Ep. #13: Paramedicine, ER stories, Critical Care, & Humanity w/ Katherine Hambleton

Underground Antics with Shane Pokroy

Katherine has a professional background in the fields of nursing and paramedicine, and has worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years. She is also a published author, speaker, and mental health advocate.

In this episode, Katherine and I have a great conversation on a variety of topics regarding, and relating to, the medical and paramedical field. We also hear about some of Katherine’s most interesting stories from the Emergency Room (ER), things getting stuck in places they shouldn’t be, surgery, the amazing structures and functionality of the human body. We go on to discuss dealing with critical care situations, medical advancements, death and dying, and the current situation with covid and vaccination rollouts. Hope you enjoy listening!

Katherine Hambleton

Katherine has a professional background in the fields of nursing and paramedicine and has worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years. In addition to holding her AEMCA (Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant), she holds a specialty in emergency nursing (ENCC) and a certificate in critical care. Katherine has a diverse portfolio in healthcare having worked as an RN in the emergency department setting, as a clinical research nurse and as an ACLS/BLS Instructor. She also worked within the provincial air ambulance system as an ambulance communications officer, with the base hospital as lead QA and as an Education and Practice Facilitator, managing the education portfolio of the flight paramedics. Katherine currently works in a cardiac surgery intensive care unit.

Katherine is a published author and she has been a dedicated advocate for first responder mental health for several years; coordinating the 2014 national 'Heroes Are Human - PTSD Awareness Tour', lobbying for 'Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act' and she was the National Coordinator for Wings of Change - Peer Support, managing the program for 3 years. Katherine continues to work toward breaking down the barriers and stigmas associated with mental health challenges within the first responder communities.

Katherine successfully competed for the position of Provincial Chair for the newly established OPA Wellness Committee in March of 2020, and moved into an Interim position as Director of Membership Services in June 2020.

Katherine is dedicated to the advancement of the paramedic profession and continues to be a strong advocate for patient safety.

More of Katherine: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-hambleton-11508287 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knpomerleau/ OPA: https://www.ontarioparamedic.ca/about-us/board-of-directors/#n6

More of Shane: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-pokroy/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/shanepokroy/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/UndergroundAnticsPodcast/

Listen to Underground Antics on your favourite podcast platform (Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, YouTube, etc.) 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/underground-antics-with-shane-pokroy/id1516717778 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/001s4TUyZIrHhlH3jp0169 Podbean: h