CQUniversity Unit Profile
MEDI14001 Transition to Independent Practice
Transition to Independent Practice
All details in this unit profile for MEDI14001 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.
General Information

Overview

In your final year of study, you are transitioning from student to independent practitioner. Nearing completion of your tertiary studies to begin a career in your selected profession is a huge learning milestone. This transition phase of your learning journey is also a starting point for another learning journey, that is your continuing development as a professional. To support your transition, you will critically reflect on your progress in developing the knowledge, skills and judgement to meet the national registering body’s Professional Capabilities and on your clinical practice in adhering to the Shared Code of Conduct of registered health professionals. You will apply clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice and risk management to the analysis and discussion of clinical incidents and near misses. You will further develop your ability to advance your profession through peer support and education.

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

Pre-Requisites: MEDI13005 Medical Imaging Clinical Course 3 ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Science MEDI13008 Imaging Pathways in the Diagnostic Process

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 3 - 2023

Online

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. Case Study
Weighting: 30%
2. Presentation
Weighting: 30%
3. Portfolio
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 emails and comments

Feedback

Some students found the e-portfolio platform difficult to use and share with the unit coordinator.

Recommendation

Investigate whether there are training resources available on the use of the e-portfolio which could support students using this platform.

Feedback from Coordinator reflection

Feedback

Students engaged well with the presentation assessment task and most provided an informative and enjoyable presentation.

Recommendation

Maintain and refine the presentation assessment task.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply evidence-based practice to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making.
  2. Integrate concepts and processes of facility accreditation, quality improvement and risk management to analyse and discuss clinical incidents and near misses relative to clinical governance standards such as National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards.
  3. Critically reflect on your experiences and associated evidence which demonstrate the continued development of your professional capabilities and adherence to the Professional Body's Code of Conduct and requirements for practice.
  4. Undertake continuing professional development, supporting other medical radiation practitioners and your professional peers through presentation at a simulated conference and participation in peer assessment.
  5. Communicate professionally in written and presentation tasks.

The unit links to the following Professional Capabilities for Medical Radiation Practitioners as detailed by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (effective March 2020):

Domain 1: Medical radiation practitioner:

  • 2. Use clinical information management systems appropriately (Part a: Understand and comply with legislative responsibilities about data privacy, the ownership, storage, retention and destruction of patient/client records and other practice documentation, Part d: Identify and respond appropriately when clinical information is incorrectly associated with the identity of a patient/client and/or examination/treatment, Part f: Respond appropriately to data errors and/or system failures & Part g: Ensure clinical information is made available to the appropriate persons involved in the care of the patient)
  • 7. If the practitioner identifies any urgent or unexpected findings, take appropriate and timely action to ensure the immediate management of the patient/client.

Domain 2: Professional and ethical practitioner:

  • 1. Practice in an ethical and professional manner, consistent with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements (Part h: Exercise appropriate levels of autonomy and professional judgement in a variety of medical radiation practice settings)
  • 3. Take responsibility and accountability for professional decisions (Part a: Make appropriate professional decisions about the care of patients, Part b: Recognise and respond appropriately to unsafe or unprofessional practice & Part c: Integrate organisational policies and guidelines with professional standards and apply to practice)
  • 5. Seek opportunities to progress the profession (Part a: Provide developmental support to other medical radiation practitioners and other members of the healthcare team)

Domain 4: Evidence-informed practitioner:

  • 1. Resolve challenges through application of critical thinking and reflective practice (Part a: Identify the challenge or question and the information that is needed to respond, Part b: Find, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available research evidence to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making & Part d: Recognise opportunities to contribute to the development of new knowledge through research and enquiry)
  • 2. Identify ongoing professional learning needs and opportunities (Part a: Comply with legal and professional responsibilities to complete CPD, Part b: Critically reflect on own strengths and limitations to identify learning needed to improve and adapt professional practice & Part d: Plan and implement steps to address professional learning and development needs)

Domain 5: Radiation safety and risk manager:

  • 1. Perform and provide safe radiation practice (Part f: Identify radiation risks and implement effective and appropriate risk management systems and procedures & Part g: Recognise and report on near misses and their consequences, in addition to adverse events and relevant contributing factors)
  • 2. Protect and enhance patient/client safety (Part b: Review, communicate, record and manage patient/client information accurately, consistent with protocols, procedures and legislative requirements for maintaining patient/client records & Part e: Apply relevant quality frameworks to practice)
  • 4. Maintain safety of the workplace and associated environments (Part a: Identify safety hazards in the workplace and respond to incidents [including radiation and radioactivity incidents] in a timely manner, in accordance with protocols and procedures, Part b: Report on all incidents [including radiation and radioactivity incidents] as needed & Part g: Provide information on radiation -related hazards and control measures to others in the workplace).

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 - Case Study - 30%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Portfolio - 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
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)
  • Camera and microphone for attending Zoom tutorials and completing presentation assessment task
Referencing Style

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

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Karen Finlay Unit Coordinator
k.finlay@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

What does it mean to be a graduate radiographer?

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

Clinical reasoning and decision-making. Applying evidence-based and ethical practice

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

Healthcare accreditation, quality management, risk and incident management

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

MRPBA Professional Capabilities and Code of conduct

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 04 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

MRPBA Professional Capabilities and Code of conduct

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Career planning

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 25 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

Preparing for the independent practice role

Chapter

See readings on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

CPD presentation and portfolio development time

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Study Due: Week 8 Wednesday (10 Jan 2024) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

CPD presentation and portfolio development time

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

CPD presentation and portfolio development time

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation assessment due on the allocated time during the virtual conference sessions.

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

Portfolio development time

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Feb 2024

Module/Topic

Portfolio development time

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio Due: Week 12 Wednesday (7 Feb 2024) 4:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Feb 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

The unit coordinator for this unit is: Karen Finlay

I can be contacted on k.finlay@cqu.edu.au or 07 4940 7598

As a 6-credit unit you should spend 150 hours studying and completing assessments over the term. The learning materials are ‘front-loaded’ into the first half the term with the expectation that you will apply them as you work through the assessment activities. The three assessment activities are designed to support development of your knowledge and skills associated with the unit learning outcomes, so expect to spend about 100 engagement hours working through those three activities. Note that you will need to sign up for and attend a one-hour virtual conference in Week 10 where you will be both a presenter and audience member. Specific date/time session options will be available for selection.

 

Assessment Tasks

1 Case Study

Assessment Title
Case Study

Task Description

In Medical Imaging, adverse events may arise as a result of the complex nature or the equipment, the imaging procedure or the patient condition. In future practice you will be required to follow the policies and procedures outlined by your workplace to minimise the occurrence of adverse events. It is important that you are able to report any medical imaging adverse events to improve procedural guidelines and to develop a safe culture at your workplace.

 

Instructions

Read the coroner’s report and recommendations, together with the MRPBA response to the recommendations. All these documents are available through the Moodle site, within the case study tile. Note that this incident took place at the time of a previous MRPBA Professional Capabilities for Practice requirement.

 

Respond to the following:

 

  • Critically analyse the contributing factors and root cause of this incident. Discuss whether any breaches of DIAS accreditation, the NHSQHC or MRPBA Code of Conduct occurred. To what extent did the radiographers involved meet their obligations in regard to the MRPBA Professional Capabilities for Practice, as they are currently required? Demonstrate evidence to support your decisions.
  • Would any part of this situation put at risk the facility’s DIAS accreditation? If so, explain the nature of the risk to accreditation. Demonstrate evidence to support your decision.
  • In what way does the Professional Capabilities document enable you to advocate for this patient if it were to happen when you were on duty? Demonstrate evidence to support your conclusions.
  • What could the facility do in terms of processes, policies or to better manage the risk of this type of situation occurring in the future? Demonstrate evidence for your conclusions.

 

You are expected to use ideas and content from other sources and you must acknowledge those sources using in-text citation and referencing. Failure to formally acknowledge external sources is a breach of academic integrity. 

Word-count

You should aim for approximately 2000 words for this assessment task; approximately 400 - 600 words per main section, excluding your reference list. This suggestion is provided to guide you in the depth and breadth of your responses as you address the assessment criteria.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Wednesday (10 Jan 2024) 4:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (26 Jan 2024)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

  • Depth of analysis of the incident
  • Quality of reasoning and decision-making [logic of arguments, consideration of salient facts]
  • Selection of relevant, current and authoritative evidence to support arguments in discussions
  • Use of evidence to support clinical reasoning and decision-making  
  • Quality of academic communication [clarity of statements, organisation of information, acknowledgement of external sources]

 

 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply evidence-based practice to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making.
  • Integrate concepts and processes of facility accreditation, quality improvement and risk management to analyse and discuss clinical incidents and near misses relative to clinical governance standards such as National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards.
  • Communicate professionally in written and presentation tasks.

2 Presentation

Assessment Title
Presentation

Task Description

In your final year of study, you are transitioning from student to independent practitioner. Nearing completion of your tertiary studies to begin a career in your selected profession is a huge learning milestone. This transition phase of your learning journey is also a starting point for another learning journey; your continuing professional development (CPD). CPD is a vital aspect of being an imaging professional. It ensures that we remain up-to-date in our practice through reading journal articles, attending workshops, and attending and presenting at educational sessions and conferences. This task is designed to develop your skills in CPD and help you become familiar with the concept, in preparation for registration.

 

Your task is to create a presentation that is suitable for a professional e-conference in terms of both format and content and to deliver this as an e-presentation live during a virtual conference. The presentation must be 7-minutes long and you must be prepared to respond to questions from the audience of your peers and assessor.

 


The presentation topic is a novel or innovative technology, procedure or practice in diagnostic imaging, specifically one that you have not already researched for assessment in a previous unit. You will apply your literature search skills to find a current research article that relate to this new development as well as other articles and/or authoritative sources that discuss current practice. You will use this literature to develop an e-presentation that includes the following components:

 

  • Overview of the new technology, procedure or practice, particularly what makes this new
  • Comparison of the new development with current practice in terms of diagnostic ability, radiation dose, patient care and health costs
  • Explanation of how any identified benefits of the new development are achieved
  • Evaluation of any impacts of implementation of this new development on radiographers in terms of:
    • required preparatory knowledge and/or skills of radiographers in order for them to participate in this new development
    • scope of practice
        

 


Further details on the assignment including marking rubric and formatting requirements will be provided on the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

At allocated time for virtual conference in week 10


Return Date to Students

The results will be released within two weeks of the presentation


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The presentation will be assessed in each of the following areas:

       

1. Content of presentation

Relevance to audience of peers for current and future practice
Choice of topic in building knowledge beyond entry to practice level
Depth of discussion of topic
Use of correct terminology
Use of authoritative information sources
Content selection and organisation including: selection of key points, relevance to audience
Correct technique for in-text citations and reference list
       

2. Organisation and formatting of slide contents

Logical sequencing
Visual clarity of slides
Inclusion of references
        

3. Oral presentation

Clarity of speech
Ability to speak beyond slides
Cohesiveness in aligning verbal component with slide content
Adherence to time requirements

 

A marking rubric detailing the minimum requirements for each category will be posted on the unit Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Undertake continuing professional development, supporting other medical radiation practitioners and your professional peers through presentation at a simulated conference and participation in peer assessment.
  • Communicate professionally in written and presentation tasks.

3 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Portfolio

Task Description

You will create a portfolio to showcase your progress towards entry to practice, including meeting the Professional Capabilities of a medical radiation practitioner and the Code of Conduct of the profession and presenting yourself as a worthy addition to the workplace of prospective employers.

 

The portfolio enables you to present your knowledge, skills and behavioural attributes, explain how you have reached your current level of performance and show how this relates to your readiness for independent practice practice. The e-portfolio also showcases your critical thinking and your ability to make connections between your experience and researched concepts and theories. 

 Each ‘project’ of your portfolio will focus on either one specific key capability and associated enabling components or one specific principle of the Code of Conduct. You will provide attachments that provide evidence of your performance in that area. These attachments are items associated with your learning journey (within the course and/or in other areas of your life experience). They may include photos, certificates, other documents, presentations, videos as well as links to online items. You will discuss each attached item to explain how it demonstrates your development or achievement of the selected capability or principle.

 

You must reflect on your progress toward being able to achieve that capability or principle. Your reflections should consider theories, concepts and best practices, drawing from authoritative sources. Your reflections will need to comply with standards for academic writing, including formal acknowledgement of external information sources.

 

For this assignment, you will choose the number of projects you create to demonstrate your progress towards entry to practice. There are specific ‘core’ topics that all students must address in their projects to meet the minimum requirements for this assessment task. These are:

 

  • Code of conduct 10 – Teaching, supervising and assessing.
  • Domain 1. Key Capability 7 – deliver patient/client care – specifically NSQHS standard 8 – recognising and responding to acute deterioration.
  • Domain 5. Key capability 1 – Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively with the patient/client and their family or carers.
  • Domain 2. Key capability 5 - Seek opportunities to progress the profession

 

 

For one of these core topics, guided learning activities are provided, with links available in Moodle to support your development of the associated knowledge and skills. These may take some time for you to complete, so you should start these activities early in the term to make best use of them. 

 

For domain 2, key capability 5, you must complete a feedback pro-forma for each of the presentations you attended during the virtual conference. You may also use your presentation as evidence of meeting this capability. 

 

For many other topics, the learning activities and assessments you have undertaken in other units throughout the course have already supported your development. You are encouraged to look back at your study over the past three years to consider how your learning journey has been supported and how you have achieved evidence of achievement of many capabilities and principles of conduct.

 

You may also have achieved significant learning through life experience, whether through employment, community involvement or team activities. You are encouraged to include this informal learning in your critical reflections.

 

Further details of the requirements for each of the profile and projects sections, including core topics and essential evidence items, will be posted on the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Wednesday (7 Feb 2024) 4:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Results will be released within 2-weeks of the due date.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

 

This assessment is assessed on the following criteria:

 

  • Scope of capabilities and principles that have been addressed
  • Evidence of critical reflection
  • Evidence of clinical judgment and decision-making
  • Professional communication and presentation of information
  • Quality of academic communication
  • Scope and relevance of supporting evidence
  • Use of authoritative sources to inform reflections
  • Inclusion of completed feedback proformas for presentations
  • Relevance of evidence offered to capability
  • Depth and relevance of feedback on presentations


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply evidence-based practice to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making.
  • Critically reflect on your experiences and associated evidence which demonstrate the continued development of your professional capabilities and adherence to the Professional Body's Code of Conduct and requirements for practice.
  • Undertake continuing professional development, supporting other medical radiation practitioners and your professional peers through presentation at a simulated conference and participation in peer assessment.
  • Communicate professionally in written and presentation tasks.

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?