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 self care, 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 - 2023

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).

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 Student feedback (verbal)

Feedback

The word count for the portfolio was very large and made it difficult to achieve at times.

Recommendation

The team will look at the word count and adjust accordingly. A detailed assessment plan will also be developed to assist students with knowing how much detail to include in the assignment.

Feedback from Peer discussion

Feedback

The lectures were difficult to hear at time with poor video quality

Recommendation

It is recommended that a new format delivery will be tried. Switching from a live recorded lecture delivered from a lecture room with an audience, to lectures delivered via Zoom. This will allow for greater control over aspects such as lighting and audio.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
  2. Implement a safe foundational paramedic decision-making framework, incorporating basic clinical assessments and skills used in paramedic practice
  3. Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
  4. Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.

It is a requirement of the Paramedicine Board of Australia that units align with the AHPRA professional capabilities for registered paramedics. These are broken down into five (5) domains. Below aligns the proposed learning outcomes with these domains. In addition, the learning outcomes have also been aligned with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

Professional Capabilities for a registered Paramedic

The Paramedicine Board of Australia is responsible for assessing, consulting on and setting the standards for paramedics practicing in Australia. These standards and relevant domains are articulated in the Professional capabilities for registered paramedics document. The learning outcomes of the unit are matched to the relevant capabilities

Standard/Attribute/Criteria Learning Outcome
Domain 1: The professional and ethical practitioner 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.4.1, 1.4.2 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 2: The communicator and collaborator 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7, 2.1.8, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.6 LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 3: The evidence-based practitioner 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 4: The safety and risk management practitioner 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.6.1, 4.6.5 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 5: The paramedicine practitioner 5.1.4 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, 5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.3.1, 5.3.3, 5.3.4, 5.3.5, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.6, 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.3, 5.6.4  LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Standards developed in this unit are:

Standard Learning Outcomes
Clinical Governance LO1, LO2, LO4
Partnering with Consumers LO2, LO3, LO4
Preventing and Controlling Infections LO2, LO3, LO4
Comprehensive Care LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Communicating for Safety LO2, LO3, LO4
Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration LO2, LO3

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
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine

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

Additional Textbook Information

The prescribed textbook can be accessed online at the CQUniversity Library website. Access may be limited, so if you prefer your own copy, you can purchase either paper or eBook versions at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

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
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Prehospital overview, professional requirements, and medical terminology

Medical terminology

Primary survey 

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: 13 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Neurological Assessment

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: 20 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Respiratory Assessment

Airway Skills/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: 27 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Cardiovascular (perfusion), temperature and BGL assessment

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: 03 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

ECG Interpretation and fundamentals

Chapter

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 5 Cardiovascular Emergencies

5.4 Arrhythmias pg. 209 -210 (Stop at sick sinus syndrome)

5.4 Arrhythmias pg. 215 -218 (Start at Narrow complex tachycardias and also read Atrial flutter and Atrial fibrillation)

Events and Submissions/Topic

First Online Quiz:

Opens Saturday 08 Apr. 2023 9am AEST

Closes Monday 17 Apr. 2023 9am AEST

Vacation Week Begin Date: 10 Apr 2023

Module/Topic


Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

CPR & Defibrillation

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: 24 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

History taking 

Clinical handover 

Head to toe examination

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 8 Begin Date: 01 May 2023

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



Practical Assessment (OSCE) Due: Week 8 Monday (1 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 08 May 2023

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: 15 May 2023

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


Week 11 Begin Date: 22 May 2023

Module/Topic

Self Care and Manual Handling:

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Workbook Due: Week 11 Monday (22 May 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 29 May 2023

Module/Topic

Tidying up and house keeping

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Second Online Quiz:

Opens Saturday 27 May. 2023 9am AEST

Closes Monday 05 Jun. 2023 9am AEST

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 05 Jun 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Jun 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

You will be required to complete two (2) online quizzes. The quizzes will open for ten days, and each quiz will have a specific time limit imposed.

The quizzes will be made up of questions exploring content based on 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 Monday 17/04/2023 9am) 15%

This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from week 1 to week 5.

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

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 per cent per day. You will only receive 1 attempt at the quiz.

Quiz 2 Online (Due Monday 05/06/2023 9am) 15%

This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from week 6 to week 12.

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 per cent 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 Monday (17/04/2023 0900 AEST) and Quiz 2 due Monday (05/06/2023 0900 AEST).


Return Date to Students

Results from the quiz will be made available once the quiz is closed and not after the attempt.


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 - 12. 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
  • Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
  • Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.

2 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Workbook

Task Description

You will be required to complete a workbook exploring the 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 responses, 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 11 Monday (22 May 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Workbooks will be returned by the end of Monday 12th June


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 the 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 pass this assessment item to pass the unit 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
  • Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.

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 novice 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.

Stations 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, your 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 it will be deemed as unsafe practice:

Unsafe defibrillation

Incorrect joules delivered to the patient

Defibrillation of an unshockable rhythm

Failure to recognise a shockable rhythm (>1min)

No or incomplete drug check

Incorrect sharps disposal

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

Any grossly unsafe practice as deemed by the assessing academic





Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (1 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

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

Results from this assessment will be made available by no later than three weeks after the completion of all the residential schools


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) at a novice 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, your 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 it will be deemed as unsafe practice:

Unsafe defibrillation

Incorrect joules delivered to the patient

Defibrillation of an unshockable rhythm

Failure to recognise a shockable rhythm (>1min)

No or incomplete drug check

Incorrect sharps disposal

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

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
  • Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
  • Implement a safe foundational paramedic decision-making framework, incorporating basic clinical assessments and skills used in paramedic practice
  • Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics

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?