Overview
This unit prepares you to assess and test for neurological conditions with its focus on clinical neuroanatomy and application to professional chiropractic practice. Following a review of neuroanatomy, you will be introduced to common neurological conditions and basic neurological physical assessments. You will learn to identify the pathophysiology of neurological symptoms and basic neuropathology. Within the practical lab sessions, you will learn the techniques to competently assess neurological conditions through the use of simple case scenarios.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: CHIR12008 Neuromusculoskeletal Anatomy 2 and BMSC12007 Neurological Physiology and Measurement and MPAT12001 Medical Pathophysiology
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 - 2018
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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
Learning neurological techniques on an anatomical basis is good.
Continue with anatomically based learning with clinically relevant information presented by the lecturer.
Feedback from student feedback
Lack of consistency between tutors at different campuses and the lecturer on important elements
In the future the unit coordination will be undertaken by an ongoing, rather than casual staff member. This will provide for greater opportunity to communicate with teaching staff and to ensure consistency in teaching and assessment content and method.
Feedback from staff and student feedback
Too much information which does not seem to fit in with the unit profile.
A review of the content and sequencing in this unit will be undertaken by the HOC and modified if deemed necessary.
- Perform basic neurological examination and interpret neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions and differential diagnoses pertinent to case presentations.
- Develop a diagnosis for neurological presentations by drawing upon the case history information and your knowledge of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.
- Interpret the neurophysiology of pain and how pathological processes could affect neurological structure and function.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - On-campus Activity - 0% | |||
| 2 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 60% | |||
| 3 - Examination - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 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 - On-campus Activity - 0% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 60% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Neurological Examination Made Easy
5th Edition (2013)
Authors: Fuller, Geraint
Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone
London London , UK
ISBN: 978-0-7020517-7-7
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.hannah@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Lecture: Introduction to Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 1 and unit expectations; The Neurological History; Symptoms and Signs; Neurological Observation
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition" , pages 5 -12
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Components of neurological physical examination; Physical assessment - general observation and overview of neurological examination of limbs
Practical: Physical Assessment - General Observation; Review of Surface Anatomy and Musculature
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition" , chapter 1 pages 12-14; chapter 2 pages 15-22; chapter 3 pages 23-36
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: UMNL versus LMNL; dermatomes versus myotomes; significance of signs elicited on general observation
Practical: Examining the upper limbs - motor system
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 15/16 pages 111-117; chapter 17 pages 118-128; chapter 20 pages 148-154
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Assessing the higher centres and speech assessment - an overview
Practical: Examination of upper limbs - reflexes and sensory
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 19 pages 145-147; chapter 21 pages 155-166;
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Significance of signs elicited on examination of upper limbs
Practical: Examination of lower limbs - motor
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 15/16 pages 111-117; chapter 17 pages 118-128; chapter 22 pages 167-172
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Significance of signs elicited on examination of lower limbs
Practical: Examination of lower limbs - reflexes and sensory
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 18 pages 129-142
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Cranial Nerve Examination 1
Practical:
Mid-Term OSCE
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 5 pages 43-47
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Extra time scheduled to accommodate for Mid-Term OSCE by Friday April 27, 2018
Module/Topic
Lecture: Cranial Nerve Examination 2
Practical:Cranial Nerve Examinations CR I, II, III, IV and VI
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 6-10 pages 47-91
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Cranial Nerve Examination 3
Practical:Cranial Nerve Examinations CR V, VII, VIII
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 11-12 pages 92-103
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Module/Topic
Lecture: Assessing co-ordination and for meningeal irritation
Practical:Cranial Nerve Examinations CR IX, X and XII
Cranial nerves IX, X, XI and XII
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 13-14 pages 92-110
Events and Submissions/Topic
On-Campus Activity:-
Revision of practical lab material
Module/Topic
Lecture: Assessment of the ANS
Practical: Assessing co-ordination (cerebellar function and basal ganglia function); Revision for Final OSCE
Chapter
Fuller, Geraint, "Neurological Examination Made Easy, 5th Edition"; chapter 23-24 pages 173-184
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practice OSCE
On-Campus Activity Due: Week 11 Friday (25 May 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Lectures: None
Practical: Final OSCE
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
FINAL OSCE will be scheduled at TBA (to-be-announced) specified date that will be consistent across all campuses.
OSCE - Includes Mid-Term and Final Due: Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit coordinator for CHIR12007 is David W Hannah at the Mackay campus. (07) 4940 7514
Tutors are: Sydney Sharyn Eaton (02) 9324 5016
Brisbane Andrew Dane (07) 3023 4270
1 On-campus Activity
Week 11 Friday (25 May 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Tutors should be able to provide immediate feedback when requested throughout the term.
Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018)
Tutor or coordinator to provide verbal formative feedback as required.
The on-campus activities are formative in nature and will assist in preparing you to learn the material throughout this term.
There will not be a specific marking rubric for each activity, but it will depend upon your interactive participation (i.e. attendance)
You will receive a PASS/FAIL for all the activities which is required to continue to CHIR20001 in Term 1 of the Masters Program - regardless of the OSCE practical and Final Examination results.
No submission method provided.
- Perform basic neurological examination and interpret neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions and differential diagnoses pertinent to case presentations.
- Develop a diagnosis for neurological presentations by drawing upon the case history information and your knowledge of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.
- Interpret the neurophysiology of pain and how pathological processes could affect neurological structure and function.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Team Work
2 Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
There will be a mid term OSCE in week 7 consisting of one station and an end of term OSCE in week 12 which will consist of multiple stations. The week 7 OSCE will be worth 25% and end of term 35% of the total grade for the unit.
Mid-Term OSCE - Week 7
Station 1 - The task will be to demonstrate competence in performing a correct approach or technique, with appropriate patient handling. You will be required to correlate your findings by sharing them with the examiner:
- Perform an SMR (sensory, motor, reflex) assessment of a particular nerve root (upper and/or lower limb).
FINAL OSCE - Week 12
Station 1 - SMR Upper/Lower Limb: The task will be to demonstrate competence in performing a correct approach or technique, with appropriate patient handling. You will be required to correlate your findings by explaining to the examiner what you are doing.
1. Perform an SMR (sensory, , assessment of a particular nerve root (upper and/or lower limb).
The tasks will be allocated to you randomly according to series of previously composed station cards.
Station 2 Cranial Nerve - The task will be to demonstrate competence in performing a correct approach or technique, with appropriate patient handling. You will be required to correlate your findings by explaining to the examiner what you are doing.
- Perform a focused Cranial Nerve assessment of your patient.
The tasks will be allocated to you randomly according to series of previously composed station cards.
Station 3 Cerebellar/Co-ordination - The task will be to demonstrate competence in performing a correct approach or technique, with appropriate patient handling. You will be required to correlate your findings by explaining to the examiner what you are doing.
- Perform a focused cerebellar or coordination assessment of your patient.
The tasks will be allocated to you randomly according to series of previously composed station cards.
Please note:
You will present for your OSCE dressed as you would present in professional environment. Any student not adhering to the dress code may be excluded from the assessment. Each station will require you to complete consent, hygiene and demonstrating professionalism; each station is timed. You will have a set time to complete the station (including reading/planning), therefore if a station is not completed within the allocated time the practical element will be stopped and you will be marked based on your performance to that point. Clinical and skills staff may be present as part of the examiners on the assessment date. The assessment will be recorded using a video camera to enable moderation, however, these recordings will not be routinely available for student feedback.Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Mid-term will be performed during the week 7 practical class time. The Final OSCE will occur during week 12.
Review/Exam Week Friday (8 June 2018)
Can you demonstrate competence in evaluating for a neurological assessment in an applied context?
Station 1 SMR: Your performance will be graded using a marking rubric according to the following:
- Appropriate findings noted;
- Understanding of technique application;
- Patient handling;
- Examiners over all impression
- Appropriate findings noted;
- Understanding of technique application;
- Patient handling;
- Examiners over all impression
Station 3 Cerebellar - Your performance will be graded using a marking rubric according to the following:
- Appropriate findings noted;
- Understanding of technique application;
- Patient handling;
- Examiners over all impression
No submission method provided.
- Perform basic neurological examination and interpret neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions and differential diagnoses pertinent to case presentations.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical practice
Examination
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?
