CQUniversity Unit Profile

PMSC29001 - Transition to Practice

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All details in this unit profile for PMSC29001 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

This unit will consolidate relevant knowledge and values acquired through your own clinical practice and studies in this course, assisting you to transition to practice as a clinician in your new scope of practice. You will explore key concepts and principles in areas such as applying ethical principles, working in a multidisciplinary team, leadership and management. You will also learn the importance of ongoing professional development relevant to your own continuous improvement as well as the care you provide as a clinician.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate

Unit Level: Level 9

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 8

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

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

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 40%

3. Professional Practice Plans (learning plans)

Weighting: 30%

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.

CQUniversity Policies

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.

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 Formal

Feedback

The ethical component was enjoyable but some links need to be updated

Recommendation

Review the links of ethical content

Feedback from Formal

Feedback

Narrative style assessment was not considered appropriate for a Masters level.

Recommendation

Add an explanation of the academic significance to the video guide of the assessment.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Critically reflect upon ethical principles relevant to your applied scope of practice
Formulate strategies for integration and functionality within a multidisciplinary team
Appraise leadership and managerial skills relevant to your scope of practice
Design a plan for ongoing professional development.

n/a

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 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Professional Practice Plans (learning plans) - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - First Nations Knowledges
9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:

CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

Raymond Gleeson Unit Coordinator
r.p.gleeson@cqu.edu.au

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1 due by Friday 11:45 PM week 5

Written Assessment 1 Due: Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week

Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Written Assessment 1

Task Description

This task requires you to discuss two (2) situations where an ethical challenge has presented itself during your current practice. Please do not include any information that may identify any participants in your described situations.

For each situation, please start with an introduction, including the background context such as the type of workplace where the incident occurred, the people involved, and what the issues or conflicts were. Following this, explore the ethical principles you felt were involved in the situation and discuss the following in relation to each situation:

· Whether the issues were resolved? If so, how? If not, what was the result?

· How did you feel about being involved in or witnessing the situation?

· How will your experience of this ethical challenge affect your future practice?

· Your reflections on your current knowledge of ethics as part of your practice.

· If you feel any self-development is required, outline your plan.

You should support your discussion of each situation with reference to the literature. Any work that is not your own must be referenced accordingly.

Please discuss each situation separately. Your work should be presented in a narrative essay format. The use of headings to frame your work is acceptable.

If you do not have any situations you were involved in, please refer to the sample case studies provided on Moodle and/or contact the unit coordinator for further guidance.

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

Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (11 Apr 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025)

Weighting

30%

Assessment Criteria

The expected word count for this written assessment is 1500 words. The written assessment will be assessed in accordance with the rubric provided on the unit Moodle page.

Criteria include:

Overall presentation

· Organisation of your written assessment.

· Writing mechanics.

· Word count.

· In-text referencing.

· Reference list.

Content for each situation

· Introduction to the situation.

· Ethical principles articulated.

· Discussion of issue resolution, thoughts and feelings.

· Discussion of future clinical practice.

· Recommendations regarding current knowledge and self-development.

Please upload your document/s as a Word file (.doc or .docx).

This written assessment is worth 30% of the marks for this unit.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Critically reflect upon ethical principles relevant to your applied scope of practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Written Assessment 2

Task Description

In this written assessment, you are expected to write an essay addressing two (2) separate sections, as outlined below:

Section 1. Integration into a multidisciplinary team

Healthcare professionals have an ever-increasing responsibility to act as members of multidisciplinary teams, ensuring good communication and teamwork form the foundation of quality patient care. In this section, research and document the following:

· What are important qualities to demonstrate, and what skills are required to engage effectively as a multidisciplinary team member?

· Why is the integration of healthcare professionals important to quality patient care?

· What are the barriers to effective team membership or engagement?

· How might these barriers be overcome (in the interests of patient safety and advocacy)?

Please integrate your response to this section with support from the literature. Any work that is not your own must be referenced accordingly.

Section 2. Leadership and Management

In this section, reflect on situations you have experienced during your own practice and/or work-integrated learning placements, and research and document:

· What qualities or traits do you consider essential for a leader or manager?

· As a leader or manager, the communication skills and/or strategies necessary to effectively engage with colleagues, including in culturally diverse contexts.

· Why does a leader or manager need to be visible and accessible?

· What makes a good mentor, and what are your experiences with mentoring (either as a mentor or mentee)?

· How do you currently offer feedback (positive and negative), and any areas you have identified for improving your approach?

· How would you create an inclusive and culturally safe work environment as a leader?

· What are some effective strategies to assist with conflict management?

Please integrate your response to this section with support from the literature. Any work that is not your own must be referenced accordingly.

Your work should be presented in a narrative essay format. The use of headings to frame your work is acceptable.

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

Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (9 May 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025)

Weighting

40%

Assessment Criteria

The expected word count for this written assessment is 2500 words. The written assessment will be assessed in accordance with the rubric provided on the unit Moodle page.

Criteria include:

Overall presentation

· Organisation of your written assessment.

· Writing mechanics.

· Word count.

· In-text referencing.

· Reference list.

Content on each of the sections as outlined

· Integration into a multidisciplinary team.

· Leadership & management.

Please upload your document/s as a Word file (.doc or .docx).

This portfolio is worth 40% of the marks for this unit.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Formulate strategies for integration and functionality within a multidisciplinary team
Appraise leadership and managerial skills relevant to your scope of practice

3 Professional Practice Plans (learning plans)

Assessment Title

Professional practice development plan

Task Description

This assessment task requires you to engage in a process of critical self-reflection to assess your journey thus far and to design your continuing professional practice development plan. There are four (4) sections required in your plan outlined below. As you develop your plan, there will be various points where you will turn to the literature. Please ensure you reference any work that is not your own appropriately. Your plan must be functional and consolidate your ideas to ensure a smooth progressive transition to a new scope of practice.

Please address the following in your professional practice development plan:

1. Your professional development to date

Critically reflect upon and discuss your development as a professional to the decision point of enrolling in this course (your master's degree).

· What is your background and context?

· What professional development had you undertaken prior to enrolling in this course?

· What was your motivation for enrolling in this course?

· What did you hope to gain from this course?

2. Your future

Next, contemplate your future career. In doing so, please discuss the following:

· Where do you plan to apply your new knowledge and qualifications upon completing this course?

· Do opportunities in this field exist within your current service or organisation?

· What is the prevalence of opportunities for your skills, experience, and knowledge portfolio beyond your current employment or outside your discipline area?

· Are there further studies or professional development tasks you would like or need to undertake to set yourself up for success in the future?

3. SMART goals

Having considered where you have been professionally and where you would like to take your career in the future, formulate at least three (3) goals utilising the SMART framework. Each goal must address each component of the SMART framework, being that your goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. You may represent this information in a table for each goal developed. Please ensure you focus on goals relevant to your own professional development.

4. Summary

Review what you have written in your development plan and summarise your planned direction. Finally, articulate the first step you will take after completing your course.

As required, please support your writing with reference to the literature. Any work that is not your own must be referenced accordingly. Your work should be presented in a narrative essay format. The use of headings to frame your work is acceptable.

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

Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025)

Weighting

30%

Assessment Criteria

The expected word count for your professional practice development plan is 2500 words. Your plan will be assessed in accordance with the rubric provided on the unit Moodle page.

Criteria include:

Overall presentation

· Organisation of your development plan.

· Writing mechanics.

· Word count.

· In-text referencing.

· Reference list.

Content

· Discussion of your professional development to date.

· Discussion of your future.

· SMART goals listed and accurately address your professional development.

· Summary of planned direction.

· First step articulated.

Please upload your document/s as a Word file (.doc or .docx).

This development plan is worth 30% of the marks for this unit.

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

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Design a plan for ongoing professional development.

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.