Overview
In this graduate clinical unit, you will build on knowledge and attitudes using best available evidence developed during your studies to competently perform diagnostic scans in areas appropriate for attainment of graduate competency to the 'Level of Competent Sonographer', as defined by the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers adopted by the Australasian Sonographers Association and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Register. You will evaluate findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and initiate further investigation when appropriate. You will demonstrate reflective practice to expand your core knowledge and experience. You will also behave professionally using interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
PrerequisiteMEDS13006 Medical Sonography Clinical Course 2 Medical Sonography Clinical Course 2 must have been successfully completed within the previous twelve months. Should this time limit have elapsed the student must successfully complete one (or more) technical skill, professional behaviour and diagnostic knowledge-based assessment (s) after a period of technical skill / knowledge revision, as determined by the discipline lead or designate.
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 1 - 2027
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).
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
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- 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 Unit evaluation
Students required more clarity around new assessment documentation (Excel Clinical Logbook) and Group Reflective Presentation requirements.
Review and refine all assessment instructions and supporting resources before the next offering. Provide clearer written guidance and exemplars of previous student work. Ensure only the current Clinical Logbook and Verify Hours documentation is available to students and remove superseded templates.
Feedback from Self-reflection/Staff feedback
Although the "Useful Feedback" score improved, students have limited opportunities to discuss feedback received from clinical supervisors because the Unit Coordinator does not directly observe students in the clinical environment.
Introduce structured feedback coaching or "feedback unpacking" sessions following placement assessments to assist students in interpreting supervisor feedback, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and developing action plans to apply feedback during subsequent clinical placements.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
The introduction of new placement administration requirements, that is, submitting absence forms through SONIA in addition to notifying the placement site and Unit Coordinator, may have caused some uncertainty regarding the required steps when students were absent from placement.
Provide clear guidance at the start of the unit on how to report placement absences through SONIA. Develop a step-by-step student guide, including screenshots where possible, to explain the absence submission process.