Units
Foundations of Paramedic Practice 2
Unit code: CSB332
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit follows on from PUB180 and further develops core clinical skills and expertise in the use of ambulance equipment. Topics covered include the following: monitoring basic patient care and modifying as required; handing over a patient requiring basic ambulance care; the use of ambulance equipment including ambulance vehicles and patient care equipment; health and safety legislation, policies and procedures; and the attributes of a paramedic e.g. compassion, accountability, respect, ethical practice, responsibility and sensitivity. The unit includes a structured observer program for students.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Following on from Foundations of Paramedic Practice 1 (PUB180) and having begun to develop an understanding of basic Paramedic practice, you will now attain a broader understanding of ambulance practice by further developing your core clinical skills and expertise in the use of ambulance equipment. For example, in PUB180 you learnt basic skills in resuscitation which will be further developed in this unit by combining resuscitation and patient care with transportation needs. As a paramedic you need to be able to provide a range of patient care activities while you transfer your patient to definitive care.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to give you the necessary knowledge and skills to commence your transition to a functional member of an ambulance crew in a supervised setting. This transition will take place in your first clinical practice unit.
Objectives
On the successful completion of this unit you should be able to:
- recognise common conditions encountered in the prehospital setting and demonstrate basic paramedic management in simulated clinical situations
- in the context of patient care (or as an isolated skill), correctly use operational ambulance equipment
- demonstrate fundamental clinical reasoning/problem solving and how it relates to ambulance practice
- demonstrate an understanding of applicable health and safety legislation and any relevant safety policies and procedures in force at the workplace
- explain how population variations including age, and ethnicity will affect your patient care
- demonstrate a commitment to the values or attributes required of a paramedic - compassion, accountability, respect, ethical practice, responsibility and sensitivity.
Content
The major topics include:
- Basic and Standard Ambulance Care: This topic includes monitoring basic patient care and modifying as required, handing over a patient requiring basic ambulance care and demonstrating use of ambulance equipment.
- Health and safety legislation, policies and procedures.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will be available in internal mode. Your learning will be assisted by:
- lectures and tutorials
- small group activities using problem based learning (PBL) strategies
- clinical practice skils 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
There are three assessments to be completed throughout the semester.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.
On Campus
This will involve the completion of on-line problem based scenarios that are designed to assist you with the development of clinical decision making skills including drug and fluid administration.
Regular opportunities will be made available for you to practice your clinical skills in both supervised (weekly clinical sessions) and unsupervised settings. You will have to demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence in all skills practiced in this unit.
Assessment name:
Examination (practical)
Description:
Description: You will be required to complete Structured Clinical Exams OSCE
Relates to objectives:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 10-13
Assessment name:
Examination (theory)
Description:
You will be required to complete a written, invigilated, timed theory examination comprising multi-choice and short answer questions. This will be in the central examination block and will include learning covered throughout the semester.
Relates to objectives:
4, 5, 6
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Description: You will be given a topic on an aspect of pre-hospital care which you will be required to write an essay.
Relates to objectives:
1-4
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid Semester
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
Required Texts
Gregory, P and Ward, A. (2010). Sanders' Paramedic Textbook (Ed.). London: Elsevier.
Gregory, P. and Mursell, I. (2010). Manual of Clinical Paramedic Procedures.West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
Queensland Ambulance Service. (2011). Clinical Practices Manual., Brisbane: Department of Community Safety.
Texts were prescribed for PUB180.
References
Bledsoe, B E, Porter, R S & Cherry, R A. (2001)Paramedic care: principles & practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ, Brady Prentice Hal.l
Cameron P (Ed.) (2005)Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine, (2nd ed.) Edinburgh. Churchill Livingstone.
Dunn (Ed.) (2003) The emergency medicine manual,
Equipment
Stethoscope and watch as required in PUB180.
Risk assessment statement
The role of student paramedic can be hazardous. You will be required to undertake observations an operational crew responding to emergency calls. There is regular exposure to high speed driving, heavy lifting, body fluids, medical sharps, defibrillators and sometimes, aggressive patients in this off campus phase of the unit. 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: 16-Oct-2012
