Units
Paramedic Clinical Practice 1
Unit code: CSB331
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit is the first in a series of supervised clinical practice units. Topics include the following: assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care in the out of hospital phase; effective scene management including logistics, safe access and egress, and patient extrication techniques; written and oral communication including patient interviews, radio procedures, writing ambulance report forms and patient handover at hospital. The placement is six weeks and provides a transition from observer to operational ambulance crew member under the supervision of a qualified paramedic mentor. [Designated unit]
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
| 2013 Summer | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Summer. 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
To practice as an Ambulance Paramedic you need to develop experience as a clinician in a supervised environment. Additionally it is fundamental to this course that you are exposed to an appropriate number of suitable patients in the out of hospital phase. This unit is the first in a series of five that provide the work integrated learning experience. You will be specifically prepared for this in the units PUB180 and PUB280 and the emergency driver education course provided by the Queensland Ambulance Service.
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
The aim of this unit is to introduce you to supervised clinical practice. During this clinical field placement your level of practice will evolve from an observer to that of an ambulance crew member in a supervised student capacity.
Objectives
On the successful completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate:
- An ability to work in a supervised clinical environment that at times can be extremely stressful.
- A willingness and ability to work as part of a small team to help and support ambulance crews in action.
- An ability to make the transition from an observer to a supervised student paramedic in a two officer crew.
- Basic patient assessment skills including the ability to reason through patient presentations that present with simple clinical problems.
- An appreciation of the ageing population and how this influences your patient care.
- An awareness of the necessary coping strategies and resources available to paramedics in order to provide an effective means of meeting the professional and personal challenges of paramedic work.
- An ability to empathise and show compassion toward the sick and injured who are in need of paramedic assistance.
- An ability to effectively communicate in a variety of contexts and modes
Content
Clinical Practice in the out of hospital phase.
Clinical Practice will be conducted in the prehospital environment under the supervision of an ambulance crew. One of the crew members will be an appropriately qualified clinical mentor.
This unit will include:
- Effective scene management, including, logistics, safe access and egress, and patient extrication techniques.
- Begin to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care in the out of hospital phase.
- Written and oral communication including, patient interviews, radio procedures, writing ambulance report forms (ARFs) and patient handover at hospital.
- Assist operational crews under direction, when acting as a third officer and transition to the role of second officer.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Field Practicum
Your mentored clinical experience is vital. It is during this time you begin to transfer your knowledge and skills into the environment where you will practice as an ambulance paramedic. Your Paramedic Mentor will guide and support you throughout this and your future field practicums. In your clinical foundation units in semester 1 and 2 you were introduced to the ambulance environment as an observer. The challenge for you now is to transition from observer to an operational ambulance crew member in the supervised capacity as a student paramedic. The speed at which you transition is dependent on your confidence, number of patient contacts and mentor assessment. Patient contact is key to this unit and unfortunately is unpredictable. While a minimum number of patient contacts are needed to give you the necessary experience, real patients with the appropriate clinical presentations may not present. If this is the case, simulation will make up the patient contact shortfall.
Pre placement Tests
The following must be successfully completed before undertaking this unit:
- Health Assessment
- Health Related Fitness Test
- Work Related Test
- Police Check
- Manual Driver's Licence
- Driver Education Course
- Immunisations such as Hepatitis B
- Queensland Health Student Orientation Package
You will receive information about each of these during CSB330 (previously PUB180) and CSB332 (previously PUB280).
Assessment
Formative Assessment: Off Campus:
You will receive continuous ongoing feedback and support from your clinical mentors identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement. You will be required to maintain a journal of your supervised clinical experience. Education staff will review the clinical logs and if necessary extra clinical placements and/or simulation will be arranged. Adequate mentored clinical experience is a prerequisite for completing this unit.
Overall Grade: You must receive a satisfactory in each item of assessment to achieve a satisfactory for this unit.
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.
Assessment name:
Reflective Practice
Description:
Length: 6 cases - one per week, 300 words each. You will use the Student Portfolio system to complete these reflections.
Due date: At the end of each week of placement.
Grade: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Relates to objectives:
1-6
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Ongoing
Assessment name:
In-field Assessment
Description:
Length: This is a six (6) week placement as a third person with a paramedic crew. Clinical mentors will provide feedback via a specifically designed assessment tool.
Grade: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Relates to objectives:
1-8
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Ongoing
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
All texts used in first and second semester units.
References
Cameron, Petal. 2nd Ed (2004) Adult Emergency Medicine text book. New York. Churchill Livingstone
Dunn et al 3rd Ed (2003) The emergency medicine manual. West Beach. Venom Publishing
Equipment
Stethoscope, watch - same as used in PUB180 and PUB280.
(Some other equipment including personal protective equipment will be supplied by QAS)
Risk assessment statement
Blue card
The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000) requires that students undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a blue card by the Commission prior to undertaking field experience in a school or centre, or undertaking activities in any unit which may involve contact with children. You will require a blue card for clinical placement/practicum in this unit. You should apply for a blue card at least 12 weeks before any clinical placement/practicum. Current blue card holders must register their card with QUT. For more information visit www.bluecard.qut.edu.au
Out of hospital care can be hazardous. You are required to work as part of an operational crew responding to emergency calls. There is regular exposure to high speed driving, body fluids, medical sharps, defibrillators and some times aggressive patients in the off campus phase of the unit. Your clinical practice is supervised at all time during this unit and appropriate personal protective equipment will be supplied.
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: 23-Oct-2012
