Overview
Accurate evaluation of cardiac function is important for clinical decision-making and follow-up assessment. Currently, echocardiography is the most commonly used method to obtain this information. In this unit, you will build on your knowledge of cardiac anatomy and ultrasound applications. You will analyse echocardiographic measurements to assess chamber size, systolic and diastolic function and perform haemodynamic calculations, including intracardiac pressure estimation. You will apply your knowledge to a variety of cardiovascular pathologies and case studies.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: ECHO28001 Cardiac Imaging, Haemodynamics and Pharmacotherapy ANDECHO28007 Cardiac Anatomy and 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 2 - 2020
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 Postgraduate 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.
- Evaluate cardiac function (including chamber size, systolic and diastolic ventricular function and intracardiac pressures estimation) using echocardiographic derived assessment data and haemodynamic calculations
- Compare the aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment process and patient management strategy for a variety of cardiovascular disease processes
- Demonstrate professional behaviour and communication skills consistent with cardiac sonography practice
- Perform diagnostic echocardiographic scans under the guidance and mentorship of a qualified cardiac sonographer.
Linked to the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Accreditation Standards for Cardiac Sonography:
Foundation Units of Competence
- Unit 1: Deliver safe, patient centred service
- Unit 2: Practice within professional and ethical frameworks
- Unit 3: Locate, analyse and synthesise information to support evidence based practice
- Unit 4: Contribute to workplace health and safety and quality assurance
- Unit 5: Communicate effectively
Critical Practice Unit of Competence
-
Unit 8: Cardiac
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||
2 - Case Study - 0% | ||||
3 - Online Test - 60% | ||||
4 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | ||||
5 - Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Knowledge | ||||
2 - Communication | ||||
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
4 - Research | ||||
5 - Self-management | ||||
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
7 - Leadership | ||||
8 - 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 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | ||||||||
2 - Case Study - 0% | ||||||||
3 - Online Test - 60% | ||||||||
4 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | ||||||||
5 - Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books - 0% |
Textbooks
A Sonographer's guide to the assessment of heart disease
Edition: 1st (2016)
Authors: Bonita Anderson
Echotext
Brisbane Brisbane , QLD , Australia
ISBN: 978-0-9923222-0-5
Binding: Hardcover
Echocardiography: The normal examination and echocardiographic measurements
Edition: 3rd (2017)
Authors: Bonita Anderson
Echotext
Brisbane Brisbane , QLD , Australia
ISBN: 978-0-9923222-1-2
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Prescribed Echocardiography textbooks will be utilised across multiple units within the Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound program.
If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks are available at the publisher's website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.boucaut@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Left ventricular size and global systolic function
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 2, pg 19-46.
Anderson B. Echocardiography : The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements. 3rd ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2017. Chapter 3, pg. 71-73. Chapter 4, pg. 77-78, Chapter 9, pg. 156-166. Chapter 14, pg 277-293.
Lang, R. ASE's Comprehensive Echocardiography. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. Chapter 29, pg. 120-123.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Regional left ventricular systolic function
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 5, p 113-143.
Lang, R. ASE's Comprehensive Echocardiography. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. Chapter 30, pg. 124-128.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Physiology of left ventricular diastole
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 3, p 57-85.
Lang, R. ASE's Comprehensive Echocardiography. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. Chapter 38, pg. 173-175.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 3, pg. 57-85.
Lang, R. ASE's Comprehensive Echocardiography. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. Chapters 39-44, pg. 175-197.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1 will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 6th August and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) Friday 7th August.
Module/Topic
Left ventricular diastolic function in special populations
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 3, pg. 57-85.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No content will be presented this week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Right ventricular size and function
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 2, pg. 46-55.
Lang, R. ASE's Comprehensive Echocardiography. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. Chapters 32-36, pg. 139-166.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Right heart pressure estimation
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 3, pg. 82-85. Chapter 4, pg. 98-105.
Events and Submissions/Topic
The mid term GAPA must be submitted by Monday 31st of August 5.00pm AEST.
Quiz 2 will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 3rd September (Week 7) and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) Friday 4th September.
Module/Topic
Strain
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 14, pg. 287-293.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Contrast and 3D echocardiography
Chapter
See ereading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pulmonary Hypertension
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 4, pg. 96-111.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Systemic Hypertension
Chapter
Anderson B. A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. 1st ed. Brisbane: Echotext; 2016. Chapter 4, pg. 87-95.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The end of term GAPA must be submitted by Monday the 12th of October 5.00pm AEST.
Online Test will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 15th October, and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) on Friday 16th October.
Clinical Attendance Log Book Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (16 Oct 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator and Contact details
The coordinator for ECHO28002 Assessment of Cardiac Function is Paula Boucaut. The most efficient and preferred method of contacting Paula is via the Q&A forum located on the unit Moodle site. If your query is of a personal nature, please contact Paula directly via email (p.boucaut@cqu.edu.au) or phone (07 3023 4108).
Multiple academic staff will be providing presentations and hosting tutorials as part of this unit's delivery. Contact details for other academic staff can be found on the Moodle site.
Unit Tutorials
Tutorials for this unit will be delivered 'live' online using ZOOM (the links required for accessing the tutorials are provided on the Moodle site under the weekly tabs). The tutorials will focus on answering the weekly study questions and contextualisation of key concepts in preparation for related assessments.
Lectures are used to present the central information for the week’s study, outlining the main theories and principles of the topic under consideration. Tutorials provide an opportunity for discussion and interaction with other students and with your tutor. It is important students make the most of these interactive sessions and participate fully in order to broaden knowledge and experience with the course material.
To help staff prepare weekly tutorials, please post to the Q&A forum or email the unit coordinator any questions that you might have in relation to the learning material.
Note: Tutorials are recorded for educational purposes. Recordings of Zoom tutorials may be uploaded and appear on YouTube, Moodle and Microsoft Teams. If you have any concerns about being recorded please turn off your webcam or audio, or both, during the session. Your participation will signify your consent to the recording and publication for educational purposes.
Weekly revision material will be provided. Attempting all provided revision material will help you prepare for your online quiz(zes) and test. No new lecture material will be presented during week 12 of term. This week will be used to prepare for the final assessment.
Please ensure that you review the 'Welcome video' available on the Moodle site for further unit specific information.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Each quiz will assess your understanding of the content presented within this unit as outlined below. Questions may be drawn from lectures, additional resources provided (e.g. prescribed readings) or tutorial presentations.
- Questions will be drawn from a resource bank, to allow tests to be different for each student.
- Questions may include multiple choice, short answer, or image interpretation format.
- It is recommended that you have a calculator available when sitting a quiz.
Each quiz can be accessed through the assessment tab on Moodle at the assigned time.
- Each quiz will be marked out of 30 marks.
- Students will have 40 minutes to complete each quiz.
- Open book conditions.
Once started, each quiz cannot be paused or restarted. Only one attempt per quiz is permitted.
Please note:
- It is the student's responsibility to commence each online quiz before Friday 7:20 pm (AEST).
- The quiz will automatically close and submit completed student answers once the allocated time has elapsed.
- The duration of each quiz is tailored to promote recall of fact, rather than research of answers unknown.
Students are reminded that IT support from the university Information and Technology Division (TASAC) is only available during AEST business hours.
This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. 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.
2
Other
Quiz 1 will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 6th August (Week 4) and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) Friday 7th August. This quiz will assess the topics covered during weeks 1 to 3. Quiz 2 will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 3rd September (Week 7) and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) Friday 4th September. This quiz will assess the topics covered during Weeks 4 to 6.
Individual student results and feedback will be made available once submissions have been marked and moderated. The online quiz question pool in its entirety will not be released to students.
Students will be required to answer a variety of online questions.
Question responses will be assessed according to the:
- use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.
- student’s ability to appropriately interpret presented sonographic images and cardiac assessment data.
- student's ability to succinctly respond with accurate answers.
The number of marks allocated for each question will be indicated within the quiz. Question marks are allocated based on the accuracy, depth and breath of required responses.
Your score from each individual quiz will contribute 20% to your final grade. Thus, your combined score from the quizzes will contribute to 40% of your final unit grade (2 quizzes x 20% = 40%).
- The specific dates that each quiz opens and closes are outlined in the due description.
- Please note that the quizzes must be completed before the due date listed.
- In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.
-
Students will receive a mark of zero (or fail) for this assessment, if you have not completed it by the scheduled date and time and do not have an extension.
- Evaluate cardiac function (including chamber size, systolic and diastolic ventricular function and intracardiac pressures estimation) using echocardiographic derived assessment data and haemodynamic calculations
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Case Study
- Provide the unit coordinator with an opportunity to critically evaluate and moderate student technical performance on cases that they have performed as part of their clinical workload.
- Facilitate the continued development of student clinical reasoning and to ensure exposure to a variety of clinical cases.
- Encourage student reflection and self-improvement, of both technical and research skills, pathology knowledge and assessment strategies.
- Ventricular function assessment including comprehensive systolic and diastolic evaluation
- The case study cannot have normal diastolic function or ejection fraction.
There are two components to this case study submission:
- Written case study.
- Accompanying echocardiographic DICOM study.
- Referral details provided by requesting Doctor.
- Details of expected findings based on clinical indications.
- Patient care considerations.
- Brief discussion of any previous imaging or medical testing available.
- Variations in scanning protocol used, including justification.
- Identification of study limitations (imaging and/or measurement).
- Detailed description of study findings and pathology identified, including grading of severity in accordance with ASE guidelines.
- Discussion of aetiology and pathophysiology.
- Discussion of appropriate additional investigations indicated (i.e. stress or dobutamine echocardiography, left or right heart catheterisation/angiography, MRI, CTCA etc), including how this could influence patient management.
- Brief explanation of likely or expected disease progression and patient management (including any follow up consultation or testing details if available at time of case study completion).
- A copy of the anonymised provisional or final echocardiographic report.
- Clear identification of any supervisor assistance provided to complete the examination.
The echocardiographic case study presented must be accompanied by the submission of de-identified digital images in DICOM format.
- All clinical information must be de-identified to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
- Time and date stamp along with technical information should be retained on the echocardiographic image display.
If all attempts to de-identify the echocardiography images have failed, the student must request permission from the patient to provide their images to CQUniversity for educational purposes.
- The patient must provide written consent by completing the form provided on the unit Moodle site.
- The patient consent form must be submitted with the case study.
A detailed marking rubric can be found on the Moodle site.
This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. Both components of the case study submission must be passed, to PASS this assessment task overall.
Week 9 Friday (18 Sept 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
The case study can be submitted anytime prior to the end of week 9.
Individual student results and feedback will be made available once submissions have been marked, moderated and certified by the University.
Written case study and accompanying echocardiographic DICOM images will be critiqued using a marking rubric. This rubric will evaluate:
- The diagnostic quality of the examination performed, in particular, the scan technique and protocol adopted by the student.
- Image optimisation and image selection representative of pathology.
- Measurement technique.
- Discussion of clinical presentation, aetiology, pathophysiology, echocardiographic findings, patient management and likely follow-up.
- Student's reflective analysis identifying components of the scan that could have been improved.
- Ability to construct a scholarly report that is succinct and demonstrates appropriate application of scientific and language conventions.
- Referencing.
Case studies submitted without accompanying echcoardiographic DICOM images will not be marked, and will automatically be awarded a FAIL grade.
Submissions not up to standard, will be returned to the student with appropriate feedback. Only one opportunity for re-submission will be provided if the first submission is deemed a FAIL.
- From the time of feedback provision, failing students will be provided with 2 weeks to resubmit case study.
- Failed students may be asked to resubmit further imaging exemplars and/or an amended written submission, dependent upon deficits identified in the first submission.
- Should the imaging component need to be re-submitted, the second submission does not need to be from the same patient.
- Evaluate cardiac function (including chamber size, systolic and diastolic ventricular function and intracardiac pressures estimation) using echocardiographic derived assessment data and haemodynamic calculations
- Compare the aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment process and patient management strategy for a variety of cardiovascular disease processes
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Online Test
This online test will assess your understanding of the content presented within this unit. Questions may be drawn from content presented in lectures, additional resources provided (e.g. prescribed readings) and tutorial presentations.
- Perusal time and online test duration will be 130 minutes in total.
- Open book conditions.
- It is recommended that you have a calculator available when sitting the online test.
Once started, the online test cannot be paused or restarted. Only one attempt is permitted.
- The online test will automatically close and submit completed student answers once the allocated time has elapsed.
- The duration of this test is tailored to promote recall of fact, rather than research of answers unknown.
Students will be required to answer a variety of online questions. Questions:
- may include multiple choice, short answer, essay style or image interpretation format.
- will be drawn from a resource bank, to allow tests to be different for each student.
Students will be required to be familiar with both normal and pathological echocardiographic and anatomical images.
Students are reminded that IT support from the university Information and Technology Division (TASAC) is only available during AEST business hours. It is recommended that the online test is completed during business hours.
In the absence of an approved extension, this assessment cannot be completed at a later time. Students will receive a mark of zero (or fail) for this assessment, if you have not completed it by the scheduled date and time and do not have an extension.
This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. 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.
The online test will open at 8:00 am (AEST) on Thursday 15th October, and will close at 8:00 pm (AEST) on Friday 16th October.
Individual student results and feedback will be made available once submissions have been marked, moderated and certified by the University. The online test question pool in its entirety will not be released to students.
Question responses will be assessed according to the:
- use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar and spelling.
- student’s ability to appropriately interpret presented sonographic images and cardiac assessment data.
- student's ability to succinctly respond with accurate answers.
The number of marks allocated for each question will be indicated within the online test. Question marks are allocated based on the accuracy, depth and breath of required responses.
- Evaluate cardiac function (including chamber size, systolic and diastolic ventricular function and intracardiac pressures estimation) using echocardiographic derived assessment data and haemodynamic calculations
- Compare the aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment process and patient management strategy for a variety of cardiovascular disease processes
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
4 Professional Practice Placement
Clinical placement occurs in the professional workplace. As a clinical student it is important that you demonstrate behaviours and attributes of a healthcare professional and present a positive image to the clinical facility's staff and clients.
This assessment considers your ability to communicate professionally with a diverse cultural audience of patients, staff and the general public, demonstrate professional respect for all, and function as a reliable, well organised member of the health team.
- Your clinical supervisor, or delegate, will be working in the echocardiography lab with you, directly observing your day-to-day performance.
- These observations and collected feedback relate to your demonstrated knowledge, skills and behaviours over a span of time, not limited to a particular scan type or patient case.
The observations and feedback are then used to complete the Global Assessment of Professional Attributes (GAPA) form provided, with your clinical supervisor grading your performance, and identifying areas of strength and weakness.
The GAPA form can be downloaded from the Moodle site.
There are three main sections to the GAPA form:
- Section 1: Initiative and Communication
- Section 2: Responsibility and Demeanour
- Section 3: Overall Technical Knowledge and Skill
The GAPA 'Overall technical knowledge and skill behavioural attributes' critiques need to be evaluated within the context of the practical competency level that the students must attain at the end of unit enrolment.
For ECHO28002 this is a competency level of ‘beginner’. At beginner competency level, a cardiac sonographer requires frequent direction (some 60% or less of the time).
Your assessor is also encouraged to provide comments to expand on the scoring feedback.
- For any behaviour that you score well on at the mid-placement assessment, it is expected that you will continue to meet that level of performance or surpass it for the rest of the placement.
- At the midpoint GAPA, the student should be given sufficient formative feedback to improve their behavioural performance as required.
- Any significant issues should be brought to the attention of the unit coordinator following the midpoint GAPA (or earlier if required).
If minimum scores in the mid-placement GAPA are not met, you will be regarded as a 'Student at Risk' of failing this unit overall.
- The unit coordinator will contact you to advise you of the risk of failing this unit and provide formative feedback via email.
- You must respond to this email to show you understand the implications of this information.
- You will be required to reflect on your performance and the feedback provided, and to develop an action plan to address any areas of performance that are not yet at the target level for this placement and use the remaining weeks to achieve those targets.
- Review of your progress will be completed a short time after the mid placement GAPA, or at any time as requested by your supervisor or unit coordinator.
Note: If behavioural attributes within any section of the GAPA are deemed a 'patient safety risk', student enrolment within this unit may be cancelled after just one GAPA.
This is a PASS/FAIL assessment.
The clinical supervisor or designate, must complete and discusses this assessment with the student. After both have signed, the supervisor provides a copy to the student and retains the original. The student must upload the scanned completed form into the unit Moodle site.
This assessment occurs twice during enrolment within this unit. The first occurs midterm, at approximately week 6. The mid term GAPA must be submitted by Monday 31st of August 5.00pm AEST. The second assessment occurs during week 12 of your unit enrolment. The end of term GAPA must be submitted by Monday the 12th of October 5.00pm AEST.
Feedback will be provided to students identified at risk of failing on the mid term GAPA within 5 business days of GAPA submission.
For each section of the GAPA form, your assessor will score your clinical performance based on how frequently and to what extent you demonstrate each of the listed behaviours. The clinical supervisor will allocate a score of 0,1 or 2.
- A score of 0 indicates that the student does not demonstrate this behavioural attribute or demonstrates it in an unacceptable manner.
- A score of 1 indicates that the student demonstrates this behaviour attribute but needs some improvement.
- A score of 2 indicates that the student consistently demonstrates this behaviour attribute (>70% of the time) to a high level.
For each of the behavioural attributes listed, the supervisor must score the student based on their day-in, day-out performance in the department.
If the student’s behaviour has significantly changed during the assessment period, supervisors should score behaviour based on the most recent two weeks and provide an explanatory comment on the GAPA form.
The end-of-unit GAPA assessment is summative. It is designed to evaluate student learning and professional behaviour at the conclusion of an instructional period.
Unsatisfactory scores obtained at the second GAPA attempt, will result in a FAIL grade for unit overall.
- This assessment is marked out of 56.
To PASS, the student must receive an overall score of 34 marks or more, from a potential of 56 marks, and additionally is not permitted any scores of 0.
- Demonstrate professional behaviour and communication skills consistent with cardiac sonography practice
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
5 Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books
Students must maintain access to suitable clinical experience for the duration of the course enrolment. In accordance with the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Program Accreditation Guidelines, it is recommended that students be engaged in cardiac ultrasound practice for a minimum of three days/week over a two-year period, full-time equivalent, in an Australian or New Zealand clinical setting (minus standard leave privileges).
Clinical experience is the component of sonographer education that allows students to put theoretical knowledge into practice within the patient care environment. It includes, but is not limited to, the hospital setting, and may include general practice, remote and rural health clinics, and community care environments.
This assessment task requires the submission of a Clinical Attendance Log Book, detailing clinical attendance since course enrolment.
- All hours spent in attendance within the echocardiography laboratory (either observing, participating, or performing related activities) must be documented.
- These hours must be signed off on and approved by your ASAR registered clinical supervisor or appropriately qualified medical practitioner, verifying the accuracy of entries.
- A student is required complete a total of 2200 hours of clinical attendance prior to graduation and ASAR registration as a qualified sonographer.
- It is recommended that a student complete a minimum of 270 hours of clinical attendance per term of course enrolment.
A template for the Clinical Attendance Log Book is supplied in a word document format on the Moodle site. Students were supplied this same Clinical Attendance Log Book at the time of course enrolment.
- The word document is designed to facilitate easy electronic submission at various checkpoints throughout unit and course enrolment. The clinical supervisor's digital signature can be used to verify authenticity of entries on the word document.
- Alternatively, the word document can be printed, manually completed and scanned to a digital file format for submission.
A Clinical Attendance Log Book submission can be requested at any point during course enrolment, at the discretion of the university course coordinator.
Review/Exam Week Friday (16 Oct 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Individual student feedback will be provided only if assessment criteria deficits are identified.
This is a PASS/FAIL assessment.
To be awarded a PASS, all documentation must be completed and submitted by the corresponding due date and time.
The Clinical Attendance Log Book will be reviewed to ensure that:
- hours of attendance have been documented appropriately
- leave from clinical practice has been documented appropriately
- Perform diagnostic echocardiographic scans under the guidance and mentorship of a qualified cardiac sonographer.
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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.