MEDS20017 - Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 4

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
MEDS20016 Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3 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 2 - 2024

Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 2 - 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. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) 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 2 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 80.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 6.17% 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: Student Unit Teacher Evaluations
Feedback
Some students felt that the expectations of the unit in relation to required competencies is unrealistic. They believe reviewing the expectations would be helpful for future students.
Recommendation
There is no flexibility with required competency assessment tasks as they are a requirement of an external accrediting body. Communicate with students and clinical supervisors around the external accreditation body's expectations to reach competency in six domains of practice.
Action Taken
The external accreditation body's expectations to reach graduate level competency in six domains of practice were outlined and communicated to both students and clinical supervisors at the beginning of this unit through the unit profile, and in the first tutorial with students, as well as an expectation guide of the unit provided to clinical supervisors via email.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluations
Feedback
Some students indicated they would like more revision and practice on musculoskeletal content (from prior unit).
Recommendation
Consider sourcing a guest lecturer to provide further musculoskeletal revision.
Action Taken
Further pre-recorded lectures were provided as a resource on the Moodle unit to support revision.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluations
Feedback
Students suggested that the quizzes were reasonable in difficulty and content, however they would have appreciated more short answer practice questions during the term.
Recommendation
Consider increasing the number of short answer practice quiz questions to support the ongoing revision and learning of the students to enhance their learning outcomes.
Action Taken
The number of short answer practice questions was increased to support the preparation of students for the OSCE to enhance their learning outcomes.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluations
Feedback
Students felt the unit coordinator facilated the tutorials to the needs of the students and covered all revision areas for assessment tasks. They really appreciated the time and effort made for them, even though they were long they found them engaging and wouldn't recommend getting rid of anything for next year's cohort.
Recommendation
Maintain weekly tutorials and continue to provide interactive tutorials, to support the ongoing revision and learning of the students. Continue to provide support through regular weekly communication. Maintain open communication with students in relation to expectations of the unit, the learning outcomes and the OSCES.
Action Taken
Interactive weekly tutorials were continued to support the ongoing revision and learning outcomes for the students. Regular communication via emails and tutorials was maintained with open communication in relation to the expectations of the unit, learning outcomes, and OSCE.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluations
Feedback
Some students noted that the quality of some of the online quiz images made them difficult to interpret.
Recommendation
Review and consider sourcing new images for online quiz questions to enhance the experience and improve the quality of the online imaging quizzes.
Action Taken
Online quiz images were reviewed and updated where required to enhance and improve the quality of the online imaging quizzes.
Source: Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Feedback
Some students felt that there may have been incorrect questions and answers in the Kahoot! revision quizzes.
Recommendation
Revise all Kahoot quiz questions and answers to ensure that any information given is accurate.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator Self Reflection
Feedback
Students are fatigued in this final clinical unit of the CG91 course and struggle to attend the weekly tutorials.
Recommendation
Consider reducing the number of tutorials whilst still providing self-directed opportunities for revision to enable the successful completion of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
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 Framework 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 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) • • • •
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