CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC12001 Applied Paramedic Practice
Applied Paramedic Practice
All details in this unit profile for PMSC12001 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 this unit, you will develop essential knowledge and clinical skills required to recognise, diagnose and manage patients experiencing acute and life-threatening medical conditions. This unit integrates pathophysiology, patient assessment, and clinical history-taking to support the formulation of provisional diagnoses and the implementation of treatment plans. An emphasis is placed on procedural competence, including the indications, contraindications of core paramedic interventions used to manage neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and gastrointestinal presentations. These skills are taught and reinforced through hands-on practice on campus, where you will implement these newly acquired skills into simulated patient scenarios of a broad range of clinical presentations guided by National Safety and Quality Health Services (NSQHS) standards and Quality Use of Medicines framework. Case-based learning and simulations will assist you in contextualising your clinical skills and decision-making to ensure you meet the Paramedic Board of Australia’s registration requirements.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites: PMSC11002 Foundations of Paramedicine A BMSC11010 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 or BMSC11001 Human Body Systems 1    

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 - 2026

Mixed Mode
Rockhampton
Townsville

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. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 50%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
3. Practical Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail

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 Verbal feedback within virtual tutorials.

Feedback

Students expressed high satisfaction with the quality of learning material and the learning and teaching approach.

Recommendation

The learning material will continue to use the same learning and teaching approach within future offerings of this unit.

Feedback from Verbal feedback within virtual tutorials.

Feedback

Some of the learning material is outdated, with referenced guidelines no longer available.

Recommendation

This unit will be redesigned for the 2026 offering, with new learning material reflective of the curriculum enhancements.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Articulate the theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of advanced care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient relevant to paramedic practice
  2. Identify and interpret the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital practice
  3. Employ critical thinking and clinical reasoning for using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital skills and interventions
  4. Apply and explain the application of paramedic advanced care prehospital interventions, guided by standards such as National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards and Quality Use of Medicines framework, in a safe, ethical and professional manner.

The Paramedicine Board of Australia requires that units align with the Professional capabilities for registered paramedics, which consist of five (5) domains. The below section aligns the proposed learning outcomes with these domains. In addition, the learning outcomes have been aligned with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Ambulance Health Service Standards. 
 
Professional capabilities for a registered paramedic
 
Standard/Attribute/Criteria Learning Outcomes
Domain 1: The professional and ethical practitioner 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.9, 1.1.10, 1.1.11, 1.2.2, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.3.2, 1.3.3 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 2: The communicator and collaborator 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.2.4, 2.2.5 LO1, LO2, LO3 LO4
Domain 3: The evidence-based practitioner 3.1.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.3.3 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 4: The safety and risk management practitioner 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.2.4 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Domain 5: The paramedic practitioner 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, 5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.3.1, 5.3.3, 5.3.4, 5.3.6, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.3, 5.6.4, LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 

National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards

Standard Learning Outcomes
Clinical Governance: 1.01b, 1.27a, 1.27b  LO3
Partnering with Consumers: 2.01a, 2.04, 2.05a, 2.05b, 2.06, 2.10a, 2.10b, 2.10c, 2.10d LO2, LO4
Preventing and Controlling Infections:  3.01a, 3.01b, 3.02b, 3.06, 3.07b, 3.10a, 3.11a, 3.12  LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Medication Safety: 4.03a, 4.03b, 4.03c, 4.11, 4.15a LO2, LO4
Comprehensive Care: 5.03, 5.04a, 5.04b, 5.04c, 5.04d, 5.06, 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.10c, 5.11, 5.14a 5.14b, 5.14c, 5.14d, 5.21, 5.22, 5.24a, 5.24b, 5.24c, 5.25 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Communicating for Safety: 6.03, 6.04 LO2, LO4
Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration: 8.03, 8.06, 8.10, 8.13 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

 

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
1 - Practical Assessment - 0%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%

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 and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine

Edition: 5th (2020)
Authors: Cameron, P., Little, M., Mitra, B. & Connor, D.
Elsevier
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780702076244

Additional Textbook Information

Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine is the prescribed textbook used throughout the course. The 4th version is accessible online to read and download via the eReading list on Moodle. 

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

No referencing style set.

Teaching Contacts
Kate Verney Unit Coordinator
k.verney@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Foundational professional practice

  • Clinical frameworks and decision-making
  • Consent, capacity and vulnerable 
  • Communication for paramedicine  
  • Quality use of medicines
  • Safety of self and others 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Clinical Skills 

  • Airway and ventilation
  • Drug routes of administration, preparation and safety 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Neurological: 

  • Alert level of consciousness
  • Syncope
  • Stroke
  • Seizure
  • Headache

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Respiratory

  • Dyspnoea
  • Hyperventilation
  • Asthma
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026

Module/Topic

Cardiovascular 

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome
  • Chest pain differential diagnosis
  • Perfusion status 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026

Module/Topic

Infection and Immune: 

  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Urticaria
  • Anaphylaxis

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026

Module/Topic

VACATION WEEK

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online quiz: Opens Friday 24th April 2026, 9:00am AEST. 

Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026

Module/Topic

Endocrine:

  • Diabetes
  • Hypoglycaemia 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Due: Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2026

Module/Topic

Gastrointestinal 

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation 

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2026

Module/Topic

Pain, injuries and falls

  • Pain management
  • Falls
  • Musculoskeletal trauma
  • Basic haemorrhage control

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Thursday 14th May: On campus student assessment day. Written assessment and practical assessment. 

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2026

Module/Topic

Safe patient movements 

  • Manual handling
  • Equipment
  • Patient safety

Chapter

See eReading list and Moodle page. 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2026

Module/Topic

Clinical skills integration and case-based learning. 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026

Module/Topic

Introduction to diverse patients:

  • Geriatrics
  • Paediatrics 
  • Cultural diversity 

 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Residential school: Wednesday 3rd June- Sunday 7th June

 

Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Residential school: Monday 8th June- Friday 12th June

Vacation/Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

The online quiz is designed to assess your foundational knowledge of anatomy and pathophysiology of disease processes, patient assessment, and formation of provisional diagnosis. It will evaluate your ability to identify and interpret clinical considerations, including indications, contraindications and precautions of skills and pharmacology. The application of critical thinking and clinical reasoning will be assessed, to determine the appropriate use of paramedic skills. The quiz will include questions covering content from weeks one to six, encompassing lecture materials, online modules, links, and required readings. The questions will be in the form of multiple-choice, diagrams, and short answers to assess the breadth and depth of knowledge. 


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (15 May 2026)

Results will be released by Friday 15th May.


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

  • The quiz will open on Friday 24th April 09:00 am AEST and close Friday 1st May 09:00 am AEST.
  • Time allocation of 60 minutes to complete the quiz.
  • There will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer and diagrams. 
  • You will only be given one attempt.
  • When the due date expires, any open attempts are automatically submitted; you must therefore start the quiz before that deadline or you will not receive your full time period. 
  • This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed.
  • In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.
  • If you have any technical issues you must notify the unit coordinator immediately.

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment. A quiz that has not been attempted will result in a fail for the unit.  

Level of GenAI use: Level 1- No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of advanced care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient relevant to paramedic practice
  • Identify and interpret the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital practice
  • Employ critical thinking and clinical reasoning for using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital skills and interventions

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Task- In class

Task Description

Clinical case studies are a valuable tool for health professionals to simulate authentic situations and challenge you to demonstrate your knowledge of complex clinical presentations and your ability to apply advanced care skills in a safe, ethical, and evidence-informed manner. 

In this task, you will explore multiple case studies. You will be required to identify the relevant pathophysiology of the condition, detail clinical assessment, demonstrate sound clinical reasoning in formulating a provisional diagnosis and justification of the treatment plan, whilst incorporating safe and ethical practice.  

This written task draws on content from lectures, reading and tutorial activities from weeks 1-11.  It is a 45-minute handwritten task completed under exam conditions.

 

On-campus students: Thursday, 14th May.

Online students: Day 4 of the 5-day residential school. 

 

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment. 

Level of GenAI use: Level 1- No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. 


Assessment Due Date

In class written assessment: On-campus students: Thursday, 14th May. Online students: Day 4 of the 5-day residential school. 


Return Date to Students

Three weeks following the final residential school.


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge taught to you throughout this unit. This assessment will be conducted by case-based learning in a 45-minute in-class test, conducted in exam conditions at the residential school. The marks awarded to each question will accumulate to the final result. The assessment will be based on marking criteria covering the following key points:

  • Articulation of pathophysiology
  • Application of clinical assessments and interpretation
  • Clinical reasoning and provisional diagnosis
  • Formulation of provisional diagnosis
  • Justification of treatment plans  
  • Safe, ethical and patient-centred practice  


Submission
Offline

Submission Instructions
In-class written assessment in exam conditions.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the theoretical underpinnings, including the anatomical and pathophysiological reasons, for the application of advanced care skills and interventions in the management of a critically ill or injured patient relevant to paramedic practice
  • Employ critical thinking and clinical reasoning for using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital skills and interventions

3 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Assessment

Task Description

The safe and competent performance of medical skills and procedures is a fundamental component of paramedic practice. Paramedics must not only understand the theoretical principles underpinning these interventions but also demonstrate their application in a safe, ethical, and professional manner within simulated patient care environments. 

These assessments are designed to evaluate your ability to integrate knowledge, clinical reasoning, and hands-on skills at a novice level, reflecting real-world prehospital care scenarios. 

You will complete: 

1 x 15-minute skills station (will include multiple skills and knowledge questions) 

  • You will be expected to answer knowledge questions, explain the rationale of each skill, and demonstrate its safe and effective execution in a structured setting. 

1 x 20-minute clinical scenario involving a structured simulated patient interaction

  • You will be expected to conduct a thorough patient assessment, formulate a provisional diagnosis, implement timely and appropriate interventions, demonstrate effective communication, and act ethically and professionally.  

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.  

Level of GenAI use: Level 1- No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. 


Assessment Due Date

On-campus students: Thursday 14th May. Online students: Assessments will occur during the final day of residential school.


Return Date to Students

Two weeks following the final residential school.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
50

Assessment Criteria

15-minute skills station assessment (may include multiple skills).  

  • Structured questions on indications, contraindications, precautions, and other key information of each skill. 
  • Demonstrate its safe and effective execution in a structured setting. 

20-minute clinical scenario involving a structured simulated patient interaction.  

  • Conduct a thorough patient assessment, formulate a provisional diagnosis, implement timely and appropriate interventions, demonstrate effective communication, and act ethically and professionally.  

To successfully pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum of 50% on each practical assessment task. If you fail one task, you will be offered the opportunity to reattempt that task. If you fail both the skill station and clinical scenario, you will not be offered a reattempt. 


Submission
Offline

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and interpret the indications, precautions, risks and contraindications of using specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital practice
  • Explain and demonstrate the skills and interventions for specific paramedic interventions involved in advanced care prehospital practice in a safe, ethical and professional manner.

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?