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PMSC13001 - Mental health for Paramedics and Other Health Professionals

General Information

Unit Synopsis

In the course of a year it is estimated one in four people will experience a form of mental health problem. When looking solely at first world countries this estimate could be as high as two in four and is considered a modern day epidemic health problem. Within this unit students will develop an understanding of more traditional and emerging approaches to assisting those suffering mental health issues within a discipline specific context. This will include communication, pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies along with relevant legislation applicable to professions authorised under the Mental Health Act 2000 (Queensland). The above strategies and legislation are introduced to students in the context of person/s suffering a spectrum of mental health problems from chronic issues to those acutely disturbed and violent.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

CB77 - Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) Students

CHIR12007 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 1

CC30 - Bachelor of Paramedic Science Students

PMSC12002 Clinical Paramedic Practice 1

PMSC12001 Procedures and Skills in Paramedic Care

CG95 – Bachelor of Paramedic Science Students

PMSC12002 Clinical Paramedic Practice 1

PMSC12001 Procedures and Skills in Paramedic Care

**See note below regarding additional requirement surrounding PMSC12001 Procedures and Skills in Paramedic Care.

Emergency Medicine is a fast paced, ever changing environment. At CQU we are continually adapting our course so students are prepared to meet these needs. With this in mind, if in the last 12 months you have not:

• Successfully completed clinical placement unit or

• Successfully completed a PMSC unit with a compulsory residential school attached or

• Completed equivalent and relevant work experiences (as deemed by the Unit Coordinator)

Students will be required to attend PMSC12001 residential school again at their own cost.

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 - 2016

Term 1 - 2017 Profile
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2018 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2019 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2021 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2023 Profile
Mixed Mode
Term 1 - 2024 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 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. Online Quiz(zes) 50%
2. On-campus Activity 50%

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

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 50.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 26.87% 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 Evaluation Data
Feedback
Significant student feedback reported that expectations were unclear for the written task, and marking was inconsistent.
Recommendation
The written task shall be completely redesigned for 2023. Assessment criteria shall be clearly explained, and a reliable validated rubric shall be developed with collaboration from Learning and Teaching staff.
Action Taken
The written task was completely redesigned and was reviewed by paramedic academics. The marking rubrics were also redesigned and developed in accordance with the Learning and Teaching templates.
Source: Student Evaluation Data and verbal student feedback.
Feedback
The scenario simulation videos were well received by students who enjoyed the real-life demonstrations and found they greatly enhanced the content. Several students made contact to say they experienced similar cases whilst on clinical placement and felt confident in handling the situation.
Recommendation
Continue creating more content of this nature and expanding the repertoire of examples.
Action Taken
Scenario videos are continuing to be used in this unit.
Source: Student Evaluation Data
Feedback
Students enjoyed using actors at their residential schools as it improved their real-world experience.
Recommendation
This unit has utilised actors, props, and moulage to deliver high-fidelity mental health scenarios for several years. The aim will be to continue high-fidelity residential experiences to prepare students to meet industry standards and expectations.
Action Taken
The unit continued to use actors for the high fidelity scenarios.
Source: SUTE unit report
Feedback
Was a good unit with concise and clear learning objectives. Students were glad it was noted mental health is such a large field, however the unit was able to simplify and stick to relevant aspects for the role of a paramedic.
Recommendation
Continue to set clear learning objectives.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE unit report
Feedback
The workbook was quite confusing and students felt as though there was a lack of guidance for it.
Recommendation
The workbook was a new style of assessment for this unit. A redesign and collaboration with Learning and Teaching staff will occur in 2024 to assist in the redevelopment.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE unit report
Feedback
Students loved being able to work with real people. The actors where exceptional. Students found this unit really interesting and loved the abilities of the actors and their resilience in such difficult scenes.
Recommendation
The unit should continue using actors to simulate real life cases.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE unit report
Feedback
The residential school was outstanding. It was the first res school students felt they were taught to do the job, instead of taught to pass the OSCE.
Recommendation
Residential schools should continue to use actors and run in a way that allows students to train in a way that is the same as in standard practice.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE unit report
Feedback
Students found content sometimes repeated topics that were briefly covered in earlier weeks.
Recommendation
Weekly lectures to be reviewed and redone to go into more depth and to reduce the repetiveness. Additional 'real world' content will continue to be used and added to in 2024.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

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

  1. Identify a person experiencing the clinical manifestations of mental illness.
  2. Manage (within a cultural and discipline context) people experiencing clinical manifestations of mental illness.
  3. Apply mental health related legislation within the context of your discipline.
  4. Apply the principles of interpersonel communication and professional behaviours to the standards expected of a health professional.
  5. Compare and contrast various systems of classifying mental health conditions.

This unit is linked to external accreditation requirements for the CB 77, CC30 and CG95 courses.

Specifically this includes.

CC30 and CG95 Bachelor of Paramedic Science

Perform the tasks of a paramedic within an accredited government or private ambulance service across Australia or internationally.

Demonstrate advanced clinical competencies in pre-hospital care, emergency mental health assessment with a secure medical science base.

Perform advanced clinical and mental health assessment procedures and incorporate this into an advanced clinical health care plan.

Follow specific operating protocols for an agency such as an accredited government or private ambulance service across Australia or internationally.

Demonstrate broad competency in pre-hospital care suitable for a career anywhere in Australia, as well as specifically for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).

Assess risks in the out of hospital environment.

Apply appropriate professional and personal skills, such as critical thinking and lifelong learning, to practice within the paramedic science discipline in accordance with accreditation competencies.

Apply relevant and current policies and procedures within regulatory bodies such as the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) Australia and accredited government or private ambulance service.

CB77 Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic)

Performs a psychological/psychosocial assessment.

Implements appropriate crisis management.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • • •
2 - On-campus Activity • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
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 • • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • • • • • •
2 - On-campus Activity • • • • • •