CSN035 Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Practice 3
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | CSN035 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | CSN032 and CSN023 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,744 |
| International unit fee | $4,956 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | CSN035 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | CSN032 and CSN023 |
Overview
This capstone unit culminates the skills, knowledge and abilities you have acquired throughout the course and most recently in CSN032 Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Practice 2. Your specialist skills will be further refined and expanded, and advanced echocardiographic skills will be developed through employment and training in a self-managed, QUT approved clinical department. In your final clinical experience, you will be working more autonomously delivering the highest level of patient care with minimal supervision.
This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Perform a range of comprehensive adult echocardiographic examinations, including the advanced measurements and calculations, at the standard expected of a graduate cardiac sonographer.
- Synthesise, analyse and interpret normal and abnormal echocardiographic features and anatomy on a wide range of adult echocardiographic examinations, including an explanation of the possible causes for abnormal appearances.
- Apply advanced knowledge of the physical principles of ultrasound and ultrasound instrumentation, as well as demonstrating the ability to adapt ultrasound instrumentation settings to ensure high quality digital imaging is performed.
- Critically examine, analyse and interpret the images and calculations performed during advanced echo modalities such as stress testing, strain and 3D echo.
- Communicate effectively using a range of written, digital and oral formats to disseminate clinical findings to multi-disciplinary teams, and provide culturally safe care to patients.
Content
The unit covers the following topic areas as applied in the clinical situation. This content is complementary to and must be considered in the context of learning in other units such as CSN021 Cardiac Ultrasound 1, CSN025 Principles of Medical Ultrasound, CSN022 Cardiac Ultrasound 2, CSN023 Cardiac Ultrasound 3, CSN024 Advanced Cardiac Ultrasound, CSN031 Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Practice 1 and CSN032 Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Practice 2. Clinical practice including:
- Advanced echo modalities such as stress testing, strain and 3D echocardiography
- Echocardiographic assessment of common cardiac pathologies
- Echocardiographic calculations for the assessment of common cardiac pathologies
- Awareness of Occupational Health and Safety practices
- Advanced oral, written and digital communication skills
- Professional conduct.
Learning Approaches
This unit combines supervised clinical experience in a nominated QUT approved clinical department with a range of formative and summative assessment items undertaken by the student during the period of clinical practice.
Practical: Supervised Clinical Experience. The range and volume of your clinical experience, under the supervision of QUT approved Accredited Cardiac Sonographers or Echocardiologists, should reflect key competency areas of cardiac sonographers when examining a range of cardiac pathologies. It is your responsibility to negotiate the breadth and depth of your clinical experience with your supervisor. Your progress will be monitored and evaluated by your clinical supervisors, in consultation with QUT academic staff. Your workplace experience, as part of a multi-disciplinary team in the clinical setting, is an important part of your learning journey. You will normally undertake supervised ultrasound training no less than 3 days per week (0.6FTE) whilst enrolled. Throughout the course, you are required to record evidence of your clinical experience and competency. Mandatory completion and submission of your Clinical Portfolio is required for satisfactory completion of the program.
Academic Consultation and Peer Collaboration: QUT academic staff are available to discuss issues relating to the clinical practice requirements on an individual basis, as necessary. You will also engage with the teaching team and your student peers via the unit's online discussion forum.
The online measurements tutorial website is available for you to practice your measurement techniques on real-life images in a simulated environment and receive instant feedback by viewing the expert-level measurement for that image.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Individual summative feedback relating to the case study, practical activity and final practical examination will be provided via the Canvas site for this unit. Feedback for the case study is provided as a video screencast, from experienced senior staff, which allows you to see how measurements would be performed correctly, how the image control settings are manipulated and also hear the commentary from the assessors. This reflects real-world practice where you would review a case with the clinical trainers.
You are expected to participate in the online Discussion Board on the Canvas unit site.
Results for all assessments will be displayed under My Grades on the Canvas site for this unit.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit consists of a Practical PEDOF demonstration (S/US), Case study submission (S/U) and a final Clinical examination (S/US).
Threshold conditions apply to each assessment item to ensure competence against professional standards. If you do not receive a satisfactory grade for an assessment item, you are able to make one resubmission of the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.
A marking criterion is used for the allocation of grades for each assessment item. A moderation process including cross-marking of a number of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.
Unit Grading Scheme
S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Practical
You will be required to demonstrate proficiency with the non-imaging continuous wave (CW) Doppler probe as part of a standard transthoracic echo study. Satisfactory demonstration of measurement technique, accuracy and optimisation skills is required and will be assessed via an online submission.
Threshold conditions apply to this assessment item. If you do not achieve a satisfactory grade for this assessment task, one resubmission attempt is permitted. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Threshold Assessment:
Threshold conditions apply to this assessment item. The submission is graded as satisfactory / unsatisfactory whereby one or more individual assessment criteria receiving an unsatisfactory grade results in an overall unsatisfactory submission. In this instance, one resubmission of this assessment item is permitted. A marking criteria is used for the allocation of grades. A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.
Assessment: Case Study
You will be required to submit a case study demonstrating the performance of a comprehensive adult echocardiographic examination, including 2D, M-mode, spectral Doppler, colour Doppler and Strain Imaging components of the examination as well as all appropriate measurements and calculations required to answer the clinical question. Specific details including template proforma will be available on Canvas from the start of semester.
The Case study must be on a patient with either aortic valve stenosis (any severity) and/or a prosthetic aortic valve replacement (surgical or transcatheter – normal or abnormal) OR with aortic or mitral regurgitation of at least moderate severity. Learners must choose one.
- This case study MUST include the use of the non-imaging continuous-wave Doppler probe - Showing the transaortic signal achieved from the apical, SSN, RSCL and RSE windows (all attempts are to be shown even if the signal quality is suboptimal), and all signals must be labelled with respect to the signal and measurements in each window used, e.g., apical, RSE.
- If the image quality is optimal, this study MUST also include an attempted Simpson’s biplane Ejection Fraction.
- If there is both AR and MR, choose one lesion only for critical analysis of the adequacy and completeness of the study section.
- Note that quantification of the regurgitant lesion is NOT required but may be included for feedback purposes.
Submissions are graded as satisfactory / unsatisfactory. A detailed marking criteria is used for the allocation of grades. A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Threshold Assessment:
Threshold conditions apply to this assessment item. The submission is graded as satisfactory / unsatisfactory whereby more than one individual assessment criteria receiving an unsatisfactory grade result in an overall unsatisfactory submission. In this instance, students are permitted one resubmission of this assessment item. A detailed marking criteria is used for the allocation of grades. A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.
Assessment: Examination (practical)
Practical assessments undertaken to evaluate your ability to conduct a comprehensive adult echocardiographic examination. Assessment includes satisfactory demonstration of the standard two-dimensional, spectral Doppler, colour Doppler imaging and Strain imaging techniques, measurements and interpretation of ultrasound images. Interpretation of clinical information and demonstration of satisfactory oral communication skills with patients will also be assessed.
Learners will be required to perform TWO consecutive ultrasound examinations within your clinical practice on medically referred patients with specific valvular pathology for one of these studies. In addition to the submission of a recording of one ultrasound examination on the patient with specific cardiac pathology (see below for details), you are required to submit the ultrasound DICOM images and complete a written document (template provided) describing the findings of the study and a critical analysis of your imaging technique.
Study 1 must be on a patient with valvular pathology consisting of EITHER:
- Aortic stenosis (any severity of AS) OR an aortic valve replacement (normal or abnormal) - surgical or transcatheter.
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PEDOF imaging of the aortic valve should be attempted from all windows (apical, SSN, RSCL, RSB) and attempts documented from all windows, at a minimum.
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A Simpson’s Biplane ejection fraction and Strain Imaging should be attempted if image quality is adequate.
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- Mitral OR aortic regurgitation of at least moderate severity.
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PEDOF imaging of the AV and regurgitant signal should be demonstrated from the apical window, at a minimum.
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A Simpson’s Biplane ejection fraction and Strain Imaging should be attempted if image quality is adequate.
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Study 1 is to be video recorded (including audio) and the zipped .mp4 or .mov recording (.zip file, not .rar file) and zipped DICOM images are to be uploaded to Canvas.
Study 2 does not have any specific pathology requirements. This study does not need to be recorded but the zipped DICOM images are to be uploaded to Canvas.
- workplace policies in relation to patient confidentiality and consent have
been followed and the student has permission to submit this assessment
task. - The student has completed both echocardiograms without physical or
verbal assistance from others (or if assistance was required, the student
has outlined this in their Word document submission) - The submitted studies were performed consecutively on the agreed date
of the assessment - The patients have not been scanned by the student within the last three
months and were not family or friends of the student
Threshold Assessment:
Threshold conditions apply to this assessment item. The submission is graded as satisfactory / unsatisfactory. A detailed marking criteria is used for the allocation of grades. Inadequate skill demonstration in one or more individual marking criteria constitutes an unsatisfactory grade. In the event of an unsatisfactory grade, one resubmission attempt is permitted. A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Anderson, B (2017). Echocardiography: The Normal Examination and Echocardiographic Measurements (3rd ed.). Brisbane: MGA Graphics. (This text is strongly recommended for all students)
Anderson, B (2014). A Sonographer's Guide to the Assessment of Heart Disease. MGA Graphics (This text is strongly recommended for all students)
Reference book(s)
Otto, C.M. (2023). Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography (7th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Elsevier.
Other
American Society of Echocardiography Guidelines and Recommendations: www.asecho.org
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.CS61 Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound
- Apply advanced specialist knowledge of the principles and techniques of cardiac ultrasound digital imaging, anatomy and pathology.
Relates to: Practical, Case Study - Critically analyse clinical information to accurately differentiate normal cardiac anatomy and complex cardiac pathologies.
Relates to: Practical, Case Study , Examination (practical) - Perform independent, culturally safe and patient-centred cardiac ultrasound examinations to a high level of technical proficiency and diagnostic accuracy.
Relates to: Practical, Case Study , Examination (practical) - Communicate effectively with peers and multidisciplinary health professionals to explore the diagnostic value and limitations of cardiac ultrasound imaging.
Relates to: Examination (practical) - Practice as a reflective, ethical and collaborative professional committed to the sustainability of quality assured cardiac sonography practice.
Relates to: Examination (practical)