CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC20002 Advanced Critical Skills Application
Advanced Critical Skills Application
All details in this unit profile for PMSC20002 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 this unit you will address the paramedic management of patients with medical and trauma conditions at the critical care level. Upon completion of this unit you will be able to identify the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice; employ critical thinking and clinical decision making; and demonstrate the skills and interventions required at a critical care level. The unit will include clinical skills laboratory and simulation scenarios designed to enable you to develop the essential communication, assessment, clinical problem-solving, decision making and management skills required at a critical care level.

Details

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

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites PMSC20001 Advanced clinical assessment and decision making PMSC20003 Pharmacological application in the critical care setting

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Mixed Mode

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 Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 40%
2. Off-campus Activity
Weighting: 60%
3. On-campus Activity
Weighting: Pass/Fail

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 Unit Coordinator's Reflection on the unit.

Feedback

Utilisation of operational Critical Care Paramedics (CCP) at this unit's Residential School.

Recommendation

The utilisation of operational Critical Care Paramedics (CCP) at this unit's Residential School had a positive impact. This practice will continue for future offerings of this unit.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Articulate the concepts and theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of critical care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient
  2. Identify the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice
  3. Employ critical thinking and clinical decision making for the use of critical care skills and interventions
  4. Demonstrate the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice.
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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Off-campus Activity - 60%
3 - On-campus Activity - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Off-campus Activity - 60%
3 - On-campus Activity - 0%
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)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Natalee Williams-Claassen Unit Coordinator
n.williams-claassen@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Perfusion Procedures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Perfusion Procedures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Cardiac Procedures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Cardiac Procedures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Electrical Therapies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Self study period

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Airway Management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 will be available on Friday at 0800 AEST (QLD Time)

Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Airway and Ventilation procedures

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 is due on Friday at 2300 AEST (QLD Time) (03/09/21)

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Ventilation Management 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Ventilators and Cricothyrotomy

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Reports - 17/09/2021 23:00 AEST


Case Reports Due: Week 9 Friday (17 Sept 2021) 11:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Residential School

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Mechanical and Chemical Restraints

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 will be available on Friday at 0800 AEST (QLD time)

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Review of skills and knowledge learnt throughout the term. 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 is due on Friday at 2300 AEST (QLD Time) (08/10/21)

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz(zes)

Task Description

You will be required to complete two (2) online quizzes; the first will close in Week 7; the second will close in Week 12. The quizzes will open in 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 multiple-choice questions exploring content based upon the previous weeks of content (including lecture materials, online modules, links & required readings). Quiz 1 will cover content from Weeks 1 – 5 and Quiz 2 will cover content from Weeks 6-9.

The quiz will assess your ability to identify the concepts and theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of critical care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient, identify the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice and employ critical thinking and clinical decision making for the use of critical care skills and interventions.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Quiz 1 - Quiz will be available on Friday of Week 6 08:00 AEST (QLD Time) and is due on Friday of Week 7 23:00 AEST (QLD Time). Quiz 2 - Quiz will be available on Friday of Week 11 08:00 AEST (QLD Time) and is due on Friday of Week 12 23:00 AEST (QLD Time).


Return Date to Students

Results will be returned once the quizzes have closed.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
You must achieve a minimum mark of 50% in each quiz to pass this assessment.

Assessment Criteria

There are two quizzes, each quiz is worth 20%. Marks are awarded if the multiple-choice question is answered correctly and the total marks are tallied after each quiz has been attempted. Non-attempts will score a zero mark. Quizzes may not be re-attempted.

Quizzes are open book, so the use of Clinical Practice Guidelines, book chapters and journal articles etc. are allowed.

Please take note that this is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed. Each quiz will have a specific time limit imposed to complete the quiz. 

In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after the due date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the concepts and theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of critical care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient
  • Identify the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice
  • Employ critical thinking and clinical decision making for the use of critical care skills and interventions


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Off-campus Activity

Assessment Title
Case Reports

Task Description

You would have witnessed firsthand some of the critical care skills undertaken by critical care clinicians during your career. By reflecting upon these skills, you will see how appropriate management plans are established from assessment findings such as history and physical examination; how critical thinking, clinical decision making, and medical evidence are used for the employment of critical care skills and interventions; the effect these skills and procedures have on the patient’s homeostasis and our ability to manage these patients at a critical care level.

Within your current practice, you will be required to directly observe critical care skills performed by clinicians on at least two (2) patients. You will be required to complete a case report on these patients and critically discuss the skill(s) observed (one report per patient).

Each case report must include the following:

-A description of the patient's clinical presentation and diagnosis

-Discussion of the clinical reasoning undertaken for use of this skill in the management of this critically ill or injured patient, as well as the evidence-based support behind the skill's application

-Articulation and justification of why this skill is clinically significant at a critical care level

-Discussion of changes in the patient’s clinical presentation (positive or negative) resulting from the application of the skill, providing reasons for this occurrence.

All patient management must be discussed in conjunction with the latest evidence. All sources of evidence must be provided and appropriately referenced.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (17 Sept 2021) 11:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Monday (4 Oct 2021)


Weighting
60%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

There is a minimum word count of 2000 words for each case report (a minimum of 4000 words in total) and maximum word limit of 2500 words for each case report (a maximum of 5000 words in total). It is expected that each case report will be clear and concise. The case reports will be assessed in accordance with the information and rubric provided on the unit Moodle page. Each case should be presented in an essay format.

The case report document is worth 60% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the concepts and theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of critical care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient
  • Identify the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice
  • Employ critical thinking and clinical decision making for the use of critical care skills and interventions


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 On-campus Activity

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment - OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

Task Description

For this assessment you will be required to attend a compulsory residential school. There will be several assessment pieces, each designed to assess your declarative knowledge and application of the practical skills acquired during this unit.


Assessment Due Date

This assessment will occur on the final day of the compulsory residential school


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (1 Oct 2021)


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) sheets for specific skills will be provided on the unit Moodle page.

You will have a maximum of two attempts for each skill assessed.

The assessment will be based on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory marking criterion based on the following key points:

-Successful completion of the skill

-Demonstration of skill in a timely matter

-Ability to minimise missed steps or minor mistakes

-Completion of the skill without making a critical error (a critical error will result in a failed attempt).

If a critical error occurs during your assessment the assessment will immediately cease, no marks will be given for that item and will result in a failed attempt. A critical error includes:

-An action or inaction which causes immediate harm to yourself, partner, patient or bystanders

-Unsafe use of the defibrillator

-No or incomplete drug check

-Incorrect sharps disposal

-Performing a skill and/or procedure outside the scope of practice of a Critical Care Paramedic.


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate the skills and interventions involved in critical care practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

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?