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, Merit, 2020

Pg.Cert Higher Education & Professional Practice (PGCE), University of Wolverhampton, Distinction, 2017

B.Sc (Hons) Emergency Practitioner, University of Wolverhampton, First Class Honours, 2017 

Fd.Sc Paramedic Science, Coventry University, Merit, 2009

B.Sc (Hons) Biological Science, University of Birmingham, Upper-Second Class Honours, 2006

• Ash. M, Smith. N, Douglin. T (2024). Can the Clinical Frailty Scale predict futility in cardiac arrest? Journal of Paramedic Practice, Vol 16, No. 3.
• Smith. N, Douglin. T (2022). Lateral versus over-the-head chest compression quality in Student Paramedics. Journal of Paramedic Practice. Vol. 14, Iss. 11

• Smith. N (2020). Survival in Seattle; The Cardiac Arrest Survival Summit (Conference Report). International Paramedic Practice. Vol. 10, Iss. 1. ISSN (Online): 2052-4889

• Magner. A, Smith. N, Douglin. T (2019). Application of pelvic binders by Student Paramedics; an observational cohort study. Journal of Paramedic Practice. Vol. 11, Iss. 12. ISSN (online): 2041-9457

• Smith. N (2011). Management of the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: challenges facing paramedics. Journal of Paramedic Practice. Vol. 3, Iss. 7, pp 360-365

• Smith. N, Jenkins. S, Williams. J (2010). Hands off the chest: a new direction for CPR? Journal of Paramedic Practice. Vol. 2, Iss. 3, pp 123-124

Senior Lecturer Paramedic Science

University of Wolverhampton

April, 2021 - Present

Bank Paramedic

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) 

September, 2023 - Present

Resuscitation Council UK Instructor

Resuscitation Council UK

April, 2023 - Present

External Examiner

Teesside University

Sept. 2022 - September, 2024

HEMS Paramedic

Lincs/Notts Air Ambulance (Seconded from East Midlands Ambulance Service)

June, 2020 – April, 2021

Research Paramedic

London Ambulance Service

September, 2019 – June, 2020

Lecturer-Practitioner in Paramedic Science

University of Wolverhampton

June, 2016 – September, 2019

Paramedic, Advanced Paramedic and Clinical Team Mentor (CTM)

West Midlands Ambulance Service

September, 2009 – September, 2019

Student Paramedic

Great Western Ambulance Service

September, 2007 – August, 2009

Generic Instructor Course (GIC)

Resuscitation Council UK

December, 2022

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Course

Resuscitation Council UK

November, 2022