CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC11002 Foundations of Paramedic Clinical Practice
Foundations of Paramedic Clinical Practice
All details in this unit profile for PMSC11002 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

This unit provides you with basic paramedic practice skills and knowledge to start the formulation of a clinical diagnosis and basic treatment plans for patients. You will learn scene assessment, patient assessment, diagnostic evaluations, history taking and treatment integration in cardiac life support. The unit also reviews the concepts of manual handling, ethics, cultural sensitivities as well as infection control and safety in practice.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

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 - 2022

Cairns
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton
Townsville

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).

Residential Schools

This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.

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. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
2. Portfolio
Weighting: 30%
3. On-campus Activity
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 Moodle Unit Evaluations

Feedback

Students enjoyed the fortnightly Zoom sessions. They found them to be very helpful and kept students engaged with the unit content.

Recommendation

Continue with regular Zoom sessions. Investigate with Microsoft Teams as another possible engagement tool to complement the fortnightly Zoom sessions.

Feedback from Moodle Unit Evaluations

Feedback

Weekly review quizzes were helpful for students to review the content and to check that they are on track with their learning.

Recommendation

Keep the review quizzes as they are working well with helping students work through the content and to consolidate knowledge.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate accurate scene survey, patient assessment and history taking
  2. Demonstrate a range of diagnostic tests and basic procedures used in paramedicine
  3. Evaluate and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
  4. Articulate the principles of safe working practices with manual handling, defibrillation and infection control.

The new learning outcomes align with the Council of Ambulance Authorities accreditation standards of:

3.1.4 Collaboration with the ambulance sector

3.1.5 Collaboration with the profession

3.1.6 Collaboration with other sectors

Also aligns with the CAA paramedic professional competency standards professional expectations of a paramedic

  • makes informed and reasonable decisions
  • demonstrates professional autonomy and accountability
  • develops and maintains professional relationships
  • demonstrates the knowledge, understanding and skills required for practice
  • operates within a safe practice environment
  • identifies and assesses health and social needs in the context of the environment

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
1 - On-campus Activity - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Portfolio - 30%

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 - On-campus Activity - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Portfolio - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine

Edition: 5th (2019)
Authors: Peter Cameron
Elsevier
ISBN: 9780702076244
Binding: Hardcover

Additional Textbook Information

This textbook is the program textbook and will be used for all Paramedic Science units.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Computer
  • Earphones
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Emma Moore Unit Coordinator
e.moore@cqu.edu.au
Carl Legros Unit Coordinator
c.legros@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Prehospital overview, professional requirements, and medical terminology

Medical terminology

Primary survey - DRABC / DRCAB

Systematic approach - Concept

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine

Introduction pg: xxiii-xxiv

29.1 Emergency and Medical Systems pg:887-888 (stop at intubation) 

Events and Submissions/Topic



Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Neurological Assessment

  • GCS
  • Pupils
  • Sensory / motor tone
  • Spinal injuries and cervical clearance

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 8 Neurology emergencies

8.4 Altered conscious state pg: 36

8.6 Syncope and vertigo pg: 379

8.7 Weakness pg:383

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Respiratory Assessment

  • Components: rate, rhythm, effort, skin, sound, speech.
  • Oxygen saturations and pulse oximetry.
  • Equipment familiarization - oxygen soft pack

Airway Assessment

  • TAM / DAM Skills
  • Clearing the airway & suctioning
  • Airway devices and procedures

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 2 Critical Care

2.1 Airway and ventilation management pg: 12 (stop at advanced airway management)

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Cardiovascular (perfusion), temperature and BGL assessment

  • Pulses
  • Blood pressure acquisition
  • ECG (familiarisation to machine & lead placement)
  • Temperature
  • Blood glucose 
  • Sp02

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 2 Critical Care

2.3 Haemodynamic monitoring pg: 12 (Stop at other non-invasive monitoring methods for cardiac output)

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

ECG Interpretation and fundamentals:

  • 5 step method
  • Basic ECG rhythms

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

First Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Friday (08 Apr. 2022) 11:59 pm AEST

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic


Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

CPR & Defibrillation

  • Adult & Paediatric CPR techniques
  • Adult & Paediatric joule settings
  • Shockable ECG rhythms
  • Scene safety - 4 safety checks

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 1 Resuscitation

1.1 Basic life support pg: 1

1.2 Advanced life support (Stop at advanced airway management)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

History taking - SAMPLED & OPQRST

Clinical handover - IMIST AMBO / ISBAR

Head to toe examination

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Infection Control

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 29 Emergency and Medical Systems

29.9 Public health and emergency medicine pg: 920 (stop at the health of indigenous people and cultural safety)

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

Ethical Considerations

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 28 Emergency Medicine and the Law

28.3 Consent and Competence- the Australian, NZ and UK perspectives

28.4 Privacy and Confidentiality

28.5 Ethics in Emergency Medicine

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Cultural Sensitivities

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 29 Emergency and Medical Systems

29.9 Public health and emergency medicine pg: 921 (Begin at the health of indigenous people and cultural safety)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Workbook Due: Week 10 Friday (20 May 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Self Care and Manual Handling:

  • Stretcher
  • Stair chair
  • Slide sheet
  • Walk belt
  • Self care strategies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Tidying up and house keeping

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Second Online Quiz Due: Week 12 Friday (03 Jun. 2022) 11:59 pm AEST 

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Students enrolled as On-campus will be required to attend compulsory tutorial sessions during the term. Students must nominate their preferred tutorial location and time via the student portal. Tutorial numbers are capped per session, you are not guaranteed a place at your preferred session, but you are guaranteed one session per week.

Students enrolled as Distance will be required to attend a compulsory residential school. Students must nominate their preferred residential school location via the student portal. Numbers at residential schools are capped and a position at your preferred residential school is not guaranteed. Geographical proximity to and/or previous attendance at a residential school location does not guarantee placement at your preferred residential school location.

Attendance at internal tutorials and residential schools is compulsory. If for any reason you cannot attend a tutorial or day at residential school you must provide appropriate evidence, as per Assessment Policy and Procedure, to justify your absence. You will be responsible for making arrangements, with the unit coordinator, to make up for the missed learning and teaching.

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

You will be required to complete two (2) online quizzes; the first will close at the end of week 5, the second at the end of week 12. The quizzes will open on the Friday of the preceding week to when the quiz is due, and each will have a specific time limit imposed.

The quizzes will be made up of questions exploring content based upon previous weeks content (including lecture materials, online modules, links and required reading). Quizzes are accumulative and the content will aggregate across the term.

Quiz 1 Online (Due Week 5) 15%

This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from week 1 to week 5 of Foundations of Paramedic Clinical Practice.

This quiz will comprise multiple choice, short and long answer questions.

You will only receive 1 attempt at the quiz.

Assessment Requirements:

Please access the Online Quiz 1 in the Assessment Block on the Moodle page for PMSC11002.

PLEASE NOTE: The marks for online quizzes 1 and 2 will be combined – to pass you must achieve 50% of the overall marks available on offer for this assessment item. These quizzes MUST be submitted by the times indicated in the assessment tasks. This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the tasks after the specified dates, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day. You will only receive 1 attempt at the quiz.

Quiz 2 Online (Due Week 12) 15%

This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from Week 6 to Week 12 of Foundations of Paramedic Clinical Practice.

This quiz will comprise of multiple choice, short and long answer questions.

Assessment Requirements:

Please access the Online Quiz 2 in the Assessment Block on the Moodle page for PMSC11002.

PLEASE NOTE: The marks for online quizzes 1 and 2 will be combined – to pass you must achieve 50% of the overall marks available on offer for this assessment item. These quizzes MUST be submitted by the times indicated in the assessment tasks. This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the tasks after the specified dates, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day. You will only receive 1 attempt at the quiz.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Quiz 1 due Friday Week 5 (08/04/2022 2359 AEST) and Quiz 2 due Friday Week 12 (03/06/2022 2359 AEST).


Return Date to Students

Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
A minimum of 50% must be achieved on this assessment to pass the unit

Assessment Criteria

Please access the Online Quizzes in the Assessment Block on the Moodle page for PMSC11002.

The online quizzes will contain multiple choice, short and long answer questions from lecture and resource material in weeks 1 - 11. These quizzes will test your patient assessment knowledge and other key points covered within this unit. This quiz will be accessed through your Moodle assessment block in the PMSC11002 site.

Quiz 1 will cover material from week 1 all the way through to week 5 inclusively. 

Quiz 2 will cover material from week 6 all the way through to week 12 inclusively. 

You have to pass this assessment item to pass the unit 



Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
All quizzes must be attempted individually and no collaboration with other students is allowed.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate accurate scene survey, patient assessment and history taking
  • Articulate the principles of safe working practices with manual handling, defibrillation and infection control.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Workbook

Task Description

You will be required to complete a workbook exploring your knowledge gained throughout this unit. You will be required to work through the tasks set out in the workbook and complete your answers in a separate document. These tasks support your continued professional development through structured self-directed learning. The workbook will be provided to you via the Moodle page along with an assessment video. This task will involve a mixture of short answer response, research, critical reviews and mini essays.

Please review the workbook thoroughly before commencing. You must complete all parts of the workbooks according to the instructions provided, ensuring that all work is referenced as per instructions in the workbook.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (20 May 2022) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Friday (10 June 2022)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
A minimum of 50% must be achieved on this assessment to pass the unit

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge taught to you throughout this unit. This will be conducted through varying tasks throughout the workbook. The workbook will have points awarded to each task with the accumulation of these points being the final result. The workbook and marking rubrics will be provided on the unit Moodle page. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:

  • Successful completion of each task
  • Well articulated, researched and referenced work provided throughout the workbook.

You need to attempt and pass this assessment item to pass the unit 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
  • Articulate the principles of safe working practices with manual handling, defibrillation and infection control.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice
  • Social Innovation

3 On-campus Activity

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment (OSCE)

Task Description

Preamble

Theoretical knowledge and the practical application of this knowledge is vital when performing the role of paramedic. In this assessment, you will need to articulate your theoretical knowledge gained within this unit as well as apply the knowledge to successfully undertake a variety of Case Management Exercises (CMEs) to a beginner level.

To attain a passing grade, you will need to complete the tasks below. All of these will be conducted at a residential school or laboratory session, using simulated environments and patients.

Task Description

You will need to complete four (4) CME stations, each designed to assess your knowledge and practical skills acquired during this unit.

Station one (1) and two (2) will involve two (2) short case assessments where you will be allocated 10mins per station, with a mix of station types and competencies tested.

Some examples are:

: Voice Viva

: Fill in the blanks

: Quiz

: Mini Scenario

Each short case CME will be worth 10% individually towards the total percentage for this term.

Station three will involve one (1) long case assessment where you will be allocated 20mins to complete the assessment. The long case assessment will be in the format of a structured scenario looking at the following areas:

: Patient assessment and history taking

: Evidence gathering and patient treatment

: Implementation of interventions, procedures and skills

: Overall patient and scene management

The long case CME will be worth 15% of the total percentage for this item.

Station four (4) will follow on from station three and involve reflective practice, where you will review your performance in the long case OSCE; this reflection report will go towards the final 5% for this assessment item.

Feedback for this assessment will be provided AFTER the residential and there will be no opportunity given to re-sit any of the assessments.

CRITICAL ERRORS:

Critical errors in this unit will be classed as anything that causes immediate harm to yourself, partner, patient or bystanders and/or any procedure that is performed outside the paramedic scope of practice. During any form of assessment, if any of the following are witnessed no marks will be given for that item:

Unsafe defibrillation

Incorrect joules delivered to the patient

Defibrillation of an unshockable rhythm

Failure to recognise a shockable rhythm

No or incomplete drug check

Incorrect sharps disposal

Performing a skill and/or procedure outside the scope of practice taught to you in PMSC11002 (2022)

Any grossly unsafe practice as deemed by the assessing academic





Assessment Due Date

This assessment will be conducted during residential schools for external students and during week eight scheduled session for on-campus students


Return Date to Students

Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
A minimum mark of 50% must be achieved on this assessment to pass the unit

Assessment Criteria

Theoretical knowledge and the practical application of this knowledge is vital when performing the role of paramedic. In this assessment you will need to articulate your theoretical knowledge gained within this unit as well as apply the knowledge to successfully undertake a variety of Case Management Exercises (CMEs) to a beginner level.  The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:

  • Successful completion of each component of the assessment
  • Safe and competent demonstration of each component in a timely manner  

CRITICAL ERRORS:

Critical errors in this unit will be classed as anything that causes immediate harm to yourself, partner, patient or bystanders and/or any procedure that is performed outside the paramedic scope of practice. During any form of assessment, if any of the following are witnessed no marks will be given for that item:

Unsafe defibrillation

Incorrect joules delivered to the patient

Defibrillation of an unshockable rhythm

Failure to recognise a shockable rhythm

No or incomplete drug check

Incorrect sharps disposal

Performing a skill and/or procedure outside the scope of practice taught to you in PMSC11002 (2022)

Any grossly unsafe practice as deemed by the assessing academic


You need to attempt and pass this assessment item to pass the unit 


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate accurate scene survey, patient assessment and history taking
  • Demonstrate a range of diagnostic tests and basic procedures used in paramedicine


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

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?