CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC20005 Advanced Assessment, Diagnostic Interpretation and Management
Advanced Assessment, Diagnostic Interpretation and Management
All details in this unit profile for PMSC20005 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

On completion of this unit you will be able to articulate the relationship between medical conditions, pathophysiology, clinical assessment findings and management in the critical care context. You will be able to advocate for the appropriate use of clinical measurement assessments, demonstrate analysis, and interpret abnormal results with regard to underlying pathophysiology. You will also employ evidence-based knowledge and practice in the management of patients, incorporating the use of clinical problem solving and decision making.

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

For students enrolled in CC70 Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) Pre-requisites PMSC20001 Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision Making Co-requisites PMSC20002 Advanced Critical Skills Application For students enrolled in CL70 Graduate Diploma of Tactical Medicine Pre-requisites PMSC20001 Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision Making For students enrolled in CM12 Master of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) Co-requisites PMSC20002 Advanced Critical Skills Application

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 - 2022

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. Written Assessment
Weighting: 60%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 40%
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 Self-reflection.

Feedback

Increase student engagement in coursework scenarios.

Recommendation

Review existing coursework scenarios to provide greater detail and a step-through approach to improve student engagement.

Feedback from Student feedback via 'Have your say'.

Feedback

Practical application of underpinning knowledge at residential school.

Recommendation

Continue practically-focused residential school, allowing students the opportunity for applied practice.

Feedback from Student feedback via 'Have your say'.

Feedback

Questions as to relevance of subject to discipline.

Recommendation

This unit is offered in both the critical care practice and tactical medicine courses. On occasion, questions are raised as to the relevance of in-depth assessment and diagnostic interpretation to their discipline. Recommendation is to offer greater detail as to the clinical relevance to both contexts in the introduction on the unit Moodle page.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Clearly articulate the relationship between medical conditions, their pathophysiology, clinical assessment findings and management
  2. Advocate for the benefits and appropriate use of clinical measurement assessments within the critical care context
  3. Demonstrate the ability to analyse the results of clinical measurement assessments, identify abnormal results and expand on their underlying pathophysiology
  4. Employ evidence-based theoretical knowledge and practice, including skills and interventions, while incorporating the use of clinical problem solving and decision making.

n/a

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 - Written Assessment - 60%
2 - On-campus Activity - 0%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%

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
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine

Edition: Fifth (2020)
Authors: Cameron P, Little M , Mitra B, Deasy C (editors)
Elsevier
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 978-0-7020-7624-4
Binding: Paperback

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
Kirsty Shearer Unit Coordinator
k.shearer@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

General assessment & diagnosis

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - CNS

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - CVS 1

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - CVS 2

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 OPENS Week 4 Friday 0800hrs AEST

Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - RESPIRATORY

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 CLOSES Week 5 Friday 2345hrs AEST

Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - ENDOCRINE

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - TRAUMA

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Prehospital ultrasound - Introduction

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Written assessment Due: Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 12 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Prehospital ultrasound - FAST

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 10 Begin Date: 19 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - GIT

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 OPENS Week 11 Friday 0800hrs AEST

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Focused assessment & diagnosis - General medical/other

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 CLOSES Week 12 Friday 2345hrs AEST

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written assessment

Task Description

Preamble

In this written assessment, you will be presented with a simulated case and asked to write an essay exploring the diagnostic information provided, and link this information to the patient presentation, pathophysiology, and possible treatment, with clinical reasoning.

Task Description

You are presented with a 78yo male found unrousable. He is usually independent, looking after himself and undertaking all his own activities of daily living. He has been unwell for the last two weeks with a chest infection, which has been treated with 7-days of antibiotics by his GP. It appears the treatment has been ineffective, as in the past few days he has become increasingly lethargic, drowsy, and more inclined to sleep. He had bloods taken two hours ago, at which point he was still ‘reasonably alert’.

Past medical history: Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, TIA

Social history: no alcohol, ex-smoker, lives alone

Medications: metformin, gliclazide, ramipril, aspirin, simvastatin

His estimated weight is 80kg.

Observations are:

  • GCS 8 (E 1 V 2 M 5); pupils equal and reactive to light, at 5mm
  • Temperature 38°C
  • Heart rate 104/minute
  • ECG – sinus tachycardia
  • Respiratory rate 30/minute
  • Blood pressure 98/60mmHg
  • Oxygen saturation 92% on room air
  • Blood glucose level 37 mmol/L

Physical examination reveals:

  • Dry mucosal membranes
  • Normal heart sounds
  • Nil elevated JVP
  • Cool peripherally
  • Breath sounds – inspiratory crackles & diminished air entry to the right base
  • Normal reflexes
  • Abdomen soft & non-tender

With initial treatment implemented, you elect to undertake an iStat (arterial), and you find the following (on room air):

  • pH 7.31
  • PCO2 25 mmHg
  • PO2 61 mmHg
  • HCO3 18 mmHg
  • Lactate 2.2 mmol/L
  • Glucose 37 mmol/L

You access his electronic records and find the following blood results:

  • White cells 19 x 109/L
  • Neutrophils 16 x 109/L
  • Haemoglobin 170 g/L
  • Platelets 350 x 109/L
  • Sodium 156 mmol/L
  • Potassium 6.1 mmol/L
  • Urea 18 mmol/L
  • Chloride 95 mmol/L
  • Creatinine 210 µmol/L
  • C-reactive protein 288 mg/L
  • Bilirubin 15 µmol/L
  • Alanine aminotransferase 34 IU/L
  • Alkaline phosphatase 79 IU/L
  • Albumin 56 g/L
  • Glucose 37 mmol/L

You are to write an essay (word limit 3000 words) addressing the following components:

  1. Articulate your initial impression and provisional diagnosis based on the information provided.
  2. Discuss how the pathophysiology of the case relates to the presenting diagnostic values (either why they are still within normal range or not).
  3. Discuss your planned treatment and how you anticipate your management will impact the patients overall clinical picture, with specific reference to the pertinent diagnostic values.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)


Weighting
60%

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

Assessment Criteria

This assessment is worth 60% of your overall mark for this unit. The written assessment will be assessed using the rubric provided on the unit Moodle page, covering the following areas:

  • Presentation & layout – presentation of material, word count etc
  • Content – based upon the set questions & use of supportive evidence-based material
  • Referencing – use of Harvard referencing, reference list


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please save/upload your file in a Word format (.doc or .docx).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Clearly articulate the relationship between medical conditions, their pathophysiology, clinical assessment findings and management
  • Advocate for the benefits and appropriate use of clinical measurement assessments within the critical care context
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse the results of clinical measurement assessments, identify abnormal results and expand on their underlying pathophysiology


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

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online quiz(zes)

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 multiple choice questions exploring content based upon the previous weeks of content (including lecture materials, online modules, links & required readings). Quizzes are cumulative and content will aggregate across the term. The quiz will assess your ability to integrate clinical history and assessment with physiological systems and distinguish between pathologies and pathophysiology within a clinical context.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Quiz 1 is due on the Friday of Week 5 at 2345hrs AEST. The quiz will open at 0800hrs on the Friday of Week 4. Quiz 2 is due on the Friday of Week 12 at 2345hrs AEST. The quiz will open at 0800hrs on the Friday of Week 11.


Return Date to Students

Marks for the quizzes will be available following the conclusion of each quiz.


Weighting
40%

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

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to answer each question to receive the marks allocated to that question. Non-attempts will score a zero mark. Quizzes may not be reattempted. This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed.

Each quiz is worth 20% of your overall mark for this unit. The first quiz must be completed by 2345hrs AEST on the Friday of Week 5; the second quiz must be completed by 2345hrs AEST on the Friday of Week 12. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Clearly articulate the relationship between medical conditions, their pathophysiology, clinical assessment findings and management
  • Advocate for the benefits and appropriate use of clinical measurement assessments within the critical care context


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research

3 On-campus Activity

Assessment Title
On-campus activity

Task Description

During the compulsory residential school, you will undertake an assessment task designed to explore your practical and declarative knowledge with regard to prehospital diagnostics learned throughout this unit, including (but not limited to) ultrasound and iStat.


Assessment Due Date

This assessment will take place during the compulsory residential school.


Return Date to Students

Students will be informed of results following the conclusion of the compulsory residential school.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

A marking rubric for this assessment task will be provided on the unit Moodle page. Students will have a maximum of two (2) attempts for each component assessed. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:

  • Successful completion of each component of the assessment
  • Demonstration of each component in a timely manner
  • Ability to minimise missed steps or minor errors

You must achieve a pass mark for each component of this assessment. This assessment is a PASS/FAIL task.


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse the results of clinical measurement assessments, identify abnormal results and expand on their underlying pathophysiology
  • Employ evidence-based theoretical knowledge and practice, including skills and interventions, while incorporating the use of clinical problem solving and decision making.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • 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?