Clinical Simulation Laboratory Learning

Years 1 - 3 of the course include hands-on learning in the clinical simulation medical imaging laboratories on campus during most terms. Students must demonstrate professional behaviours including regular attendance and meeting the course dress code during clinical simulation laboratory sessions. During simulations of imaging procedures, all students will participate in role play as radiographer and patient. These essential learning activities may require students to bare their arms, legs and feet and will involve touching and being touched by peers. If a student is unable to participate in both roles, the student's ability to attain required skills and complete unit assessments may be impacted.

Clinical Placement

Students complete extensive work integrated learning through four block placements that are scheduled in Years 2 - 4. All block placements require fulltime attendance and have start and/or end dates that fall outside standard term start and end dates. The standard placement start dates and durations are listed below:

• Year 2: 8 week placement starting two weeks prior to the standard start date for Term 3
• Year 3: 12 week placement starting in Week 4 of Term 2 and 12 week placement starting in Week 8 of Term 3
• Year 4: 17 week placement starting in Break Week of Term 1

While standard placement dates are used where possible, some students in Years 3 and 4 may be allocated placements with non-standard start and/or end dates due to availability of clinical facility placement spaces in the specific areas of practice required for those placement units.

Prior to each placement, students must meet specific pre-clinical health, safety, security and licensing requirements and must disclose any condition that may put themselves or the public at significant risk whilst on placement. Mandatory pre-clinical checks and requirements include those set by state governments and clinical facilities and thus may be subject to change during the course.

All students must attend blocks of placements in at least three different communities, at least one of which is regional and/or rural, and in a range of facilities that is sufficient to provide the scope and volume of clinical experience needed to meet all course and external accreditation requirements.

Clinical placements will be arranged by the University at facilities that have been approved for placement by the University as being able to provide the required educational experience and support. These facilities are located throughout Queensland. Availability is limited in each community. Students may be placed at locations that are not of their choosing. Students must prepare financially and personally to relocate for placements and are responsible for the associated costs.

Whilst on placement, students will perform imaging procedures on and provide hands-on care to people who may be ill or injured. Students will need to be physically fit, able to stand and walk for extended periods, lift, stretch, carry heavy loads and have sufficient visual acuity and contrast sensitivity to assess fine detail of images and perform safely in a range of lighting conditions. Students will undertake clinical assessments on performance of imaging procedures, professional behavioural and technical skills in order to demonstrate attainment of the professional capabilities set by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia.

Currency of Clinical Knowledge and Skill

To ensure student readiness for each clinical placement unit, prerequisite Imaging Procedures units are specified and must have been completed within a specified period of time prior to commencing the clinical unit. If this period has been exceeded, the student must undergo a formal skills refresher at Mackay campus. The refresher will include time spent practicing imaging examinations and completing multiple assessments of technical and professional skills.

 

Course Structure Notes:

This course is structured as an accelerated four year degree that includes study in all three terms in each of Years 1 - 3. In most terms other than those with clinical placements, the standard unit load is three rather than four units.

 

Year 1 has a flexible structure in that it may be studied either full-time or part-time and either by distance or on campus. Students are required to study across all 3 terms. There are two compulsory residential schools in Term 2 for those students who study by distance.

In Terms 1 and 2 of Year 2 and in Term 1 of Year 3, all units run internally at the Mackay Ooralea campus only, with no distance option. Extensive learning activity takes place in the clinical simulation laboratories. During these terms, students should expect to be on campus most days each week due to the number of labs and tutorials. Attendance is mandatory for all Imaging Procedures lab classes. Final assessments will take place on campus during the Exam period (week 13) in these three terms.

Year 1 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
ALLH11009	Research Methods for Health Professionals
BMSC11010	Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
MEDI11002	Physics for Health Sciences

Year 1 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI11001	Fundamentals of the Imaging Professions
MEDI11004	Professional Practice
MEDI11005	Patient Care in the Allied Health Professions
BMSC11011	Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

Year 1 - Term 3
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MPAT12001	Medical Pathophysiology
MEDI11006	Imaging Science 1

Year 2 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI12002	Imaging Science 2
MEDI12003	Imaging Procedures 1
MEDI12009	Radiographic Anatomy and Appearances 1

Year 2 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI12005	Imaging Science 3
MEDI12006	Imaging Procedures 2
MEDI12010	Radiographic Anatomy and Appearances 2

Year 2 - Term 3
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI12011	Medical Imaging Clinical Experience 1

Year 3 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI13001	Science and Instrumentation 3
MEDI13002	Imaging Procedures 3
MEDI13006	Imaging Procedures 4

Year 3 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI13008	Imaging Pathways in the Diagnostic Process
MEDI13005	Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 3

Year 3 - Term 3
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI14001	Transition to Independent Practice
MEDI14006	Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 4

Year 4 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
MEDI14005	Medical Imaging Clinical Practicum