The Electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important non-invasive test used for interpretation of the cardiac rhythm, conduction system abnormalities, and the detection of myocardial ischaemia.

The objective of this assessment task is to demonstrate competency in independently performing a 12-Lead ECG in line with safe practice principles.

You will be assessed using the Standard 12-Lead ECG 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool. You will be required to demonstrate an 'advanced beginner level' of practical competency.

• Each item in the ARC tool in BOLD must be passed, and an overall mark of >11.5/18 must be achieved to PASS this assessment task overall.
• This practical assessment must be completed within the set time frame given (20 minutes).
• The performance of ECG will be video recorded for moderation purposes.

The ARC tool is available on the unit Moodle site.

You will be assessed on correct ECG performance technique including:

• appropriate skin preparation
• correct rib palpation and anatomical landmark identification
• correct lead placement
• correct leads attached to correct electrodes
• ECG recorded at 25 mm/s with appropriate gain and calibration
• generation of artefact free ECG trace
• application of basic troubleshooting if required
• appropriate hygienic practice
• maintenance of patient comfort and modesty

Should a student FAIL this assessment, only one re-attempt will be permitted. Students that fail the first attempt at this assessment, should discuss their strategy for performance improvement with both their assessor and Unit Coordinator.

Practical re-sits will be scheduled between Monday the 7th and Wednesday the 9th of December 2020. Impacted students will be individually advised of scheduling.

All students are required to make themselves available to act as a patient model for peer assessment if requested by the Unit Coordinator. This includes the test, and re-sit test.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

It is important for students to observe and learn from the professional behaviour of others, to enable the provision of a positive and safe patient experience.

Many requirements and challenges must be met or overcome, before a sonographer can commence an ultrasound examination. These considerations include but are not limited to patient consent, examination explanation, patient positioning, minimisation of injury or infection risk to staff and patients alike, and the provision of patient empathy and support as necessitated.

This assessment requires you consider a hypothetical clinical interaction between a hospital patient and a cardiac sonographer.  The clinical interaction is presented as a short vignette available on the unit Moodle site.

In response to the clinical scenario presented, you are required to formulate a written reflection. Your reflection must:

• identify key professional behavioural and patient care issues demonstrated in vignette
• comment on the importance of professional patient-staff interactions and infection control measures, identifying plausible consequences or outcomes
• suggest alternative professional behavioural and patient care strategies that may be employed by sonographer to accommodate varied patient requirements

This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. As with all other university assessments, colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may lead to action being taken the Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching HMAS.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

Essay length: 800 words (+/- 10%).

You will be assessed on your ability to:

• produce a reflective essay that is well written and logical, with accurate spelling, grammar and Vancouver referencing (if required)
• critique appropriateness of demonstrated sonographer behaviour
• identify individual patient requirements
• propose professional behavioural adaptations that could improve patient care and experience, whilst facilitating procedure performance.

A detailed marking rubric can be found on the unit Moodle site. All marking rubric criteria must be achieved, to be awarded a PASS overall.  

• In the absence of an approved extension, given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is late will be awarded a FAIL.
• In the event that a student does not achieve a PASS, students will be given ONE opportunity to resubmit reflective case study following feedback provision.
• Following feedback provision, reflective case study re-submission will be required within 7 days.

Comprehensive analysis and interpretation of a standard 12-Lead electrocardiogram can provide vital information about the nature and location of heart disease. An echocardiographer can refine and/or extend their ultrasound examination as appropriate, by considering the prognostic data presented in an electrocardiogram.

The objective of this assessment task is to reinforce the framework for a systematic analysis of an adult 12-Lead ECG, consolidating previous knowledge and further improving clinical interpretation skills.

• You will be required to analyse a portfolio of 20 standard 12-Lead ECG tracings, applying the step-wise method of interpretation.
• A summative overall ECG interpretation must be generated for each ECG tracing.
• Any workings required to formulate interpretation should be documented and provided as justification for final interpretation.
• An ECG interpretation template for collation of 'overall ECG Interpretation and associated workings' is available on the Moodle site. This template format should be adopted for each ECG interpreted.

This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual.  As with all other university assessments, colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may lead to action being taken the Deputy Dean of Learning and Teaching HMAS.

In the absence of an approved extension, given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is

late will be awarded a FAIL.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

You will be assessed on your ability to:

• Determine cardiac rhythm, rate, and axis
• Identify common abnormalities in the ECG complex
• Identify common arrhythmia(s)
• Utilise correct terminology in interpreting ECG waveforms, segments, intervals, and associated anomalies
• Summate findings, providing an overall impression of the presented ECG recording

Abnormal findings should be justified, with comparison to normative reference ranges where appropriate.

You will be required to use Vancouver style referencing for quoted normative values.

A detailed marking rubric can be found on the unit Moodle site.

For each ECG, an 'advanced beginner' level of interpretation is deemed to have been demonstrated,  if the 'overall impression of ECG' check box is 'ticked' confirming appropriateness of descriptor, in conjunction with at least 6 criteria boxes on the marking rubric.

• In the absence of an approved extension, given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is late will be awarded a FAIL.
• In the event that a student does not achieve a PASS, students will only be given ONE opportunity to revise and resubmit the ECG portfolio, following feedback provision.
• Following feedback provision, ECG portfolio re-submission will be required within 7 days.

In preparation for clinical placement, simulation scanning laboratories offer a safe environment where students can learn and practice, without the pressure of real-world performance.

This assessment task will evaluate your adaptation of practical simulation scanning skills and safe practice to clinical practice.

This practical assessment must be attempted during the first week of clinical placement block. 

This practical assessment requires:

1. Demonstration of safe practice including hand hygiene and scanning ergonomics.

2. Acquisition of standard imaging windows with correct:

• probe manipulation
• image plane identification
• identification of key anatomical landmarks

Students are encouraged to:

• Discuss the best time to complete this assessment with their clinical supervisor, to ensure minimal departmental disruption and sufficient time for task completion.
• Seek detailed feedback from their supervisor post assessment to enable identification of areas requiring improvement.

Should a student FAIL this assessment, only one re-attempt will be permitted.

• Students that fail the first attempt at this assessment, should discuss their strategy for performance improvement with both their assessor and Unit Coordinator.

Practical re-sits are to be performed within 1 week of the first attempt, and prior to the completion of week two of the clinical placement block.

Students will be assessed using the Echocardiographic Practical Assessment 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool. The ARC tool can be found on the unit Moodle site.

Students will be required to demonstrate professional behaviour consistent with safe practice including:

• performance of appropriate hand hygiene
• application of knowledge of infection control practices at the patient bedside
• implementation of ergonomic adjustments during routine clinical scanning

Under clinical supervisor instruction, students will be required to demonstrate basic knowledge of ultrasound scanning and window acquisition including:

• obtaining on-axis orthogonal views
• identifying sector orientation
• manipulating the transducer
• using appropriate terminology

In the absence of an approved extension, given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is late will be awarded a FAIL.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.

The Clinical Case Logbook is a document designed to track clinical experience.

• This logbook documents all observed, partially or fully completed echocardiography cases that a student is exposed to during clinical placement.
• The Clinical Case Logbook will also incorporate details of case exposure obtained during any hours of attendance submitted from 'outside of clinical placement'.

Maintenance of a Clinical Case Log Book helps to ensure that:

• an acceptable volume of clinical work is achieved
• exposure to a reasonable case variety is achieved
• key practical skills are developing

The Clinical Case Logbook must incorporate the following data:

1. Cover page(s) which present two tables summating the weekly cumulative case volume under descriptive headings. Summative tally is based on the actual scan findings, NOT the referral indications.
2. The date of each examination.
3. Allocation of a unique identifier for each patient to ensure anonymity.
4. Referral indications
5. Type of echocardiogram performed (i.e. Adult, Paediatric, Stress/Dobutamine, TOE)
6. Student level of scan participation (Observed, partially, or fully completed examination)
7. Case Findings

Any students whose clinical placement dates have been negotiated to extend beyond two weeks (due to a part-time arrangement) will be eligible to apply for an extension to the Unit Coordinator.

The Clinical Case Logbook serves as a record of the depth and breadth of experience you attained during the placement. It is recommended that students analyse this record at regular intervals to assist in the formulation of learning goals that will support the achievement of unit outcomes.

• During this clinical placement block, it is recommended that a student observe, partially or fully complete a minimum of 40 echocardiograms (minimum of 4 echocardiograms per day).
• The Logbook must be signed by the Clinical Supervisor or echocardiographer delegated by the Clinical Supervisor, or appropriately qualified medical practitioner.

In order to achieve an overall grade of PASS in this assessment task, students must:

1. Accurately record all studies in the Clinical Case Log Book.
2. Ensure the documentation is complete.
3. Submit the requested documentation via the unit Moodle site by the published due date.

Given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is late without an approved extension will be awarded a FAIL.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.
  

To PASS this assessment task, students must achieve a minimum of 80 hours (2 weeks x 40 hours) of direct echocardiography observance/participation approved by an ASAR registered Clinical Supervisor or appropriately qualified medical practitioner.

All hours worked must be entered into the Clinical Attendance Log Book. This form must be signed by the Clinical Supervisor, or a sonographer delegated this task by the Clinical Supervisor.

• The Clinical Attendance Log Book form is available on the Moodle site.
• Students are advised to print this form and read it carefully so they understand the criteria against which their clinical attendance will be evaluated.

Leave arrangements:

Students must not organise holidays, recreational leave or personal appointments during clinical placement periods.

• Students are to notify the clinical placement site prior to their scheduled start time if they will be late arriving to the clinical placement site for any individual day throughout the clinical placement.
• Students who are absent from clinical placement due to sickness must phone their Clinical Supervisor and email their Unit Coordinator prior to their scheduled start time for that day.

For all absences, students must provide the Clinical Supervisor and Unit Coordinator with a medical certificate or statutory declaration. Any clinical placement hours lost to sickness must be made up.

Injury:

Students who are absent from clinical placement due to injury must phone their Clinical Supervisor and email their Unit Coordinator prior to their scheduled start time for that day.

• Any injury that occurs while on placement must be reported immediately to your Clinical Supervisor and Unit Coordinator.
• Medical clearance may be required before returning to placement.
• For more information on this, including fitness to practice, please refer to the Clinical Placement Attendance Guidelines on the unit Moodle site.

Any clinical placement hours missed due to injury must be made up.

Public holidays/university vacation periods:

Public holidays recognised by CQUniversity are outlined on the academic calendar.

• When a public holiday falls during a clinical placement block, public holiday dates can be entered as 8 hours for each day into the Attendance Log Book and hours are not required to be made up.
• If a designated University student vacation period coincides with the clinical placement period, students are expected to attend during this time.
• Students are advised that attendance at clinical placement takes precedence over any personal work commitments as related to absenteeism.

Any days absent from the clinical site must be appropriately documented.

Placement hours

Students are required to attend placement as per the daily hours set by the Clinical Supervisor. As students are experiencing the ‘real’ work life of an Echocardiographer, they may be required to work outside of a nine to five, Monday to Friday roster and at travel to various site locations. Once students have completed the minimum number of hours they are required to continue attending placement until the placement’s prescribed finish date unless an alteration to the standard placement block has been approved by the Head of Course and the Clinical Supervisor.

Students are advised to refer to the 'Bachelor of Echocardiographic and Cardiac Physiology / Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography - Clinical Placement Attendance Guidelines' document for additional information.  This document is available through the Work Integrated Learning - Sonia Online site,  and the ECHO12005  Moodle site.

Outside of Clinical Placement hours

Outside of hours placement may only be used in the event of sickness or injury and may not be utilised for personal leave requests.

• Students are permitted to supplement up to 25% of required unit hours from outside of clinical placement.
• These hours must be documented within three (3) months prior to unit enrolment for approval by the Unit Coordinator.
• Supplementary hours outside of clinical placement must be verified (signed) by an ASAR accredited sonographer or appropriately qualified medical practitioner.
• Details of either the student’s insurance, or employment, must be entered onto the outside clinical placement attendance form.

At the end of the scheduled 2 weeks of placement, if a student has not met the 100% attendance requirement AND does not have documented justifiable grounds for any absence, they will score a 'FAIL' for this assessment task.

If there are documented justifiable grounds for absenteeism, the student will be provided additional scheduled time to make up the time they have missed. (This scheduled make-up time may not immediately follow the scheduled 2 week placement, and/or may not be at the same placement site, depending on clinical availability).

In order to achieve an overall grade of 'PASS' in this assessment task, a student must:

1. Meet the minimum number of hours required on the attendance form.

2. Ensure the documentation is complete.

3. Submit the requested documentation via the unit Moodle site by the published due date.

Given there is no opportunity to apply a late penalty, any submission that is late without an approved extension will be awarded a FAIL.

• Students are advised to refer to the 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document for additional university guidelines regarding assessments.