Overview
This unit provides an insight into medical ultrasound by exploring the role and global scope of practice of the medical sonographer and the use of ultrasound in medical imaging, the types of examinations available and the provision of safe patient care as an allied health professional. The aim of this unit is to provide introductory knowledge and skills that will support your learning throughout the Medical Sonography course. Simulation exercises will enable you to apply theory to practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2021
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 Have Your Say
Students were unfamiliar with the standard required for a university level written assessment.
Consider splitting the written assessment into two scaffolded tasks to enable students the opportunity for feedback after the first task along with enhanced support from ALC.
Feedback from Have Your Say, Tutorials and Virtual Workshop feedback
Students appreciated the opportunity for revision with Kahoot! The "gameifed" revision engaged the students extremely well.
Kahoot! was provided free of charge due to COVID-19 restrictions. Hopefully this will continue so it can be provided in 2021. If not, it would be worth requesting a license or investigating alternatives the university may already provide.
Feedback from Have Your Say and Virtual Workshop feedback.
The students appreciated support from the UC, especially during uncertain times in term 1. They appreciated being able to connect with fellow students during a period when distance was the reality.
Continue careful pastoral care of students who can be vulnerable in first year. Continue and also look at other alternatives for opportunities for students to connect with each other and sonography staff.
- Discuss the role and scope of practice of the medical sonographer, including professional and legal frameworks
- Apply knowledge of ultrasound equipment, transducer / patient positioning and sonographic image appearance using appropriate medical and sonographic terminology
- Discuss the role of diagnostic medical ultrasound and how it relates to other diagnostic imaging modalities and picture archiving communication systems
- Demonstrate sonographic manual skill development in a simulated environment.
This unit will be one of the core units in the Medical Sonography Course which is externally accredited by the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry, an external professional regulatory body. This unit introduces students to the foundational knowledge and skills of medical sonography and enables an appreciation of the use of ultrasound in a national and international context and in the context of the other diagnostic imaging technologies available. The professional body entry level competencies of the accredited sonographer include consideration of safe practice and professional behaviour.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||
| 3 - Online Test - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
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.
k.sweeney@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
- Introduction to the Medical Imaging Department
- The history of ultrasound
- The Australian Health Care system
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Infection control
- Vital signs
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Communication
- Cultural awareness
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Sonographic & medical terminology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Patient positioning in sonography
- Scan planes in sonography
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- No lectures or new information.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
No zoom tutorial.
Module/Topic
- Introduction to the basic principles of ultrasound.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Written Assessment Task due: Wednesday 4pm AEST
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Develop a marketing brochure for sonography Due: Week 6 Wednesday (21 Apr 2021) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
- The ultrasound machine and examination.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Keeping you and your patient safe.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
Residential School (compulsory) Tuesday and Wednesday. For Covid-19 safe practice, students must attend campus for one day Residential School and attend a zoom session on the other day. Students must be available to be on campus for both days of the Residential School.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Induction quiz to be completed prior to Residential school.
Practical assessment task completed at Residential school.
No zoom tutorial.
Part A) Residential School Practical Assessment. Part B) Reflection on being a patient and a sonographer Due: Week 9 Monday (10 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Introduction to basic sonographic examinations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment task from Residential School due Wednesday 2pm AEST
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Medico-legal issues in health care
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Revision
- Exam preparation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday 1pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Online test
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete a 2hr online test on Wednesday 1pm AEST
Examination Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 June 2021) 1:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator is Kathleen Sweeney, based in Sydney. The best way to contact Kathleen is via email at: k.sweeney@cqu.edu.au
Assisting with the unit as unit co-cordinator is Kirsty Mills, based in Mackay. Kirsty can be contacted by email at: k.mills@cqu.edu.au
It is important to check your student email regularly as updates about the unit will be sent from the unit coordinator by email. Please ensure that your email correspondence is done via your CQU student email.
Kathleen is on campus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours. If you would like a phone conversation then please email to organise a time for this.
Recorded lectures are provided by Kathleen Sweeney, Kirsty Mills, Jane Wardle, Paula Kinnane and Elaine Wang.
This unit is a 6 credit point unit which requires you to allocate around 12 hours per week for study.
This time includes:
- watching recorded lectures and attending tutorials,
- creating study notes to meet weekly learning objectives using lectures and readings,
- using additional resources via the eReading list to supplement your learning,
- attending weekly zoom tutorials or watch the recorded tutorials that will be available on the unit Moodle site to supplement your learning,
- researching and working on your assessments,
- completing formative and mock test questions.
The unit is graded. There are four assessment items. Please refer to the assessment information for more details.
Tutorials will be offered to discuss the course content and assessment preparation. You will be able to ask questions and gain feedback. They will be recorded for later viewing if you are unable to attend.
Break week is between weeks five and six (12-18 April 2021).
1 Written Assessment
You are required to complete a written assessment based on lecture material, tutorials and relevant material provided on the unit Moodle site. In addition to the unit materials provided, you must research and use current literature to discuss and respond to the assessment topic below. On the unit Moodle page, an assessment task document will be supplied detailing the information needed to complete this assessment.
Topic:
Develop a marketing brochure for sonography.
Presentation:
This assessment will fit on 2 A4 pages. An inherent requirement is that it is written in appropriate academic language, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Your assessment should be submitted as a Word document with 1.5 line spacing in 12 point Arial font.
References are to be submitted on a separate word document.
Referenced figures are essential.
Referencing:
The information in your brochure must be supported by references. You are expected to research the topic and to use references that have, and have not, been provided to you. A reference list must be provided and the CQU Sonography Vancouver referencing style must be used throughout your assessment. Ensure that your assessment is accurately referenced. References should clearly show where your information was obtained. Refer to the unit Moodle page and the CQU general website for further information. A minimum of 6 contemporary journal articles (less than 10 years old) must be used as references (additional to those provided on the unit Moodle page) for this assessment.
Only reference list in CQU Sonography Vancouver format should be provided for the whole assessment.
Week 6 Wednesday (21 Apr 2021) 4:00 pm AEST
Online submission
Week 8 Monday (3 May 2021)
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
Overall presentation of assignment including structure of assignment; accuracy of spelling and grammar; correct use of medical and sonographic terminology; appropriateness of literature reviewed; correct and accurate referencing; academic writing and expression. Clear and concise responses to each specific question/topic, including relevant and appropriate discussion and analysis of each topic with reference to current literature.
A detailed marking rubric/criteria will be made available on the unit Moodle site.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Discuss the role and scope of practice of the medical sonographer, including professional and legal frameworks
- Discuss the role of diagnostic medical ultrasound and how it relates to other diagnostic imaging modalities and picture archiving communication systems
2 Practical Assessment
During your attendance at the compulsory residential school you will participate in practical activities, where you will observe, learn and practice techniques and skills relating to the sonography profession.
100% attendance for the residential school is mandatory. For Covid-19 safe practice, one day of the Residential School will be on campus and the other will be on-line. You must attend the residential school at your enrolled campus only. You will be automatically allocated to this campus, and appropriate staffing/resource arrangements will be made at that location.
You must pass the practical assessment to pass the unit. Failure to attend the full residential school will mean that you will not pass this unit.
Following participation in these activities,
A) You will be assessed on your ability to perform practical sonographic tasks
relating to:
1) Patient care and communication; and
2) Body planes, ultrasound scanning planes and associated image recognition.
One re-sit of the practical assessment will be permitted.
B) You will be required to complete a 'Reflection on being a patient and a sonographer' worksheet.
After attending the Residential School, you will answer the worksheet questions, reflecting on your experiences at the Residential School on being scanned and scanning your fellow students.
This is a pass/fail task. You must submit the completed worksheet to pass this unit.
Detailed information and a marking criteria will be made available on the unit Moodle site.
As per the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework), Section 4: Assessment Procedure: Item 4.59, this assessment is considered a professional assessment task and has an absolute submission date. This assessment (part A) must be completed at the residential school in the absence of an approved extension. Assessment (part B) will be required to be submitted 1 week after the Residential School.
Week 9 Monday (10 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
A)To be completed on the campus Residential School day. B)Reflection worksheet to be submitted by Wednesday week 10 (19 May 2021 2pm AEST)
A) The practical assessment will be conducted by a sonography lecturer or tutor, who will observe and assess your ability to
carry out practical skills relating to:
1) Patient care and communication; and
2) Body planes, ultrasound scanning planes and associated image recognition.
Assessment of each task will be relative to the practical assessment marking criteria, which will be made available on the unit Moodle site.
You must pass the practical skills test to pass the practical assessment.
B) The reflection worksheet will assess your ability to critical evaluate:
1) Suitability to a sonographer role (including strengths and weaknesses).
2) Understanding of the role of a sonographer.
3) Understanding of what a patient experiences during an ultrasound examination.
Assessment of each task will be relative to the practical/written assessment marking criteria, which will be made available on the unit Moodle site.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Apply knowledge of ultrasound equipment, transducer / patient positioning and sonographic image appearance using appropriate medical and sonographic terminology
- Demonstrate sonographic manual skill development in a simulated environment.
3 Online Test
The end of term online test will assess you on content covered in the whole unit (weeks 1 to 12). This includes material covered in lectures, tutorials and any additional resources supplied during the term.
A good, stable internet connection is required for the online test.
The questions will involve a combination of question types, including short and long answer questions which require typed answers and multiple-choice questions.
Ensure you read the questions properly before beginning to formulate your answers and ensure you are using appropriate terminology at all times.
The end of term online test will be available on Moodle and two hours working time will be allocated. The test cannot be paused once started, or reattempted once finished.
This is an individual task. The online test must be completed by you, without assistance or collusion with others. Any evidence of collusion will be dealt with in adherence with the CQU student academic integrity policy and procedure.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 June 2021) 1:00 pm AEST
Online
Multiple choice questions (1 mark) will be automatically marked correct or incorrect.
Written response questions will vary in mark allocation. Each question will have the maximum marks allocated displayed next to the question.
Short and long answers will require:
- use of correct anatomic names of structures (including spelling) and recognition of their normal and abnormal sonographic appearances
- use of correct sonographic terminology (including spelling)
- evaluation of clinical information
- detail to demonstrate depth of understanding and critical thinking
- identification of sonographic imaging planes, protocols and conventions as relevant
- explanation of pre and post scanning requirements, including medico legal aspects and infection control standards
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Ethical practice
- Discuss the role and scope of practice of the medical sonographer, including professional and legal frameworks
- Apply knowledge of ultrasound equipment, transducer / patient positioning and sonographic image appearance using appropriate medical and sonographic terminology
- Discuss the role of diagnostic medical ultrasound and how it relates to other diagnostic imaging modalities and picture archiving communication systems
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?
