Overview
This unit provides you with basic paramedic practice skills and knowledge to start the formulation of a clinical diagnosis and basic treatment plans for patients. You will learn scene assessment, patient assessment, diagnostic evaluations, history taking and treatment integration in cardiac life support. The unit also reviews the concepts of self care, ethics, cultural sensitivities as well as infection control and safety in practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2024
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 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
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 Moodle Unit Evaluations
Students enjoyed the exemplar video that demonstrated systematic approach.
The video will remain and additional exemplar videos will be created to help with contextualising the practical components of this unit.
- Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
- Implement a safe foundational paramedic decision-making framework, incorporating basic clinical assessments and skills used in paramedic practice
- Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
- Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.
It is a requirement of the Paramedicine Board of Australia that units align with the AHPRA professional capabilities for registered paramedics. These are broken down into five (5) domains. Below aligns the proposed learning outcomes with these domains. In addition, the learning outcomes have also been aligned with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
Professional Capabilities for a registered Paramedic
The Paramedicine Board of Australia is responsible for assessing, consulting on and setting the standards for paramedics practicing in Australia. These standards and relevant domains are articulated in the Professional capabilities for registered paramedics document. The learning outcomes of the unit are matched to the relevant capabilities
| Standard/Attribute/Criteria | Learning Outcome |
| Domain 1: The professional and ethical practitioner 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.4.1, 1.4.2 | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Domain 2: The communicator and collaborator 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7, 2.1.8, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.6 | LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Domain 3: The evidence-based practitioner 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4 | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Domain 4: The safety and risk management practitioner 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.6.1, 4.6.5 | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Domain 5: The paramedicine practitioner 5.1.4 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, 5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.3.1, 5.3.3, 5.3.4, 5.3.5, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.6, 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.3, 5.6.4 | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Standards developed in this unit are:
| Standard | Learning Outcomes |
| Clinical Governance | LO1, LO2, LO4 |
| Partnering with Consumers | LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Preventing and Controlling Infections | LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Comprehensive Care | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Communicating for Safety | LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration | LO2, LO3 |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - On-campus Activity - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine
- Edition: 5th (2019)
- Authors: Peter Cameron
- Elsevier
- ISBN: 9780702076244
- Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
e.moore@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Prehospital Medicine Overview- professional requirements, medical terminology
Medical Terminology
Primary Survey
Systematic Approach - concept overview
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine
Introduction pg: xxiii-xxiv
29.1 Emergency and Medical Systems pg:887-888 (stop at intubation)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Neurological Assessment
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 8 Neurology emergencies
8.4 Altered conscious state pg: 36
8.6 Syncope and vertigo pg: 379
8.7 Weakness pg:383
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Respiratory Assessment
Airway Skills/Procedures
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 2 Critical Care
2.1 Airway and ventilation management pg: 12 (stop at advanced airway management)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Cardiovascular Assessment
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 2 Critical Care
2.3 Haemodynamic monitoring pg: 12 (Stop at other non-invasive monitoring methods for cardiac output)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
ECG Interpretation and Fundamentals
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 5 Cardiovascular Emergencies
5.4 Arrhythmias pg. 209 -210 (Stop at sick sinus syndrome)
5.4 Arrhythmias pg. 215 -218 (Start at Narrow complex tachycardias and also read Atrial flutter and Atrial fibrillation)
Events and Submissions/Topic
First Online Quiz:
Opens Saturday 06 Apr. 2024 9am AEST
Closes Monday 15 Apr. 2024 9am AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
History taking
Clinical handover
Head to toe examination
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
CPR & Defibrillation
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 1 Resuscitation
1.1 Basic life support pg: 1
1.2 Advanced life support (Stop at advanced airway management)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical Assessment (OSCE) Due: Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024) 8:30 am AEST
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Infection Control
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 29 Emergency and Medical Systems
29.9 Public health and emergency medicine pg: 920 (stop at the health of indigenous people and cultural safety)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
Ethical Considerations
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 28 Emergency Medicine and the Law
28.3 Consent and Competence- the Australian, NZ and UK perspectives
28.4 Privacy and Confidentiality
28.5 Ethics in Emergency Medicine
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
Cultural Sensitivities
Chapter
Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine Section 29 Emergency and Medical Systems
29.9 Public health and emergency medicine pg: 921 (Begin at the health of indigenous people and cultural safety)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
Self Care and Manual Handling:
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
Self Directed Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Second Online Quiz:
Opens Saturday 25 May. 2024 9am AEST
Closes Monday 03 Jun. 2024 9am AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
You will be required to complete two (2) online quizzes. The quizzes will open for ten (10) days, and each quiz will have a specific time limit imposed.
The quizzes will be made up of questions exploring content based on previous weeks content (including lecture materials, online modules, links, and required reading). Quizzes are accumulative and the content will aggregate across the term.
Quiz 1 Online (Due Monday 15/04/2024 9am)
- This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from week 1 to week 5.
Quiz 2 Online (Due Monday 03/06/2024 9am)
- This is to review and assess the content that was delivered from week 6 to week 12.
2
Other
Quiz 1 due Monday (15/04/2024 0900 AEST) and Quiz 2 due Monday (03/06/2024 0900 AEST).
Results from the quiz will be made available once the quiz is closed and not after the attempt.
Please access the Online Quizzes in the Assessment Block on the Moodle page for PMSC11002.
PLEASE NOTE: The marks for online quizzes 1 and 2 will be combined – to pass you must achieve 50% of the overall marks available on offer for this assessment item. These quizzes MUST be submitted by the times indicated in the assessment tasks. This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed. In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the tasks after the specified dates, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five per cent per day. You will only receive 1 attempt at the quiz.
You need to pass this assessment item to pass the unit
- Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
- Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.
2 Portfolio
You will be required to complete a workbook exploring the knowledge gained throughout this unit. You will be required to work through the tasks set out in the workbook and complete your answers in a separate document. These tasks support your continued professional development through structured self-directed learning. The workbook will be provided to you via the Moodle page along with an assessment video. This task will involve a mixture of short answer responses, research, critical reviews and mini-essays.
Please review the workbook thoroughly before commencing. You must complete all parts of the workbooks according to the instructions provided, ensuring that all work is referenced as per instructions in the workbook.
Week 11 Monday (20 May 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Monday (10 June 2024)
Workbooks will be returned by the end of Monday 10th June
You will be required to demonstrate the theoretical knowledge taught to you throughout this unit. This will be conducted through varying tasks throughout the workbook. The workbook will have points awarded to each task with the accumulation of these points being the final result. The workbook and marking guide will be provided on the unit Moodle page. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:
- Successful completion of each task
- Well articulated, researched and referenced work provided throughout the workbook.
You need to pass this assessment item to pass the unit
- Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
- Articulate the principles of safe, ethical and professional practice with reference to legislative and regulatory requirements.
3 On-campus Activity
Preamble
Theoretical knowledge and the practical application of this knowledge is vital when performing the role of paramedic. In this assessment, you will need to articulate your theoretical knowledge gained within this unit as well as apply the knowledge to successfully undertake a variety of Case Management Exercises (CMEs) to a novice level.
To attain a passing grade, you will need to complete the tasks below. All of these will be conducted at a residential school or laboratory session, using simulated environments and patients.
Task Description
You will need to complete four (4) CME stations, each designed to assess your knowledge and practical skills acquired during this unit.
- Station one (1) will involve a 10min general knowledge written test consisting of multiple choice and short answer responses.
- Station two (2) will involve the teaching and demonstration of a chosen skill taught to you in this unit. A more detailed description of this task can be found on the units Moodle page.
- Station three (3) will be in the format of a 20min structured clinical scenario looking at the following areas:
- Patient assessment
- History taking
- Management
- Professionalism
- Safety
- Station four (4) will require you to reflect on your performance in station three (3). This reflection will be conducted online, through the units Moodle page.
Grades for this assessment task will be cumulative with each CME station having a separate weighting. Station one (1) and two (2) will be worth 10% EACH towards the total percentage. Station three (3) will be worth 15% and station four (4) will be worth 5%, giving a overall total of 40%.
Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024) 8:30 am AEST
This assessment will be conducted during residential schools for external students and during the week seven scheduled session for on-campus students
Results from this assessment will be made available by no later than three weeks after the completion of all the residential schools
Theoretical knowledge and the practical application of this knowledge is vital when performing the role of paramedic. In this assessment, you will need to articulate your theoretical knowledge gained within this unit as well as apply the knowledge to successfully undertake a variety of Case Management Exercises (CMEs) at a novice level. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:
- Successful completion of each component of the assessment
- Safe and competent demonstration of each component in a timely manner
You need to attempt and pass this assessment item to pass the unit
- Explain how occupational safety, self-awareness, and self-care influence an individual's well-being and paramedic practice
- Implement a safe foundational paramedic decision-making framework, incorporating basic clinical assessments and skills used in paramedic practice
- Assess and manage a patient being mindful of cultural sensitivities and ethics
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?
