MEDS20016 - Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3

General Information

Unit Synopsis

In this graduate clinical unit, you will build on knowledge and attitudes using best available evidence developed during your studies to competently perform diagnostic scans in areas appropriate for attainment of graduate competency to the 'Level of Competent Sonographer', as defined by the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers adopted by the Australasian Sonographers Association and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Register. You will evaluate findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and initiate further investigation when appropriate. You will demonstrate reflective practice to expand your core knowledge and experience. You will also behave professionally using interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 18
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.375
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite
MEDS13006 Medical Sonography Clinical Course 2

Medical Sonography Clinical Course 2 must have been successfully completed within the previous twelve months. Should this time limit have elapsed the student must successfully complete one (or more) technical skill, professional behaviour and diagnostic knowledge-based assessment (s) after a period of technical skill / knowledge revision, as determined by the discipline lead or designate.

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 No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

Term 1 - 2025 Profile
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).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 18-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 37.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 450 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Practical Assessment 0%
2. Professional Practice Placement 0%
3. Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) 0%
4. Reflective Practice Assignment 0%

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 93.33% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 16.85% response rate.

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: Unit Coordinator Reflection
Feedback
The presentations for Assessment 4 took too much time during the Zoom tutorials. There was not enough time to go through revision and learning materials with students.
Recommendation
Update the requirements for Assessment 4 so that Zoom tutorials are run more efficiently where there is enough time to go through the presentations and revision and learning materials for students.
Action Taken
Assessment 4 task requirements were updated.
Source: In Class
Feedback
The peer engagement component for Assessment 4 was unnecessarily onerous on the unit coordinator and the students. Students had to ask a question for 10 different presentations.
Recommendation
Revise the peer engagement component for Assessment 4, requiring students to only ask a question for 3 different presentations rather than 10.
Action Taken
Peer engagement component for Assessment 4 was revised.
Source: Student Evaluation
Feedback
Useful knowledge/skills metric was rated the lowest in this unit, suggesting that not all students thought they would use the knowledge and skills developed in this unit.
Recommendation
Update the description for Assessment 4 to highlight that self-reflection is a crucial skill to exercise regularly as a sonographer. Reiterate the importance of reflective practice through the Zoom tutorial. Go through the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers with students during the tutorial as a reference.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator
Feedback
No exemplars were provided for students for Assessment 4 since it was a new assessment in HT1 2023 and significant changes were made to this assessment in 2024.
Recommendation
Provide exemplars for Assessment 4 as an additional resource to in completing this assessment.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Complete individualised diagnostic ultrasound examinations in specified areas which meet the recognised standard of graduate level sonographer according to the Professional Competency Standard for Sonographers and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
  2. Evaluate sonographic findings and formulate appropriate sonographic protocols to solve complex diagnostic problems.
  3. Display professional behavior, teamwork and communication skills consistent with safe sonographic practice in accordance with the CQUniversity postgraduate attributes, the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers, and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
  4. Critically reflect and improve upon own professional practice and sonographer psychomotor skills

Australasian Sonography Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer Units 1-5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Practical Assessment • • •
2 - Professional Practice Placement •
3 - Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) • •
4 - Reflective Practice Assignment •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge • • • •
2 - Communication • • • •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • • •
5 - Self-management •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility • • • •
7 - Leadership • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8