CQUniversity Unit Profile
MEDI14001 Transition to Independent Practice
Transition to Independent Practice
All details in this unit profile for MEDI14001 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In your final year of study, you are transitioning from student to independent practitioner. Nearing completion of your tertiary studies to begin a career in your selected profession is a huge learning milestone. This transition phase of your learning journey is also a starting point for another learning journey, that is your continuing development as a professional. To support your transition, you will critically reflect on your progress in developing the knowledge, skills and judgement to meet the national registering body’s Professional Capabilities and on your clinical practice in adhering to the Shared Code of Conduct of registered health professionals. You will apply clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice and risk management to the analysis and discussion of clinical incidents and near misses. You will further develop your ability to advance your profession through peer support and education.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-Requisites: MEDI13005 Medical Imaging Clinical Course 3 ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Science MEDI13008 Imaging Pathways in the Diagnostic Process

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 3 - 2025

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Presentation
Weighting: 30%
2. Case Study
Weighting: 30%
3. Portfolio
Weighting: 40%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 SUTE comments

Feedback

Some students felt that feedback on individual assessment tasks was not provided in a manner that supported their development

Recommendation

Investigate timing and scope of assessment tasks to enable timely feedback to students.

Feedback from Coordinator reflection

Feedback

The requirement to use professional judgement and make decisions related to care and professional requirements appeared to be challenging for students.

Recommendation

Investigate the availability of more resources to support the development of confidence in independent practice and decision-making.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply evidence-based practice to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making.
  2. Integrate concepts and processes of facility accreditation, quality improvement and risk management to analyse and discuss clinical incidents and near misses relative to clinical governance standards such as National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards.
  3. Critically reflect on your experiences and associated evidence which demonstrate the continued development of your professional capabilities and adherence to the Professional Body's Code of Conduct and requirements for practice.
  4. Undertake continuing professional development, supporting other medical radiation practitioners and your professional peers through presentation at a simulated conference and participation in peer assessment.
  5. Communicate professionally in written and presentation tasks.

The unit links to the following Professional Capabilities for Medical Radiation Practitioners as detailed by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (effective March 2020):

Domain 1: Medical radiation practitioner:

  • 2. Use clinical information management systems appropriately (Part a: Understand and comply with legislative responsibilities about data privacy, the ownership, storage, retention and destruction of patient/client records and other practice documentation, Part d: Identify and respond appropriately when clinical information is incorrectly associated with the identity of a patient/client and/or examination/treatment, Part f: Respond appropriately to data errors and/or system failures & Part g: Ensure clinical information is made available to the appropriate persons involved in the care of the patient)
  • 7. If the practitioner identifies any urgent or unexpected findings, take appropriate and timely action to ensure the immediate management of the patient/client.

Domain 2: Professional and ethical practitioner:

  • 1. Practice in an ethical and professional manner, consistent with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements (Part h: Exercise appropriate levels of autonomy and professional judgement in a variety of medical radiation practice settings)
  • 3. Take responsibility and accountability for professional decisions (Part a: Make appropriate professional decisions about the care of patients, Part b: Recognise and respond appropriately to unsafe or unprofessional practice & Part c: Integrate organisational policies and guidelines with professional standards and apply to practice)
  • 5. Seek opportunities to progress the profession (Part a: Provide developmental support to other medical radiation practitioners and other members of the healthcare team)

Domain 4: Evidence-informed practitioner:

  • 1. Resolve challenges through application of critical thinking and reflective practice (Part a: Identify the challenge or question and the information that is needed to respond, Part b: Find, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available research evidence to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making & Part d: Recognise opportunities to contribute to the development of new knowledge through research and enquiry)
  • 2. Identify ongoing professional learning needs and opportunities (Part a: Comply with legal and professional responsibilities to complete CPD, Part b: Critically reflect on own strengths and limitations to identify learning needed to improve and adapt professional practice & Part d: Plan and implement steps to address professional learning and development needs)

Domain 5: Radiation safety and risk manager:

  • 1. Perform and provide safe radiation practice (Part f: Identify radiation risks and implement effective and appropriate risk management systems and procedures & Part g: Recognise and report on near misses and their consequences, in addition to adverse events and relevant contributing factors)
  • 2. Protect and enhance patient/client safety (Part b: Review, communicate, record and manage patient/client information accurately, consistent with protocols, procedures and legislative requirements for maintaining patient/client records & Part e: Apply relevant quality frameworks to practice)
  • 4. Maintain safety of the workplace and associated environments (Part a: Identify safety hazards in the workplace and respond to incidents [including radiation and radioactivity incidents] in a timely manner, in accordance with protocols and procedures, Part b: Report on all incidents [including radiation and radioactivity incidents] as needed & Part g: Provide information on radiation -related hazards and control measures to others in the workplace).

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Case Study - 30%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Portfolio - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
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 and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 20 October 2025
Academic Integrity Statement

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?