School of Medicine,

Faculty of Health Science

CAA108
Principles of Paramedic Practice 2

Unit Outline

Semester 2, 2013

Unit description

This unit is the second paramedic specific unit and in partnership with CAA107 Principles of Paramedic Practice 1, prepares the student for clinical practice and attendance at their first emergency clinical placement. The student will continue to develop foundational paramedic skills, including: patient assessment, management of common medical presentations and administration of basic medications. This unit provides the introduction to ECGs, and management of patients presenting in cardiac arrest. The concept of vulnerable patients will be introduced including the elderly, indigenous and terminally ill populations. Students will undertake a patient transport placement during this unit. Students will also complete a 2 day mental health first aid training programme.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Clinical Assessment / Patient Management

1. Demonstrate the ability to perform an effective systematic patient assessment and care for routine patient presentations and vulnerable patients. (PPCS: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9)

Clinical Skills & Procedures

2. Demonstrate the standard required for core basic and advanced life support skills for the assessment and management of diverse patient presentations and vulnerable patients. (PPCS: 6; 7; 8; 9)

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the purpose of standard paramedic clinical assessment tools. (PPCS: 8; 9)

Critical Thinking / Decision Making

4. Demonstrate development of clinical problem solving skills and appropriate decision making in the management of diverse patient presentations. (PPCS: 1; 2; 3; 8)

Communication & Collaboration

5. Demonstrate effective communication with peers, university staff and patients in a simulated environment in a professional manner. (PPCS: 1; 4)

Professionalism

6. Demonstrate behaviour which is patient focussed and mimics paramedic professional practice. (PPCS: 1; 2; 3; 4)

Generic graduate attributes

The University has defined a set of graduate attributes that can be expected of all graduates (see Graduate Quality Statement Policy). By undertaking this unit you should make progress in attaining the following attributes:

Knowledge:                  

Through the integration and application of technical skills and the development of a broad paramedic knowledge base

Communication skills:

By the demonstration of proficient oral and written abilities and capabilities

Problem-solving skills:                        

By working effectively with others, conceptualising problems and developing appropriate solutions

Global perspective:                  

By demonstrating an awareness of the local and global perspective of paramedic practice

Social responsibility:

Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical implications of their practice and be dedicated to the access and equity principles involved in paramedic practice

Alterations to the unit as a result of student feedback

Student feedback identified the need for longer learning periods to obtain solid paramedic principles.  This unit was moved to semester 2 and separated from CAA107 to facilitate this.

Pre-requisite

Successful completion of CAA107

Prior knowledge &/or skills

Students are expected to demonstrate:

• Adult literacy skills to the level expected of year 12 students;
• Knowledge and skills consistent with an adult first aid certificate;
• Proficiency in use of computer operating systems and software consistent with advanced secondary school level (Year 12);

Learning expectations and teaching strategies/approaches

Expectations

The University is committed to high standards of professional conduct in all activities, and holds its commitment and responsibilities to its students as being of paramount importance. Likewise, it holds expectations about the responsibilities students have as they pursue their studies within the special environment the University offers.

The University's Code of Conduct for Teaching and Learning states:

1. Students are expected to make themselves aware of all University ordinances, by-laws and policies pertaining to their rights and responsibilities as students and to abide by the rules and regulations in the ordinances and by-laws. The ordinances, by-laws and policies are published in the University's Calendar and the several Handbooks of the University, available for purchase and for perusal in the University libraries.
2. For the units in which they are enrolled, students should make themselves aware of all unit information made available in the appropriate handbook, distributed information, in the Unit Description in the Course & Unit Database, and in the Unit Outline in the first week of the academic timetable and should raise any questions or concerns with the appropriate academic staff member in a timely manner.
3. Students are expected to participate actively and positively in the teaching/learning environment. They must attend classes when and as required, strive to maintain steady progress within the subject or unit framework, comply with workload expectations, and submit required work on time.
4. Honesty, ethical behaviour and professionalism are required from students in all of their dealings with the University. Cheating, plagiarism, allowing another student to copy work for an assignment or an examination, damaging or defacing books or other library materials may be dealt with as an offence which may result in exclusion from the University or cancellation of marks.
5. Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress within the teaching/learning environment and the academic program. They should contact staff for assistance promptly if they have concerns about particular aspects of their learning and/or progress, and should also make use of the counselling and other support services available as the need arises.
6. Students will be invited to participate in the functioning of the University and to provide feedback on the teaching/learning environment. Student participation is important as students represent a key constituency within the University and provide a useful perspective on its operations. Accordingly, when they accept appointment to committees of the University, they should fulfil, to the best of their abilities, the responsibilities attendant on such appointment.
7. Students are expected to act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights and privileges of other members of the University community, both fellow students and staff, and show commitment to the ideals of a university with special reference to excellence in performance and freedom of expression.

Teaching and learning strategies

This unit involves 13 weeks of study, composed weekly of a 2 hour lecture, 3 hour practical session and a number of hours of private study. The unit will be comprehensively supported by on-line resources via the UTAS MyLO facility.

Learning resources required

Requisite texts

Students will be required to have the current editions of:

Mistovich, JJ & Karren, KJ (2010), Prehospital Emergency Care, 9^th edn, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.

Wesley, K (2011), Huszars Basic Dysrhythmias and Acute Coronary Syndromes, 4^th edn, Mosby JEMS, Elsevier, Albany, NY

Gregory. P & Mursell. I (2010) Manual of Clinical Paramedic Procedures Wiley Blackwell, UK

Mental Health First Aid Text

Recommended reading

Students will find all recommended readings in the online units MyLo site and in the study guide.

E- (electronic) resources

Library

The Paramedic Studies subject guide can be found on the UTAS library site, or at: http://utas.libguides.com/paramedics

MyLO

The unit site on MyLo is accessible via: https://mylo.utas.edu.au/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct

Equipment & materials

Students will need to bringthe following items when attending practicals:

1. Student identification tag
2. Stethoscope
3. Watch with second counter
4. Practical Record Booklet
5. Study guide

Computer hardware & software

For MyLO

To access MyLO from your own computer you will need the appropriate software, and hardware to run that software. Please see UConnect at http://uconnect.utas.edu.au/for information about computer software you will need.

Note: Older computers may not have the hardware to run some of the required software applications.  Contact your local IT support person or the Service Desk on 2600 if you experience difficulties.

See MyLO: Information for Students for further information about accessing MyLO.

Details of teaching arrangements

Lectures

Hobart Campus

The two hour lectures will be conducted weekly and will be presented in MS2 158/159 each Monday 0900-1100

Rozelle Campus

The two hour lectures will be conducted weekly on Tuesday commencing 1300 and will be held in the Lecture Theatre in Building 103 (Corner of Glover and Church Street).

Practicals

Hobart Campus

The three hour practicals will be conducted weekly on Thursday in MS2 158 - 164. There will be 4 prac groups

1. The prac groups 1 and 2 will meet each Thursday 0900-1200
2. The prac groups 3 and 4 will meet each Thursday 1300-1600

Rozelle Campus

The three hour practicals will be conducted weekly and will be held in Rooms Alpha, Bravo, Sierra, and Tango.  There will be 4 prac groups.

1. Morning Prac groups will meet each Thursday 0900-1200
2. Afternoon Prac groups will meet each Thursday from 1300 – 1600

During learning sessions, all students are expected to actively and positively participate in the discussions and learning activities.

Clothing

As these sessions are a very practical educational experience you need to ensure your dress allows for freedom of movement, professional attire and conforms to Workplace Health and Safety requirements.

During the practicals you must wear the following.  Failure to comply will mean you will not be able to attend:

1. Closed footwear (eg sneakers, boots) must be worn at all times during the pracs
2. Clothing which will allow you to bend over, crouch and lift in the context of caring for simulated patients. The course polo shirt and trousers must be worn.
3. UTAS requires no food or drink be bought into the laboratories and mobile phones are switched off.
4. Please observe the requirements in the care of equipment policy which is displayed and available on the units MyLO site.

Online activities

The MyLO site contains a number of activities which will assist your learning for this unit. Some of the activities are formative assessment items for this unit and are clearly identified, others have been developed to assist your learning, understanding and to provide feedback on your development.

Video conference activities

For information about video conferencing at UTAS and how to participate effectively, see the Students' guide to Video Conferencing available at: http://www.cis.utas.edu.au/downloads/conferencing.pdf

Occupational health and safety (OH&S)

The University is committed to providing a safe and secure teaching and learning environment. In addition to specific requirements of this unit you should refer to the University's policy at: http://www.admin.utas.edu.au/hr/ohs/pol_proc/ohs.pdf

Specific attendance/performance requirements

Attendance is expected at all learning sessions. If you have missed classes, for any reason, then you should speak to the lecturer involved about how to make up the work. Unexplained absences from practicals are unacceptable, especially as material covered in the practicals may be examinable and cannot be repeated. If you have a regular problem with attendance, or anticipate being absent for a compelling reason, you must see the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible to discuss your options.

This unit contains a high level of practical competency if you miss a number of practicals your development will potentially not be at the level expected and thus will be reflected in your performance in the end of semester examination.

Assessment

Assessment schedule

Assessment details

How your final result is determined

In order to pass CAA108 students are required to completeALL FIVE COMPONENTS according to the criteria above:

Students must get a minimum 50% for the written exam

Students must pass the OSCE assessment

1. Essential Clinical Skills
2. Assignment 1.Group Assignment
3. Examination Paper
4. OSCEs
5. Reflective Writing

The grades of pass, and the required percentage marks, are -

• pass, at least 50% but less than 60%
• credit, at least 60 % but less than 70%
• distinction, at least 70% but less than 80%

• high distinction, at least 80%

General information relating to assignments is available at:

Policy

http://www.medicine.utas.edu.au/policies/pdf/AcademicAssessmentRule2.pdf

Requests for extensions

Assignments are due on the date advised. Assignments will be graded unsatisfactory if submitted after the due date, unless PRIOR arrangements are made with the relevant coordinator, or a medical certificate is supplied.

Where there are genuine reasons, requests for extensions can be made. Requests for extension must be submitted in writing on the prescribed form to the relevant coordinator before the due date of the assignment. They cannot be accepted on the due date. If an emergency occurs on the day of submission then supporting medical certification will be required.

Requests will not necessarily be granted; students will be advised when their application has been reviewed.

Students are directed to the School of Medicine Policy on extensions at:

http://www.medicine.utas.edu.au/policies/index.html

Penalties

The following penalties will apply for assignments submitted after the due date:

Each assignment must be +10% of the stated word limit.

Review of results and appeals

Students are directed to School of Medicine Policy on student progression and course rules:

http://www.medicine.utas.edu.au/policies/index.html

Academic Integrity & Plagiarism

Academic integrity is about mastering the art of scholarship. Scholarship involves researching, understanding and building upon the work of others and requires that you give credit where it is due and acknowledge the contributions of others to your own intellectual efforts.

At its core, academic integrity requires honesty. This involves being responsible for ethical scholarship and for knowing what academic dishonesty is and how to avoid it.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is taking and using someone else's thoughts, writings or inventions and representing them as your own; e.g., using an author's words without putting them in quotation marks and citing the source; using an author's ideas without proper acknowledgment and citation; copying another student's work.

If you have any doubts about how to refer to the work of others in your assignments, please consult your lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines, and the academic integrity resources on the web at http://www.academicintegrity.utas.edu.au

Self-copying/Re-submission of assessment. It is inappropriate to copy your own work, in part or in whole, and submit it for assessment in more than one Unit of study at this, or another university. This also applies to students repeating a Unit. Unless otherwise approved, all assessment tasks undertaken in a unit must be done within the enrolment period.

Group work. It is important that all group members make appropriate contributions to the required task. Copying from others, or contributing less, little or nothing to a group assignment and then claiming an equal share of the marks are not appropriate. When working as a member of a group or team, it is important to keep records of your own work. Even though you may have group discussions and work together – always write your own notes, and keep records what you have personally contributed to any group assessment product/s.

Collusion. Protect your academic work. The intentional sharing of your work potentially allows others to copy your work and cheat and gain an academic advantage. In these circumstances, both you and the person that copied your work may be subject to allegations of academic misconduct.

Falsification and fabrication of data

Academic writing. Increasingly the use of patient data and reflection on experience are embedded in assessment tasks. The falsification and fabrication of student experiences that form the basis of assessment tasks (such as reflective essays) are inconsistent with academic integrity. This may include the fabrication or misrepresentation of patient encounters, interactions with peers, staff or members of the community. The creation of records of experiences for which there is no basis in fact, that misleads or deceives the reader/assessor, is a break of academic integrity and the standards expected of health professionals and University of Tasmania graduates.

Experimental Sciences. In addition to plagiarism, responsible and ethical conduct of research requires that all researchers have confidence in research undertaken and reported to peers. The falsification and fabrication of data are inconsistent with academic integrity. Falsification of data refers to the selective modification of data collected in the conduct of experimental research, or the misrepresentation of processes or uncertainty during statistical analysis of the data. Falsification may also involve the selective omission, deletion, or suppression of data inconsistent with the research objectives. Fabrication of data refers to the creation of records of research for which there is no basis in fact, that misleads or deceives the reader/assessor, is a breach of academic integrity and the standards expected of health professionals and University of Tasmania graduates.

Penalties:

Breaches of academic integrity are serious offences punishable by penalties that may range from a fine or deduction/cancellation of marks and, in the most serious of cases, to exclusion from a unit, a course or the University. In some cases, students of the health professions may be notified to the Australian Health Professional Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).

Details of penalties that can be imposed are available in the Ordinance of Student Discipline – Part 3 Academic Misconduct, see University Governance

The University and any persons authorised by the University may submit your assessable works to a plagiarism checking service, to obtain a report on possible instances of plagiarism. Assessable works may also be included in a reference database. It is a condition of this arrangement that the original author's permission is required before a work within the database can be viewed.

Examinations and holiday planning

Students are expected to remain on campus at least until the end of the formal University Semester 2 examination period in October - November 2012. Deferred Ordinary and Supplementary examinations are held in December, 2012. You will be expected to attend the supplementary examination on campus if required.

Faculty of Health Science – Code of Conduct

The Faculty of Health Science Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct contains rules which must be adhered to by all students, particularly those undertaking professional placements – clinical placements, community visits, laboratory work or field work placements. It is consistent with other university codes (Teaching & Learning Code of Practice) and policies (e.g. misconduct). These rules are as clear, precise and unambiguous as possible and constitute basic, non-negotiable requirements for completion of a degree at the University of Tasmania. It is not possible to create a rule for every situation or contingency, hence the Code also provides a framework for you to apply to different circumstances during training but also later on in professional practice. The Code can be found on the Faculty of Health Science website http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/healthsci/healthsci/cpage.asp?lCpageID=469

National Police Record Check

Students enrolled or enrolling in courses offered by Health Sciences that have compulsory professional placements, laboratory and/or field activity must provide the School, and if requested the placement agency, with an original copy of their National Police Certificate in order to be eligible to undertake placements. Certain convictions will require the University to make a decision as to whether you may take up or continue a placement. Where this occurs you will be notified by the relevant University staff member.

Students will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check in years 1 and 4 (if applicable) of their course and sign a Compulsory Declaration in each of the other years of the course that states there has been no change to their criminal history record.

Students whose criminal history changes at any time during the course of their studies are required to immediately notify the School and may be required to undertake a new National Police Record Check. If you are a prospective student the National Police Certificate should be supplied upon enrolment.

Students who do not supply a Police Certificate or a signed Compulsory Declaration to the School cannot complete placements and therefore risk not being able to complete the course.

For further information on how to obtain a valid Police Check Record please refer to the Health Science National Police Record Check Procedures and Guidelines. Details can be found on the Faculty of Health Science website http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/healthsci/healthsci/cpage.asp?lCpageID=469

Safety in practice

The University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students, staff, patients and other community members. In accordance with the University of Tasmania Safe to Practice Policy and Occupational Health & Safety Policy, all students intending to undertake professional experience placement, laboratory or fieldwork (either on- of off-campus) are required to establish and maintain their medical, physical and psychological capacity to practice safely. In signing Student Placement Agreements, students are obliged to declare any condition that may impact upon their ability to safely engage in professional placements, so that peers, staff and community members are not at significant risk of harm. Details can be found on the Faculty of Health Science website http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/healthsci/healthsci/cpage.asp?lCpageID=469

The University is committed to anti-discrimination practices and will provide reasonable adjustments to enable students to participate in placement, laboratory and field activities as long as safety requirements are not compromised.

Infectious Diseases and Exposure to body fluids

The Faculty of Health Science actively promotes measures to prevent or minimise the risk of transmission of infectious and/or blood borne diseases including infection control practices; immunisations; serological and other testing of immunity and student access to WHS management programs within placement agencies. Students who undertake healthcare placements/rotations are subject to and covered by the individual health care establishment/agency's Occupational Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids Policy. Students must become familiar with such policies and act in accordance with the procedures if exposure occurs. Students must subsequently notify the University in accordance with the UTAS WHS Policy if exposure occurs. More details are provided in the Infectious Diseases Toolbox. Details can be found on the Faculty of Health Science website http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/healthsci/healthsci/cpage.asp?lCpageID=469

Students who are required to undertake Workplace Learning Placements (including professional placements, clinical placements, community visits, laboratory and/or field activity) must read and document their understanding of the Health Sciences Infectious Disease Guidelines and Procedures by providing a completed Health Care Provider Form and, if applicable, a completed Tuberculosis Screening Form to the School in which they are enrolled upon enrolment or, if already enrolled, prior to commencing a placement.

In order to commence workplace learning outside of the University of Tasmania students are required to demonstrate compliance with the University Workplace Learning Placements Policy and familiarise themselves with Health Sciences Safe to Practice guidelines and procedures relevant to workplace based learning. Students who do not comply with University policy or adhere to relevant guidelines and procedures may not be placed or will be removed from placements and therefore risk not be able to complete this course. Students who have not complied or are unsure of the policies, guidelines and procedures should seek guidance from the School.

Further information and assistance

If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies or assignments, have personal or life-planning issues, disability or illness which may affect your course of study, you are advised to raise these with your lecturer in the first instance.

There is a range of University-wide support services available to you including Teaching & Learning, Student Services, International Services.  Please refer to the Current Studentshomepage at: //www.utas.edu.au/students/

Should you require assistance in accessing the Library visit their website for more information at //www.utas.edu.au/library/

Unit schedule

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Attribution information
Title:	Unit Outline: 'Principles of Paramedic Practice 2' - Open Version
Source:	https://www.utas.edu.au/health/resources/open-resources/resources/courses/paramedicine/unit-outline-principles-of-paramedic-practice-2
Author:	Dr Lisa Bowerman