Overview
Accurate analysis and assessment of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions requires comprehensive knowledge of clinical tests of cardiovascular and respiratory function. In this unit, you will study advanced clinical diagnostic tests of cardiovascular and respiratory function and relate it to pathophysiology of cardiac and respiratory conditions. This will include study of cardiac function tests including haemodynamic, electrophysiological and angiographic cardiovascular measurement; and the study of respiratory function tests including lung volumes and capacities, pulmonary gas exchange, airway resistance, compliance and blood gas measurements. In preparation for clinical placement you will attain knowledge and skills needed to analyse cardiovascular and respiratory conditions within an ethical framework of best practice and patient safety.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite BMSC12006 Cardiorespiratory Physiology and Measurement
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Update learning and teaching resources.
Continue developing learning and teaching resources with guidance from industry to facilitate student learning.
- Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions
- Discuss the principles and procedures of various cardiovascular and respiratory measurements according to best practice guidelines
- Justify the implementation of a particular cardiovascular or respiratory measurement
- Interpret the results of cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Review the pharmacological implications associated with cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Discuss the physiological exercise responses in cardiovascular and respiratory measurement.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||
| 2 - Oral Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
ISE Electrocardiography for Health Professionals
5th Edition (2019)
Authors: Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
McGraw Hill
New York New York , America
ISBN: 9781260098310
Binding: Paperback
Ruppel's manual of pulmonary function testing
12th Edition (2023)
Authors: Carl D Mottram
Elsevier
St Louis St Louis , Missouri , USA
ISBN: 9780323762618
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.carlson@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Indications for pulmonary function testing
Chapter
Mottram Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on week 1 content
Module/Topic
Spirometry
Diffusion testing
Chapter
Mottram Chapters 2 and 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lung volumes, airway resistance and gases distribution tests
Ventilation and ventilatory control tests
Chapter
Mottram Chapters 4 and 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on weeks 2 and 3 content
Module/Topic
Blood gas and related tests
Paediatric pulmonary function tests
Chapter
Mottram Chapters 6 and 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Bronchoprovocation challenge testing
Specialised tests and evaluations
Chapter
Mottram Chapters 9 and 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on weeks 4 and 5 content
Module/Topic
No content will be covered this week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pulmonary function testing equipment
Quality Assurance
Chapter
Mottram Chapters 11 and 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and field testing
Chapter
Mottram Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on weeks 6 and 7 content
Module/Topic
Clinical presentation and management of the cardiac patient
Ambulatory Monitoring
Chapter
Booth and O'Brien Chapters 13 and 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Electrophysiology
Electrical axis and hypertrophy
Chapter
Booth and O'Brien Chapters 2 and 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on weeks 8 and 9 content
Module/Topic
Bundle branch blocks
Myocardial infarction
Chapter
Booth Chapter 10
Supplied resources in eReading List
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Invasive testing procedures
Cardiac and respiratory pharmacology
Chapter
Supplied resources in eReading List
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on weeks 10 and 11 content
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Oral Examinations will be conducted during the week.
Online Oral Examination Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator this term is Dr Debra Carlson. Please direct all communications regarding the unit to the unit coordinator, the best way to contact the unit coordinator is
Email: d.carlson@cqu.edu.au
Telephone: 07 4930 6364
and via the Q&A forum on the Moodle site.
Unit content
Pre-recorded lectures will be available on the Moodle site each week.
Tutorials will be held fortnightly on the odd numbered weeks of term. The tutorials will be student-led and allow students to discuss the unit content covered to date. Please see your timetable for dates and times.
Students will be required to complete an oral examination online during week 12. Dates and times will be available on Moodle at the beginning of week 6.
1 Written Assessment
Having an understanding of a wide range of pulmonary function testing procedures, the data they generate and the physiological implications of the results are of paramount importance as they are integral diagnostic procedures routinely used in clinical settings. This assessment task will assist you in understanding how pathological conditions of the respiratory system impact normal physiology and how they present in routine clinical tests.
You will be given a series of case studies and associated data. You will be required to interpret the given information by identifying the pathological condition that is presented and provide answers to a series of questions that relate to each case study. In providing a response you may refer to the textbook, journal articles, and professional body websites.
Level of Gen AI use allowed:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence:
Students are permitted to use Generative AI for the assessment in the following ways:
- Developing literature search strategies
- Guidance on developing arguments
- Assistance in formatting and grammar
If Generative AI is used in any way, it must be cited as per the CQU Guidelines (Academic Learning Centre). The following statement must be completed and included on the front page of the uploaded assessment:
"I have used (insert technology) to (insert how you used this) in accordance with the requirements of this unit. The reason I used this was to (explain why you used it). The details of how I used it as (insert how). I hereby declare that the submission is an appropriate representation of my individual skills and abilities to meet the requirements of the task/s."
As per academic writing requirements and assessment criteria; citations of information should be of the primary source (i.e statistics returned by AI must be fact-checked and referenced from their original source as well as the AI source). Failure to cite primary sources as well as AI sources could be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Your use of Generative AI must be clearly outlined in an appendix including the prompt used and Generative AI response. Failure to include an appendix may result in academic integrity investigation.
Week 8 Monday (8 Sept 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Feedback will be returned via Moodle within 2 weeks of assessment submission.
Responses to case study questions will be graded according to a marking rubric which is located on the assessment tile in Moodle.
Marks will be awarded based on factual accuracy. All sources must be cited appropriately and in-text citations must be included in the responses.
Students will be assessed on their ability to apply theoretical knowledge and evaluate data critically.
- Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions
- Discuss the principles and procedures of various cardiovascular and respiratory measurements according to best practice guidelines
- Justify the implementation of a particular cardiovascular or respiratory measurement
- Interpret the results of cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Review the pharmacological implications associated with cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Discuss the physiological exercise responses in cardiovascular and respiratory measurement.
2 Oral Examination
Throughout this unit, you have explored a number of techniques used to assess cardiovascular and respiratory function in patients and how disease processes can alter normal function.
This assessment item will assess your understanding of the content covered in weeks 7-11 and its application to clinical scenarios.
During this assessment, students will be required to respond verbally to a series of questions. Each student must select a time during week 12 to complete this assessment task. Oral examinations will be conducted individually, online via Zoom. The assessment will take approximately 40 minutes to complete. All sessions will be recorded for moderation purposes.
Students may use hand-written study notes, the textbook and/or printed lecture slides to assist with developing a response. Students will not be permitted to use or engage with any electronic device for the duration of the oral assessment.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Students will be able to select a timeslot during week 12 that best suits them via Moodle.
Feedback will be uploaded to Moodle within 2 weeks of the oral examination.
Students will be graded according to a marking guide for each question.
Responses will be assessed according to factual accuracy and relevance for their responses to the question.
No submission method provided.
- Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions
- Discuss the principles and procedures of various cardiovascular and respiratory measurements according to best practice guidelines
- Justify the implementation of a particular cardiovascular or respiratory measurement
- Interpret the results of cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Review the pharmacological implications associated with cardiovascular and respiratory measurements
- Discuss the physiological exercise responses in cardiovascular and respiratory measurement.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
