The chaos is controlled but the learning is real
As Carter Buchanan (Advanced Care Paramedic ’25, Primary Care Paramedic ’22, Management ’17) kneels beside the victim of an ATV accident, blood pools around a severe leg wound. Every second counts.
Or at least it feels that way.
The accident is a simulation – a showpiece for a recent NAIT event called “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit.” The victim is a high-fidelity mannequin, and the setting is the state-of-the-art Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation.
Overall, the situation is a carefully controlled and monitored chaos meant to immerse students in the high-stress, unpredictable nature of emergency medicine. With his Advanced Care Paramedic instructor by his side, Buchanan quickly assesses the scene and begins work to control the “bleeding.”
Such training has been more than just preparation for the worst-case scenarios Buchanan may encounter in the field. It’s been fundamental to his personal growth. After a start in trades, then business, Buchanan discovered his calling as not only as a first responder but as a mentor to fellow students and future generations of paramedics.
“It reignited something in me”
Buchanan’s interest in medicine goes back to high school in St. Albert. But when his grades weren’t pointing toward his desired career as a doctor, he switched to a back-up plan.
“I knew I wanted to work with my hands and do something more unique on a day-to-day basis, so I went into the trades."
When work dried up, he turned to his hobbyist’s interest in entrepreneurship, launched several small businesses, and enrolled at NAIT for the first time. After graduating from the JR Shaw School of Business, however, Buchanan hit yet another obstacle: the pandemic, scuttling his ambitions as a businessperson.
Pivoting again, Buchanan followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, a WWII engineer, and joined the Canadian Army Reserves as a weapons technician. There, he found himself working with medics during basic training.
“That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue paramedicine seriously."
“It reignited something in me,” he says. “That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue paramedicine seriously."
Leaving the reserves after an injury brought Buchanan nearly full circle. He took a course to become an emergency medical responder (EMR) and found work in and around St. Paul and Saddle Lake. When he decided to deepen his understanding of the field, NAIT’s Primary Care Paramedic program was an obvious choice.
“I knew NAIT could offer me a great education [and] fantastic instructors.”
Finally, he’d hit his stride – and was keen to continue. After graduating, Buchanan applied for Advanced Care Paramedic, worried he may not make the cut. But unlike high school, his marks were no longer a barrier.
“When I got the acceptance letter, I was blown away,” says Buchanan.
A contributor and champion
During his latest NAIT program, Buchanan did more than just learn. He became a contributor.
At the Western Institute of Emergency Education, where he took his EMR training, Buchanan got acquainted with, and became a champion of, simulation training. He brought that fascination to NAIT, where he helped organize simulation events for the polytechnic’s annual Open House and shared ideas with his instructors to foster collaboration among health-care programs.
Lisa George (Bachelor of Technology ’18, Laboratory and X-ray Combined ’09), associate chair of Interprofessional Education at NAIT, says Buchanan was a unique addition to the ACP program.
“His positive attitude and deep understanding of collaborative health-care practice stood out, as he recognized the impact of teamwork on patient safety and care quality.”
That may be most obvious in Buchanan’s leading role in establishing a massive simulation involving 60 School of Health and Life Sciences students and staff in spring 2024 to improve communication across disciplines. A new version of the event was staged this spring and included students and staff from other Alberta post-secondary institutes.
“Watching it grow from year to year … has been amazing," says Buchanan.
“Carter played a crucial role in shaping the project,” says George. “His ability to motivate peers and promote the benefits of simulation-based learning was truly inspiring.”
Not quite goodbye
Now, Buchanan is excited to return to the field.
"I’ll likely head back up to St. Paul,” he says. “Eventually, I’d love to work with an integrated fire department.” He’s even open to re-enlisting with the military.
For Buchanan, NAIT was more than just a place to earn a credential. It helped him become more skilled and confident. It helped him embrace a life in health care.
Even after three programs at the polytechnic, it’s unlikely that Buchanan will be away for long. He hopes to remain involved, whether through simulation, education or participating in scenarios with students.
“I look at how much NAIT has taught me and what I’ve learned from current practitioners who work in the field,” says Buchanan.
“If I can help pass along that level of knowledge and bring the next generation of paramedics forward, I would love to be a part of that.”