Overview
This unit will introduce you to advanced clinical assessment, combining the skills of clinical history taking with those for physical examination, whilst incorporating knowledge of cultural and linguistically diverse populations. You will synthesise clinical information while integrating underpinning knowledge of common pathologies and pathophysiology in the critical care context. You will be able to formulate an appropriate clinical management plan to treat the critically ill or injured and employ reflective practice principles to effectively revise ongoing management plans as required. You will also critically reflect upon the leadership skills required at a critical care level.
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 - 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 6-credit Postgraduate 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 Informal Feedback
Students who participated in the one-on-one Zoom sessions found them extremely beneficial for developing the critical thinking skills required.
Continue to encourage students to participate in one on one online sessions
Feedback from Formal feedback
Narrative style assessment was consider a poor assessment task
Nil change is required as per the isolated feedback and narrative writing is a recommended style to express critical thinking and reflective practice.
- Undertake a comprehensive clinical assessment, including history taking and physical examination whilst incorporating knowledge of culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Synthesise clinical information while integrating underpinning knowledge of common pathologies and pathophysiology in the critical care context
- Formulate an appropriate clinical management plan based on clinical assessment findings, underpinning knowledge and evidence based medicine
- Engage reflective practice principles to revise ongoing management of the critical care patient
- Critically reflect upon leadership skills at a critical care level within a clinical team environment.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | |||||
2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
3 - Portfolio - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Knowledge | |||||
2 - Communication | |||||
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
4 - Research | |||||
5 - Self-management | |||||
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
7 - Leadership | |||||
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||
3 - Portfolio - 40% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.p.gleeson@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Clinical Decision Making, Neuro and Mental Heath
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Clinical Decision Making, Neuro and Mental Heath
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Respiratory Emergencies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Respiratory Emergencies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cardiovascular Emergencies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cardiovascular Emergencies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Acid-base balance and Sepsis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Endocrinology and the GIT
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1-Presentation due by 0900 Monday
PRESENTATION Due: Week 8 Monday (5 May 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Geriatrics, Obstetrics and Neonatology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2-Online Quiz opens 0900 Friday
Module/Topic
Paediatrics
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2-Online Quiz due by 0900 Friday
Online Quiz Due: Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Paediatrics
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Multiculturalism and Underserved populations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3-Portfolio due 0900 Monday
PORTFOLIO Due: Week 12 Monday (2 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
In this assessment, you will complete one (1) online quiz. The quiz will consist of multiple-choice questions exploring content included in the unit (including lecture materials, online modules, links, & required readings).
Content for the quiz is based on previous weeks’ topics (Week 1 - Week 9). It will test your ability to articulate what is required in undertaking a comprehensive clinical assessment, including history taking and physical examination and synthesising clinical information while integrating underpinning knowledge of common pathologies and pathophysiology in the critical care context.
1
Other
Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025)
The quiz is worth 20%. Marks are awarded if the multiple-choice question is answered correctly and the total marks are tallied after the quiz has closed.
The quiz is open book, so the use of Clinical Practice Guidelines, book chapters, and journal articles, etc. are allowed.
The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for the quiz is not permitted.
There will be a specific time limit imposed to complete the quiz.
The Quiz opens one week prior the due date (week 9 Friday 0900).
In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after the due date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five per cent per day.
Non-attempts will score a zero mark. The quiz may not be reattempted.
Please refer to the Generative AI Permission document available on your Moodle site for guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable uses of Generative AI in this unit.
- Undertake a comprehensive clinical assessment, including history taking and physical examination whilst incorporating knowledge of culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Synthesise clinical information while integrating underpinning knowledge of common pathologies and pathophysiology in the critical care context
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
This assessment will evaluate your ability to create an appropriate clinical management plan based on clinical assessment findings, foundational knowledge, and evidence-based medicine within a critical care context. You will be expected to engage in reflective practice to revise ongoing management of critical care patients, while also reflecting on the leadership skills required at a critical care level within a clinical team environment.
In this assessment, you will need to create a case presentation of a patient who was assessed and treated during your experience as a clinician and required or received prehospital management at a critical care level. Your presentation must include the following information:
· A brief introduction to the case.
· The clinical assessment findings of the case.
· The Clinical Management Plan (CMP) that was implemented.
· Reflection on the management provided to this patient.
· Discussion on the patient assessment requirements and revisions to the CMP at a critical care level, including ongoing management justified by evidence-based medicine.
· Reflection on the leadership traits demonstrated in the management of this patient, including the leadership skills required to care for patients at a critical care level.
Please refer to the Generative AI Permission document available on your Moodle site for guidelines on the acceptable and unacceptable use of generative AI in this unit.
Week 8 Monday (5 May 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Monday (19 May 2025)
The presentation will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page. The following criteria are key points to be included:
- The preferred presentation program is PowerPoint.
- Recorded narration is required and you can use the Notes section to detail your thinking.
- The presentation must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description.
- Avoid superficial points or comments.
As this is a presentation, you should include images where appropriate. Images must be referenced as well as acknowledging other authors work in line with standard academic practices.
The presentation has no specified length regarding the number of slides used, but the recorded presentation should be approximately fifteen (15) minutes.
In-text referencing must be included on each slide as required. This information can be added to the Notes section of the slide
A reference list must be included at the end.
- Formulate an appropriate clinical management plan based on clinical assessment findings, underpinning knowledge and evidence based medicine
- Engage reflective practice principles to revise ongoing management of the critical care patient
- Critically reflect upon leadership skills at a critical care level within a clinical team environment.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Portfolio
In this assessment, you will need to complete a clinical portfolio of a minimum of three (3) patients who were assessed and treated during your recent experience as a clinician. The format of your portfolio can be self-determined; however, it must include the following for each case:
· The patient’s clinical presentation, history, assessment, and clinical findings
· Deliberation on the possible differential diagnoses for the patient.
· Examination of the connection between the patient’s clinical presentation and assessment findings with the pathophysiology of the most likely definitive diagnosis.
· Reflection on the Clinical Management Plan used in the treatment of this patient.
· Discussion and reflection on what further assessment and management could have been undertaken at a critical care level and the leadership skills that would have been required at a critical care level in the treatment of this patient.
All medical practices discussed must be justified with presented evidence (This does not include your service’s Drug Therapy Protocols and Clinical Practice Manuals, though they should still be included if applicable.
Please refer to the Generative AI Permission document available on your Moodle site for guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable uses of Generative AI in this unit.
Week 12 Monday (2 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Monday (16 June 2025)
The portfolio will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page. The following criteria are key points to be included:
• The portfolio should be presented in an essay format.
• The portfolio must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description.
• Avoid superficial points or comments and be clear and concise.
• As this is a written assessment, you must include in-text referencing and a reference list.
There is a minimum word count of 1500 words per case (minimum of 4500 words in total) and a maximum of 2000 words per case (a maximum of 6000 words in total).
- Undertake a comprehensive clinical assessment, including history taking and physical examination whilst incorporating knowledge of culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Synthesise clinical information while integrating underpinning knowledge of common pathologies and pathophysiology in the critical care context
- Formulate an appropriate clinical management plan based on clinical assessment findings, underpinning knowledge and evidence based medicine
- Engage reflective practice principles to revise ongoing management of the critical care patient
- Critically reflect upon leadership skills at a critical care level within a clinical team environment.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
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?
