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

Experience in clinical departments is vital to developing clinical competence and this Unit is designed to build on the experience gained in Clinical Radiotherapy 2 to further develop your clinical and interpersonal skills. Continuing commitment to reflective practice will empower you to move towards autonomous learning. After completion of this Unit you should be able to assist with the full range of clinical procedures and have clear ideas about how to organise your clinical learning in relation to your future personal and professional development.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with the skills and experience which will enable you to demonstrate competence in radiotherapy techniques and procedures under supervision.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to;
1. Perform a wide range of radiotherapy pre-treatment and treatment techniques

2. Demonstrate consistently high standards of professional behaviour

3. Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal and patient care skills

4. Critically reflect on key learning experiences and develop strategies for addressing development needs

Content

· Simulation/CT of routine procedures
· Dosimetry for routine techniques
· Treatment of routine procedures

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The main learning resource for the Clinical Radiotherapy Units consists of the clinical department where you will be exposed to a huge range of learning opportunities. You will undertake supervised clinical experience over a period of 5-6 weeks per semester in an approved clinical department on a full-time basis. You will participate actively in a range of clinical procedures to help develop competence in supervised clinical practice. You will also be expected to interact with patients in order to develop your interpersonal and patient care skills. You will be required to reflect on your progress and performance in the unit as well as identifying key learning opportunities and relating these to your development needs.
This unit requires you to engage with the Blackboard learning environment in order to share experience with your peers and demonstrate learning. Specific learning materials including suggested reading, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Blackboard. You may be required to complete regular online tests via Blackboard and where possible use Blackboard to submit your written assessments.
A key aspect of the Course is fostering a thriving learning community and for this unit, the building blocks for this will utilise the Blackboard discussion board tools. You will be expected to engage regularly with your peers and tutors and key learning will take place via online question and answer sessions.
The final approach to teaching and learning relates to assessment for learning. The assessments for this unit are designed to ensure maximum understanding of the content and it is important that you recognise the role of assessment in your learning. You should view the assessments as part of your learning and ensure that you utilise the feedback to progress your learning and personal development.

Assessment

You must achieve a satisfactory level of achievement in each item of assessment and a mark of at least 60% overall to achieve a passing grade.Feedback is provided throughout the semester, where work is reviewed and assessed. Feedback will aim to provide students with suggestions for further development of academic skills as well as suggestions for further study where appropriate. Timescales for feedback will be communicated to students prior to assessment submission but will aim to be returned within 3 weeks where possible. Provisional marks and feedback for this unit will be made available via Blackboard and accessible from the My Grades tool. Some tests within Blackboard will be automatically marked and these marks and automatically generated feedback will be available immediately after test submission.

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: You will be required to submit an indepth case study relating to a complex patient they have planned or treated. (One treatment and one planning case study are required). The case study will require support from a wide range of literature.
Relates to objectives: 1.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: A reflective journal demonstrating consistent reflection on experiences and learning throughout the clinical placement. Submission must be accompanied by a record of rostered hours and examinations/procedures carried out as an assistant or supervised performer and verified by the supervisor along with the radiation badge.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Placement

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: A demonstration of professional practice and practical skills assessment utilising the "Australian Universities Radiation Therapy Student Clinical Assessment Form".
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Placement

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

1. QUT Clinical Practice Guide.

2. Khan F (2007). Treatment Planning in Radiation Oncology. 2nd Ed. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

3. Hull & Redfern (1996). Profiles and Portfolio's: A Guide for Nurses and Midwives. Macmillan Press Ltd.

4. Redman W (1994). Portfolios for Development, A Guide for Trainers and Managers. Kogan Page.

5. Rolfe G, Freshwater D., Jasper M (2001). Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions - a user guide. Palgrave, New York.

Additional resources are located on the Blackboard site for this unit.

Risk assessment statement

The out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit relate to the operation of x-ray and associated radiation therapy equipment in the clinical situation. You will receive instructions on safety issues and be provided with a radiation badge to assess radiation exposure during the placement. Infection control techniques and precautions should be observed to avoid exposure to harmful agents.

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: 09-Nov-2012