CQUniversity Unit Profile
BMSC14005 Preparation for Professional Practice in Medical Laboratory Science
Preparation for Professional Practice in Medical Laboratory Science
All details in this unit profile for BMSC14005 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
Corrections

Unit Profile Correction added on 03-03-21

The end of term examination has now been changed to an alternate form of assessment. Please see your Moodle site for details of the assessment.

General Information

Overview

This capstone unit will provide you with an opportunity to examine and critique current health practices issues prior to your entry into the Medical Laboratory Science professional workforce. Your study will focus on the contemporary legislative, social and economic trends in the Australian Pathology profession that will impact on your practice. You will be required to exhibit ethical decision-making and clinical/professional reasoning at a graduate level, in preparation for practice.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

BMSC13001 Advanced Haematology; BMSC13002 Advanced Clinical Biochemistry; BMSC13003 Advanced Clinical Microbiology; BMSC13009 Immunology; BMSC13010 Pharmacology; BMSC13011 Advanced Transfusion Science; BMSC13012 Advanced Work Integrated Learning; AND BMSC13016 Advanced Histopathology and Cytopathology

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2021

Online
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Reflective Practice Assignment
Weighting: 20%
2. Portfolio
Weighting: 40%
3. Examination
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Students appreciated the introduction to the 'non-technical' aspects of professional practice.

Recommendation

Continue to provide an insight into contemporary practice in Medical Laboratory Science including professional behaviour.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Students felt that the assessment tasks could have had more structure.

Recommendation

Consider developing more structure around assessment tasks.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Students appreciated the support provided by the team.

Recommendation

Ensure that the level of support is maintained.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge of legal, economic and ethical issues that impact the provision of health care services and best practice in Medical Laboratory Science
  2. Investigate the current trends in the provision of professional services to rural/remote and regional Australia
  3. Discuss the principles underlying effective leadership and communication skills in health care settings, demonstrating cultural safety
  4. Discuss current Australian Standards for laboratory accreditation and how these impact on service delivery in rural/remote and regional Australia
  5. Discuss the role of a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the Safety and Risk Management framework in healthcare.


Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 20%
2 - Portfolio - 40%
3 - Oral Examination - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 20%
2 - Portfolio - 40%
3 - Oral Examination - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Wayne Pederick Unit Coordinator
w.pederick@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 08 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Ethics; Professional Conduct; Privacy & Confidentiality; Freedom of Information;

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - Introduction

Week 2 Begin Date: 15 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Cultural Awareness; Equal Opportunities; Anti-discrimination; Anti-Bullying

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 1

Week 3 Begin Date: 22 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Accreditation - NATA, ISO & IATA (ISO15189/AS4308:2008/AS/NZS 4760:2019); TGA

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 2

Week 4 Begin Date: 29 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Competency Standards; Continuing Professional Development; Professional Memberships; Certification of Medical Scientists

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 3


Reflective Practice Due: Week 4 Friday (2 Apr 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 05 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Quality Control, Quality Assurance & Total Quality Management; Risk Management; Customer Service & Complaint Resolution

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 4

Vacation Week Begin Date: 12 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 19 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Workplace Health & Safety; incident Reporting & Investigation; Root Cause Analysis, Corrective & Preventative Action.

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 5

Week 7 Begin Date: 26 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Budgets & Finance; Medicare - the Medicare Benefits Scheme & Private Health Insurance

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 6


Portfolio of work Due: Week 7 Friday (30 Apr 2021) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 03 May 2021

Module/Topic

Human Resources 1 - Teamwork, Leadership & Conflict Resolution

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 7

Week 9 Begin Date: 10 May 2021

Module/Topic

Human Resources 2 - Recruitment & Performance Management; Awards & EBA; Disciplinary Action

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 8

Week 10 Begin Date: 17 May 2021

Module/Topic

Technology - Automation, LIS, interfacing, report formats, TeleHealth / Tele-Medicine, Videoconferencing, virtual microscopy.

Chapter

e-Reading List on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 9

Week 11 Begin Date: 24 May 2021

Module/Topic

Revision

Chapter

N/A

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - covering Week 10

Week 12 Begin Date: 31 May 2021

Module/Topic

Preparation for End of Term Interactive Oral Exam

Chapter

N/A

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial - Revision & Preparation for Interactive Oral Exam

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 07 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

The Unit Coordinator for this Unit is Wayne Pederick who can be contacted by e-mail (w.pederick@cqu.edu.au) or via the Moodle forums.

Lectures will all be pre-recorded in smaller 'modules' and will be posted on the Moodle page.

There are weekly Tutorials that will be linked to Zoom and will also be recorded and posted to the Moodle page.

There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.

A number of readings will be suggested or made available to you as resource materials for this unit.

Please note that the end-of-term assessment task (Assessment #3) will be an Oral Examination replacing the Written Examination.

Assessment Tasks

1 Reflective Practice Assignment

Assessment Title
Reflective Practice

Task Description

You are required to reflect upon your previous clinical placements (Work Integrated Learning) and how the role of the Medical Scientists was guided by the legal, economic and ethical framework and how they displayed effective leadership and communication skills in the execution of their role. You may also reflect upon the process of laboratory accreditation and workplace health and safety and how they guided practice.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Friday (2 Apr 2021) 11:59 pm AEST

Upload assignment to Moodle


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Monday (19 Apr 2021)

Marked assignments will be posted to Moodle


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

A marking guide for the reflective practice item will be made available on the Moodle page.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload assignment to Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply knowledge of legal, economic and ethical issues that impact the provision of health care services and best practice in Medical Laboratory Science
  • Discuss current Australian Standards for laboratory accreditation and how these impact on service delivery in rural/remote and regional Australia
  • Discuss the role of a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the Safety and Risk Management framework in healthcare.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Portfolio of work

Task Description

A number of case studies will be provided during the term. You are required to submit your responses to four of these cases as a portfolio of work.

Topics for the case studies may include Quality Management, Personnel Management, Professional Development, Legislation and the Regulatory Framework of Pathology, Workplace Health and Safety and Emerging Technology in Pathology.



Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (30 Apr 2021) 11:59 pm AEST

Upload assignment to Moodle


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (14 May 2021)

Marked assignments will be posted to Moodle


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

A marking Guide for this assessment will be provided on the Moodle page.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload assignment to Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Investigate the current trends in the provision of professional services to rural/remote and regional Australia
  • Discuss the principles underlying effective leadership and communication skills in health care settings, demonstrating cultural safety
  • Discuss the role of a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the Safety and Risk Management framework in healthcare.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice
  • Social Innovation

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
40%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply knowledge of legal, economic and ethical issues that impact the provision of health care services and best practice in Medical Laboratory Science
  • Discuss the principles underlying effective leadership and communication skills in health care settings, demonstrating cultural safety
  • Discuss current Australian Standards for laboratory accreditation and how these impact on service delivery in rural/remote and regional Australia


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?