Unit Synopsis
This unit provides an insight into the science of cardiac assessment by exploring the role and scope of practice of the cardiac physiologist and echocardiographer within the Australian health care system. You will acquire knowledge of communication strategies used in clinical practice and explore the types of cardiac testing procedures available and the outcomes of those assessments. You will apply your knowledge and skills to demonstrate procedures for the provision of safe patient care, ultrasound scanning coordination, spatial awareness and grey-scale pattern recognition in a simulated clinical environment. The aim of this unit is to provide introductory knowledge and skill that will support your learning throughout the Echocardiography / Cardiac Physiology course.
Details
| Level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 1 |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
Pre-requisite Students must be enrolled in CV69 Bachelor of Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology / Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography
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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School |
Compulsory Residential School View Unit Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2026
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.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Written Assessment | 40% |
| 2. Online Quiz(zes) | 30% |
| 3. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 4. Online Test | 30% |
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%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web 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.
Source: CQU success
Students expressed a preference for more frequent quizzes throughout the term to build familiarity with online testing and reduce anxiety associated with single high-stakes final test.
To support continuous learning and reduce the pressure of a single high-stake final assessment, three smaller online quizzes may be introduced throughout the term, contributing to the overall unit grade. This approach also promotes academic integrity by diversifying assessment timing and format.
The unit assessment approach was changed, with the addition of an online quiz (30% weighting) earlier in term offering. This saw the weighting of the final online test reduce from 60-30%. Interactive Kahoot quizzes were embedded into weekly tutorials to engage students and provide immediate feedback and assist in reducing anxiety about quizzes.
Source: CQU success & SUTE
Students responded positively to the improved residential school format which incorporated more hands on scanning time and smaller group activities.
Retain the current residential school format, given consistently strong positive student feedback, highlighting the value of extended scanning time and small group interaction.
The residential school format was retained following consistently positive student feedback.
Source: SUTE feedback
Students expressed further guidance on referencing requirements for assessment tasks would be helpful.
While comprehensive referencing support is already available through unit resources, the Academic Learning Centre, and library services, assessment guidance and support resources will be reviewed to ensure referencing expectations remain clear and accessible.
In Progress
Source: SUTE feedback
Some students reported content relating to scanning techniques and probe positioning would benefit from earlier exposure in the term to improve preparedness for the residential school.
The organisation of the unit content will be reviewed to ensure students are adequately prepared for the residential school. Consideration will be given to introducing scanning and probe positioning concepts earlier in the term and extending coverage over multiple weeks provide a more scaffolded learning experience and improve student confidence in practical sessions.
In Progress
Source: SUTE feedback
Students expressed strong satisfaction with the teaching and learning experience in the unit. Highlighting the engaging and interesting subject content, the high level of lecturer knowledge and expertise, and the willingness of teaching staff to provide additional support, clarification and guidance when required.
Retain the current teaching and support strategies that contribute to positive student engagement and satisfaction, while continuing to monitor feedback and implement minor refinements where appropriate.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Define the scope of practice and professional requirements of cardiac physiologists and echocardiographers, including legal and ethical considerations
- Discuss the provision of cardiac assessment within the context of general diagnostic services in the Australian health care system
- Apply common communication strategies used in the healthcare environment
- Apply introductory level knowledge of ultrasound equipment, image acquisition and interpretation, body and cardiac imaging planes, using appropriate terminology
- Demonstrate knowledge of safe practice, including infection control and ergonomic principles.
1. Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR): Accreditation Standards for Cardiac Sonography - Foundation units of competence (Unit 1-5) and Critical Practice (Unit 8).
2. Edwards, C, Thoirs, K, Osborne, B, Slade, D, McDonald, S, Lombardo, P, et al. Australian sonographer competency—A new framework. Sonography. 2022; 9( 3): 108– 115. https://doi.org/10.1002/sono.12309.
3. American Society of Echocardiography Guideline Documents.
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment | • | • | |||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) | • | • | • | ||
| 3 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | ||
| 4 - Online Test | • | • | |||
| 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 | • | ||||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | |