This clinical unit will provide opportunities to apply and integrate both theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in the clinical environment. In addition to the consolidation of skills in electrophysiological assessment, you will be exposed to a range of cardiovascular assessment techniques, including echocardiography. Using clinical cases you will analyse and reflect upon the information provided to produce provisional differential diagnoses and patient management plans within an ethical framework of best practice and patient safety. Behavioural aspects of professional practice are emphasised and you are expected to reflect on your own performance and exhibit the highest level of safe patient care. Critical appraisal of performance will enable you to advance your professional, technical and analytical skills in a work setting under qualified supervision.

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 CQUni Success

Financial implications associated with travel to attend placement sites proved difficult for some students.

Teaching staff will continue to promote CV69 course inherent requirements, including personal and financial commitments. Related information is already published in the course handbook and on the CV69 portal Moodle site, on circulated work-integrated learning advice and related platforms (SONIA) and reiterated at course open days/orientation sessions and in Head of Course foundation unit forums during the first few weeks of student course enrolment.

Feedback from Student Unit Evaluation Responses

Learning resources were not perceived as useful by some students.

Being the first clinical placement unit undertaken by students, there was perhaps a misconception that the unit would be similar to other theoretical units. The purpose of this unit was to provide opportunities to apply and integrate both theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and professional behaviours into the clinical environment, consolidating and transferring knowledge and skills learnt to date. Learning resources presented were devised to support students making the transition from campus and simulation environment to the 'real world'. Resources were presented in modules under Moodle tiles labelled 'Strategies for success', 'Scope of practice' and 'Professional Expectations'. Some students entered placement with prior life skills, others did not.

Feedback from Unit coordinator

Industry reported difficulties managing 'over-enthusiastic' students.

Whilst it was difficult to fault students willingness to help and learn, the occasional clinical staff found their over-enthusiastic student difficult to manage. This was largely because novice students lacked awareness of how they fitted into the wider team, and at times, they failed to pick up on non-verbal cues that they may have been overbearing or too involved in various scenarios (bearing in mind clinical staff have to communicate subtly when in front of a patient mid procedure). On occasion, some students did not always respect the personal space or privacy of staff when trying to get their daily tasks done. The unit coordinator will aim to better prepare students for future clinical placement experiences by discussing this topic prior to placement commencement.

Feedback from Unit coordinator

There was low student engagement in tutorial offerings where case studies were presented for discussion, likely due to tiredness because students were concurrently working clinically. Selecting a time that is convenient for the majority is complicated by time zone variations.

Increased student and unit coordinator interactions will be encouraged through the Moodle forum. Weekly cases of interest will be posted along with question prompts. Students will be encouraged to reply in their own time via the general discussion forum. The unit coordinator will then offer additional feedback as the week unfolds, including more discussion prompts. This approach was well received by the student cohort when trialed in 2022, and will be expanded upon in future unit deliveries. Despite poor attendance, live Zoom tutorials will continue to be offered after hours on a week night, with recordings available for viewing afterwards. Tutorial attendance will be used more to canvas student experience and tailor pastoral support.