Overview
This unit introduces you to podiatric clinical practice and the fundamental concepts required in practice. You will develop the necessary communication skills required in patient management and will learn to undertake a comprehensive patient history and to conduct a routine podiatric examination. You will gain knowledge in common dermatopathology, including microbiology of the skin and nails in podiatric practice and commence practical skill development in skin and nail technique. In addition, you will complete 40 hours of external placement as a participant-observer in an allied health clinic involving podiatry.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
ALLH11005 and ALLH11004. To be enrolled in this unit, students must be enrolled in CB86 Bachelor of Podiatry Practice (Honours) course.
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 - 2018
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 Student Feedback - Have Your Say
The content was enjoyable and interesting, practicals did make it easier to learn content through doing it.
The theory taught in this unit provides students with much of the foundational knowledge required for basic practice in preparation for the clinical training units that follow. The practical learning reinforces how that knowledge is applied. The unit will continue to be delivered weekly in-class with a lecture first, tutorial second and practical 'hands-on' third. More time allocated to practical workshops will however be considered for future deliveries to increase student engagement and promote a broader appreciation of the discipline at an introductory level.
Feedback from Staff Feedback
Pre-clinical placement documentation - fundamental to progression in course.
Before students are able to be allocated to a clinical placement the podiatry department is required to have all required mandatory documentation on file. Students who do not complete these pre-placement requirements will not be allowed to proceed with their placement. Students must be prepared to take personal responsibility for their learning journey and to ensure all pre-clinical placement requirements are met on time and in advance of any set placement dates. This will enable students a smoother transition to placement.
- Describe the scope of practice for podiatrists and discuss standard policies, codes and guidelines for podiatry practice
- Exhibit professional behaviour and complete the pre-clinical documentation required for placement
- Conduct a basic patient assessment, involving medico-social history taking and physical examination, in a simulated environment
- Discuss the basic aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment of common nail and skin, neurovascular and biomechanical disorders in general podiatry practice
- Safely perform manual skills using general podiatry equipment and basic chair side techniques under supervision.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Examination - 40% | |||||
| 4 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | |||||
| 5 - On-campus Activity - 0% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 40% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | ||||||||||
| 5 - On-campus Activity - 0% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Merriman's Assessment of the Lower Limb
Third Edition (2012)
Authors: Edited by Ben Yates
Churchill Livingstone
United Kingdom
ISBN: 978-0-7020-5247-7
Binding: Other
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.talbot@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
The history of the podiatry profession; role and scope of practice; working in a team.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Legislative clinical requirements, including occupational health and safety; and sterilisation & infection control.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Communication & documentation in clinical podiatry practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Dermatological assessment & common skin conditions.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Dermatological assessment & common nail conditions.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vascular assessment & common presentations.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Neurological assessment & common presentations.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Biomechanical assessment & common presentations.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Footwear.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Skill development - nail cutting & scalpel technique.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chairside techniques - padding and strapping.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Clinical decision making in practice; and using a learning contract.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
External clinical placement (40 hours total) at the end of term. Students will be advised of related placement dates and locations during term. Clinical placement is compulsory requiring 100% attendance rate. Students must show evidence that they have met all the pre-clinical placement requirements, including the learning contract, prior to commencing placement. Failure to provide this information may result in the inability to continue with the clinical placement and result in a fail grade. All students are required to wear during clinical placement the approved CQUniversity podiatry uniform and to project a professional image at all times. Please refer to the Podiatry Course Handbooks for further information related to placement.
Other attendance: As per the University's recommendation that "All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes," students should also be aware that there is clear evidence to show attendance rates are directly related to academic progress. It is therefore in your best interest and strongly recommended in the Bachelor of Podiatry Practice (Honours) course, that you attend all scheduled learning activities to support your learning. Attendance will be recorded.
Uniform: In all practical classes, students are required to wear the nominated uniform. Students must purchase their uniform from the bookshop. This uniform is separate to the mandatory clinical uniform. Please refer to the Podiatry Course Handbook for further detail.
1 On-campus Activity
(1) Attendance:
The activities covered in this unit cover professional podiatry skills, which are inherent requirements to meet the professional standards and are integral to your achievement of learning outcomes and assessment in this unit. At least 85% attendance at tutorial, practicals and/or workshops (where applicable) is therefore required to satisfactorily PASS this unit. 100% attendance and satisfactory performance is required in the allocated clinical placement period. The Unit Coordinator will keep attendance records. If you are unable to attend, you must notify the Unit Coordinator (in writing/by email) as soon as possible, with a medical certificate or statutory declaration supporting any absence. Failure to maintain a satisfactory attendance record may seriously undermine your ability to complete the unit.
(2) Pre-Clinical Placement Requirements:
Students enrolled in the course must meet all pre-clinical requirements set by the University. This is to ensure compliance with State/Territory legislation and Health Care Facility requirements. All mandatory documentation is to be submitted PRIOR to 4pm on the Tuesday during Week 7 of Term 1. Please refer to the Podiatry Handbooks and Professional Practice Guide for Allied Health Students: Pre Practice Requirements.
Attendance is recorded throughout the teaching term; Pre-clinical placement requirements are to be submitted for processing PRIOR to 4pm on the Tuesday during Week 7.
Results will be finalised during review week.
(1) At least 85% attendance at tutorial, practical and/or workshop sessions is required to satisfactorily PASS this unit. 100% attendance and satisfactory performance is required in the allocated clinical placement period.
(2) All pre-clinical documentation needs to be submitted as certified true copies. Students are formally advised to not delay collecting their pre-clinical documents. Placements may be cancelled if the student fails to meet all stated pre-clinical requirements and related submission deadline.
A student must pass both components to obtain a passing grade in this pass/fail assessment task. If one or both of the components are not successfully completed, a fail grade may be awarded.
- Exhibit professional behaviour and complete the pre-clinical documentation required for placement
- Safely perform manual skills using general podiatry equipment and basic chair side techniques under supervision.
- Ethical practice
2 Online Quiz(zes)
There will be two quizzes in total with each quiz worth 15%, providing a total overall of 30%. Each quiz allows for only one attempt. Questions for each quiz are from content covered in the modules preceding each quiz. Quiz 1 will contain questions related to the course modules/topics from weeks 1 to 5 inclusive. Quiz 2 will contain questions related to the course modules/topics from weeks 6 to 9 inclusive.
Each quiz is an individual task which must be completed within one hour. Each quiz will consist of 30 questions, will take place in a computer lab on-campus and is a closed-book task. Access to books, notes, websites (other than the quiz) and use of other electronic devices are prohibited during each quiz.
2
Quiz 1 will be held during Week 6; and Quiz 2 during Week 10 of the teaching term. Assessment times and room locations will be advised during term.
Quizzes will be marked electronically. Results will be made available in Moodle.
Answers will either be correct or incorrect and tabulated by the Moodle online system.
- Describe the scope of practice for podiatrists and discuss standard policies, codes and guidelines for podiatry practice
- Discuss the basic aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment of common nail and skin, neurovascular and biomechanical disorders in general podiatry practice
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
This exam is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). There will be four (4) OSCE stations each designed to assess your knowledge and practice skills acquired during this unit. Each station will be allocated 10 minutes per station with a mix of station types and competencies tested. There will be a combination of written answer stations and observer assessed (using checklists) stations.
Week 11 - Date and time to be advised.
The assessment criteria for this task is linked to one or more clinical competencies in accordance with the Podiatry Competency Standards for Australia and New Zealand (2015). More detail specific to these standards will be communicated to students during the term.
- Conduct a basic patient assessment, involving medico-social history taking and physical examination, in a simulated environment
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
4 Professional Practice Placement
External Clinical Placement - 40 hours total: 18 - 22 June 2018 (inclusive).
Details of individual placement allocations will be provided during term. Please note dependant on the site, placement dates may vary for each student. It is however our intention to secure external placements for all students across this one-week block at the end of term.
Student performance and associated grades for all assessment tasks stated in the unit profile must be satisfactorily met prior to the commencement of the external clinical placement. In addition, failure to complete the specified pre-clinical placement requirements will result in the student being prevented from attending clinical placement; and a fail grade being awarded. Whilst on placement, students must comply with the requirements and the professional code of conduct as stated within the External Clinical Placement Handbook.
External Placement Documentation: 6 forms in total. Student and Clinical Supervisor Evaluation Forms & Related Documentation for External Placement: Pass/Fail requirement.
The (1) Learning Contract must be submitted 1 week prior to the allocated placement commencement. The student must submit this to the Unit Coordinator for review and sign-off. The learning contract is then discussed by the student with the Clinical Supervisor at the commencement of placement. During placement, the following documents are required as a record of evidence and assessment: (2) Time Sheet, (3) Log Book Reflective, (4) Clinical Supervisor Report, (5) Student Self-Evaluation Report, and at the end of placement, students must complete (6) Student Evaluation of the Clinical Placement.
Placement documents are to be completed prior to and during external placement with original (hard copy or electronic) submission at the end of placement. Students will be required to submit ALL 6 documents to the Unit Coordinator within 5 business days of placement completion. Failure to do so may result in a fail grade. Students are advised to keep a copy of placement documentation for their own record.
Grades will be allocated once ratified by the unit coordinator.
Whilst on placement students must keep a log of all activities to ensure the goals and terms of the practicum are being met.
- Exhibit professional behaviour and complete the pre-clinical documentation required for placement
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
Examination
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?
