Paramedic Clinical Practice 2
Credit points
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Prerequisites
HBM1202 - Anatomy and Physiology 2
HFB1002 - Introduction to Pharmacology
HFB1003 - Paramedic Law, Ethics and Professionalism
HFB1001 - Cultural Safety
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)
Overview
This unit will introduce students to pain assessment and management, fundamental pharmacology, basic ECG interpretation and analysis, pathophysiology, the safe use of equipment, and patient records and other practice documentation, and will also incorporate relevant aspects of the National Safety and Quality Health Service standards (NSQHS). Students will integrate, consolidate and extend knowledge from prior units of study whilst applying skills and behaviours in a culturally safe manner. Students will be encouraged to participate in safe and effective communication and critical self-reflection throughout the unit to allow for continued student development.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Discuss and demonstrate competence and safe practice of foundational paramedic clinical skills;
- Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of varying clinical presentations and present a safe and appropriate treatment plan;
- Exemplify systematic clinical approaches, assessments, and decision making skills for the management and care of patients effected by various medical aetiologies typical in the out of hospital setting using appropriate non-pharmacological and pharmacological agents; and
- Exemplify systematic clinical approaches, assessments, and decision making skills for the management and care of patients requiring resuscitation in the context of clinical paramedicine including the quality and safe use of medicines.
Assessment
For Melbourne campuses
Assessment type: Portfolio | Grade: Pass/Fail
Workbook
Assessment type: Practicum | Grade: Pass/Fail
OSCE 1 (resuscitation)
Assessment type: Practicum | Grade: Pass/Fail
OSCE 2 (other patient presentation)
Assessment type: Practicum | Grade: Pass/Fail
Placement and completed Logbook
Assessment type: Other | Grade: Pass/Fail
Self-directed learning
Knowledge, skills and values developed in this unit will be assessed through Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) 1 and OSCE 2, workbook, placement and SDL. To obtain a pass in this ungraded unit, all components of assessment must be attempted and passed.
Clinical practical (laboratory) classes require mandatory attendance of at least 80% attendance, except under extenuating circumstances. This is due to the unit containing a significant competency component, enabling students to acquire and demonstrate essential skills to meet threshold graduate capabilities for a paramedic graduate (VU Standards for Assessment Procedure (HE) Policy clause 25, 26, 29). Simulation requires 100% attendance. These hours will contribute to clinical placement hours.
In addition, students will complete 20 hours of clinical placement and must submit a completed log book. Attendance at the external clinical placement is mandatory with 100% attendance required SDL does not require mandatory attendance, however observation of satisfactory skill performance in accordance with the paramedicine (undergraduate) skills matrix for First Year Semester 2 must be achieved. Observation of satisfactory performance will be recorded by staff in VU Collaborate, and can be observed during timetabled lab attendance or in the supervised SDL lab.
Required reading
RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Curtis, K., Ramsden, C., Shaban, R., Fry, M. & Considine, J. (2019). Emergency and trauma care for nurses and paramedics. 3rd edition. Elsevier.
Suggested further readings will be made via VU Collaborate.
As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):