Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Paramedics care for injured and sick people in the out of hospital environment. This may include people injured in motor vehicle accidents, elderly people experiencing acute life threatening disease such as heart attacks or strokes as well as people unwell due to mental health issues.

Your studies are preparing you for out of hospital clinical practice as a Paramedic. This unit will introduce you to ambulance practice and give you an opportunity to understand the role of Paramedics within the health care spectrum. This is the first of a pair of units designed to prepare you for the first clinical practice unit.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to ambulance practice and give you a foundational perspective of what it is like to be an Ambulance Paramedic.

Objectives

On the successful completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge of the history and development of ambulance services on both a national and international level;
   
2. A basic understanding of the ambulance service's structure, policy, and procedures;
   
3. An understanding of the ambulance service's role in a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to health care in both emergency and preventative settings;
   
4. Basic ambulance care as described in the National Health Training Package - Ambulance;
   
5. An awareness of ambulance practice through a structured observer program;
   
6. A basic understanding of ambulance equipment including ambulance vehicles and all patient care equipment;
   
7. A commitment to the values or attributes required of a paramedic; compassion, accountability, respect, ethical practice, responsibility and sensitivity.

Content

1. Ambulance Service
This topic gives an overview of Ambulance Service history, evolution and culture. The ambulance structure, function, policies and procedures are explained.

2. Integrated Practice
An Ambulance Service operates as part of a large multidisciplinary health care system. This topic also explores the relationship between field care and in-hospital definitive care.

3. Basic Ambulance Care
This topic introduces basic ambulance care including access and egress issues, patient extrication and ambulance equipment.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

• Lectures and tutorials
  
• Small group activities using problem based learning (PBL) strategies
  
• Clinical practical skills will be developed with the support of experienced clinical educators in a laboratory environment
  
• Simulation and scenario based activities will allow you to transfer knowledge, skills and clinical problem solving skills into the simulated clinical environment
  
• On-line problem based scenarios.

Assessment

Formative Assessment

On Campus:

Regular opportunities will be made available for you to practice your clinical skills in both supervised and unsupervised settings. This self-directed practice will help you identify your specific learning needs.

Summative Assessment

As detailed in Assessment ComponentsNil

Assessment name: Theory Quiz's
Description: Theory Quiz's: multiple choice
Relates to objectives: 2,4,6,7
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 5,7,9,11

Assessment name: Demonstration and Critique
Description: Demonstration of skills and written critique. Small group assessment to demonstrate the correct application of ambulance equipment and clinical skills, with a written critique.
Relates to objectives: 2,4,6
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 14

Assessment name: Examination (theory)
Description: Written examination including short answer questions.

Due Date: Week 14 - (in make-up lecture time due to public holiday)
Relates to objectives: 2,4,6,7
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 14

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

Recommended Text Books

Queensland Ambulance Service. Clinical Practice Manual. Brisbane: Queensland Ambulance Service; 2011.

Gregory, P., Mursell, I. (Eds.) (2010). Manual of clinical paramedic procedures. Chichester, U.K: Wiley-Blackwell.

Gregory, P., Ward, A. (Eds.) (2010). Sanders' Paramedic Textbook. Edinburgh: Mosby.

Other

Stethoscope - Advice will be provided in first semester - do not purchase prior.

A5 ring binder and plastic inserts - students will be required to compile a living reference of current prehospital skill sheets, drug therapy protocols and clinical guidelines based on QAS practice. This resource will be required at every tutorial.

Risk assessment statement

The role of student paramedic can be hazardous. There is regular exposure to body fluids, medical sharps and defibrillators. During the on campus phase the risk is minimised and only simulated exercises are conducted. While undertaking this unit you should review the industry Occupational Health and Safety guidelines that protect qualified staff and students in day-to-day practice.

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: 17-Jan-2013