CSB346 Transition to Professional Paramedic Practice (Capstone)

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

CSB346 consolidates knowledge, skills and attributes required for safe, competent, and professional practice as a beginning level Registered Paramedic. It integrates, and synthesises previous clinical and scientific support units, drawing upon concepts, principles and theories developed through your studies to promote effective practice and patient care. When you will commence your role as a Registered Paramedic, your level of expertise is at the beginner practitioner level. The capstone unit focuses on the development and demonstration of professional skills such as critical reflection necessary for paramedicine and highlights the importance of continuing professional development. As a professional practitioner, you will develop evidence-based knowledge and implement reflective processes to improve the quality of patient care. These strategies and processes are necessary for the transition into the workplace. The unit is delivered concurrently with the final clinical placement.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Apply advanced clinical reasoning to create patient care, management plans in a range of socially and culturally diverse contexts;
2. Apply effective oral and written communication of clinical presentations and subsequent treatment actions to facilitate ongoing healthcare;
3. Critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesis knowledge and skills in the application of holistic and compassionate evidence-based patient care;
4. Critically discuss the growth of self, student to novice practitioner, cultural competence, attitudes to social justice, well-being and social responsibilities of a practising paramedic and team member and your ongoing learning goals, career path options.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit engages you in your learning through Lectures, tutorials and study guide; Small group activities using case-based learning (CBL) strategies; Clinical practical skills developed with the support of experienced clinical educators; Simulation and scenario-based activities will allow you to transfer knowledge, skills and clinical problem-solving skills into the simulated clinical environment; and oral case presentation.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Lecture material in addition to feedback in a range of formative clinical simulation exercises will be provided throughout the semester. The feedback received will provide support for successful completion of assessment items.
You are encouraged to speak with the unit coordinator/tutor before or after class or by email with any questions or concerns about the assessment items. Responses to frequently asked questions will be made available to all students through Canvas announcements. Lab activities will include simulations that will provide feedback on knowledge and understanding to inform your preparation for the final exam.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment items are designed to measure your learning and achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this unit.

Special Conditions of Assessment

Without an extension or deferral, assessments not submitted or attempted by the due date will not be marked, and given 0% or a grade of 1. Assignment drafts will not be reviewed in this unit, but need to be kept as evidence of the assessment development process. Plagiarism and contract cheating are considered to be major academic misconduct and severe penalties apply.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Learning Log & Oral Presentation

This assessment task requires you to firstly reflect on each of the topics from the lecture series and write a short log of each of your reflections. You are then to choose one of them to research further for a more in-depth oral presentation.

Part A

Each of the written reflections will be 150 to 300 words long and should include at least one recent reference from a peer reviewed journal. You are to reflect on, and articulate some insight into, the topics relevance to your future practice as a paramedic.

Part B

You are then to undertake a 10-15 minute oral presentation of your selected topic that will be recorded and uploaded to Canvas.

 This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Examination (written)

The written examination will be a case-based analysis and synthesis of your clinical practice and knowledge and skills in the application of holistic and compassionate evidence-based patient care at the beginning practitioner level.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Appropriate clothing (long trousers, collared shirt and covered footwear, e.g. QUT student paramedic uniform) and personal protective equipment are required for tutorials. Other risks are outlined in the ‘Risk Assessment Statement’ below.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

You will be required to undertake simulated exercises as part of your practice and Appraisal/Evaluation. This will involve exposure to medical sharps, defibrillators and may involve lifting. Before commencing this unit you should review and practise the industry occupational health and safety guidelines that protect qualified staff and students in day-to-day practice.