Abstract
Paramedical students often face difficult cases of injury, death, tension in families of patients and public anxiety during clinical practice. The current study sought to identify the emotional challenges faced by paramedic students during clinical practice and its impact on patient care, the professional and personal life of the students, and to identify the strategies used by paramedic students to cope with their emotional challenges. The researchers used a descriptive, cross-sectional design. A close-ended questionnaire distributed to interns and paramedic students who were studying or graduating from the Emergency Medical Services ( EMS) bachelor's degree program was used to collect quantitative data. The study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between June 1 and July 30, 2020.The study included a total of 137 students. Results showed that emotional challenges had a significant negative impact on their patient care, professional life and personal life (p < 0.00). In addition, emotional challenges include the following coping strategies implemented by paramedic students; developing professional skills, modifying a wrong intervention, deliberately facing stressful conditions, reflecting on stressful situations, communication skills to guide challenging interactions, and controlling the mind and body. This study found that paramedic students face emotional challenges that have a negative effect on the quality of patient care, their professional and personal life and use a variety of strategies and techniques during clinical practice to overcome emotional challenges. Before, during and after EMS practical clinical training, educators of paramedical students carry out more instructional and educational duties to reduce the impact of emotional challenges on paramedical students.