Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit is an essential part of preparation for professional dietetic practice and is designed to enable you to integrate theory with practice. The practice placements will assist you in familiarising yourself with the nature and operation of hospitals and nursing homes, private practice and community public health facilities and their patients, clientele and staff. The unit contributes towards one week of practice placements and is required to meet Dietitians Association of Australia accreditation requirements. Attendance is therefore compulsory.

Designated unit
This is a designated unit. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring the demonstration of certain personal qualities, and are deemed to be critical to progress in your course. At the end of each semester, if you fail to achieve a passing grade in this unit you may be eligible for a period of probation or exclusion.

Aims

This unit will prepare you for three practical placement units in the final year of the course. You will be assessed both in the workplace setting and in simulated settings, and the unit contributes to at least one week of individual case management practice, as stated in the DAA accreditation standards.

Objectives

Throughout all aspects of this unit you will be expected to demonstrate as appropriate sensitivity to and an understanding of cultural and gender-related issues. On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. demonstrate an organised, professional and ethical approach to practice
2. demonstrate the application of knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin assessment in the nutrition care process and model for individuals and groups, including understanding food service issues and community practice
3. apply elementary principles of research and evaluation to practice in critical thinking and problem solving.

Content

Professional practice will be introduced by asking students to undertake professional roles in a classroom setting with students simulating clients at different stages of the lifecycle, as well as case studies relating to community public health nutrition and food service management. The principles of professional ethics will be introduced as well as competency based assessment. Professional roles and ethics in the three areas of professional practice - individual case management, community nutrition and food service management - will be introduced as well as interviewing using simulated clients (actors) from the 5 stages of the lifecycle with simple nutritional issues.
Workplace activities will include a range of activities including conducting subjective global assessment, meal rounds in a hospital or nursing home, observation of outpatient interviews, nutrition education and resource development in community settings and part of a clinic interview with a real client.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is available for internal study. You will participate in both active and passive learning situations and you are expected to demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills. Tutorials are provided at QUT. You will attend the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital one day per semester and be expected to undertake activities at the ward and clinic level with patients. You will also be expected to attend simulated learning and the dietetic clinics at QUT.
Assessment will include the nutrition assessment and initial management of a case in a simulated clinic setting.


Requirements for Placement

1: Blue Card
2: Hepatitis B vaccination report and serology immunity report
3: Tuberculosis Screening report, immunisation and immunity
4: Student Health Assessment & Declaration Forms
5: Queensland Health Orientation Checklist & Forms (Only relevant for QLD Health Placements)
6:Criminal History Check (If relevant)

Assessment

There are three assessments to be completed throughout the semester.
Note: This is a designated unit. Designated units are units which are deemed to be critical in a student's progress in the course. Such units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills and units requiring the demonstration of certain personal qualities. At the end of each year students who have failed to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit will be eligible for exclusion. A satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit is a grade of 4 or higher, or S - Satisfactory, where appropriate. Supplementary Assessment will NOT be granted to students enrolled in designated units.

In addition to submitting hard copies of your assessment you are required to electronically submit all written assignments for content matching checks.Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit.
Formative Assessment
Workshops in Weeks 8 to 10 will include participation in small group exercises that build skills in conducting a dietetic interview, including development of goals & strategies, with a client who requires weight management, has type I or type II diabetes and has cardiovascular disease. Formative feedback will be provided by QUT tutors or clinical educators at the time. During Weeks 11 to 13 you will individually practise interviewing with clinical cases and be provided formative feedback.

Assessment name: Interview
Description: Part 1 - You will be required to interview a client to collect information to assess their nutritional status. You will provide written details of assessment and goals and strategies on the Nutrition Care Plan.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 12 and 13

Assessment name: Interview
Description: Part 2 - Interview a client to explain diet disease relationship and negotiate goals and strategies. You will provide written details of assessment and goals and strategies on Nutrition Care Plan.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Week

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: You will be required to complete experiential and site visit activities. You will apply the principles of nutrition care model and apply the principles of research and evaluation and professional ethics in activities at the workplace.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 9

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

References and Resources


A variety of references and resources will be identified throughout the semester.

Risk assessment statement

Assessment for this unit is workplace-based. You should be aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace and you are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. In addition, you should refer to the guidelines for safe work at VDUs contained in the SPH Guidelines to Students.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 16-Oct-2012