OPN263 Clinical Practice 2

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:	OPN263
Prerequisite(s):	OPN161, OPN162 and OPN163
Corequisite(s):	OPN261 and OPN262
Credit points:	12
Timetable	Details in HiQ, if available
Availabilities	Kelvin Grove Semester 2 More about teaching periods More about unit attendance modes

This unit continues clinical optometric practice in the primary care area within the Optometry Clinic of the QUT Health Clinics. Through clinical practice, students will further develop specific problem solving strategies, and further develop problem specific examination techniques, reinforcing and refining clinical skills developed in previous units. This unit continues the transfer of theoretical and practical skills to the clinical situation. Students will take on a gradually increasing responsibility for clinical decision making and management and begin demonstrating strategies that enable ongoing self-reflective, culturally safe practice in a professional context.

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:	OPN263
Credit points:	12
Pre-requisite:	OPN161, OPN162 and OPN163
Co-requisite:	OPN261 and OPN262
Coordinator:	Shelley Hopkins \| shelley.hopkins@qut.edu.au

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

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:

Design and perform under supervision problem-specific eye examinations in a technically competent manner, while justifying choices in test applications;
Evaluate social determinants of health for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and scrutinise different forms of racism and the concept of white privilege;
Differentially diagnose vision disorders;
Formulate treatment interventions and implement management plans for patients, observing professionalism and applying strategies for ongoing reflective practice;
Apply effective verbal and written communication skills to patients and other health professionals in a caring, culturally safe and ethical manner.

Content

This unit encompasses patient care in primary care optometry, including clinical problem solving and clinical decision making; specialist clinical assessment; the differential diagnosis of vision disorders; the development of management and treatment plans in vision disorders; spectacle and lens dispensing; case management; intra- and inter-professional communication using industry-specific practice management software and digital technology to prepare written referrals and reports; and communication with QUT Health Clinics Optometry Clinic patients, including in a respectful and culturally safe manner with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This unit covers current demographic and health statistics for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians, how population health and health workforce policies and strategies compare with the needs of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander population, and the implications for service delivery. Key principles of cultural safety are examined, and you will learn how to integrate these principles into reflective practice and professionalism.

Clinical practice will require you to demonstrate you have consolidated knowledge and skills from earlier units within the overall optometry program, and to use these to provide effective clinical care to a range of patients. You will practice with professional cultural safety and awareness of diverse perspectives and inclusion, using industry-relevant digital devices and systems used in optometric practice.

Learning Approaches

This unit will involve lectures and practical sessions. The practical sessions will be held in the clinic and will be a combination of learning new clinical skills (specialist testing) and performing eye examinations on clinic patients (under supervision of qualified and registered optometrists). Clinical skill development and practice will be supported by a guest lecture series with emphasis placed on specialist assessment techniques, case management and problem solving, differential diagnoses, with reference to current and developing clinical management strategies. You will be expected to take increasing responsibility for the management of your patients.

You will receive additional training from the Faculty of Health Student Success Group on preparing for external placement.

Expected Clinical Conduct:
Clinical attendance is mandatory for all students.
Clinical hours are documented to demonstrate fulfilment of Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand course accreditation requirements. Absence from a scheduled clinic session due to illness requires a medical certificate sighted by the unit coordinator and clinic coordinator. In addition, any clinical hours missed must be completed in the next scheduled semester break clinic.
In some exceptional circumstances, prior approval may be obtained from the unit and course coordinator to alter a student's individual clinical timetable. However, supporting evidence is required to justify the need for any timetable alterations.
Students are required to comply with the policies and procedures of the QUT Health Clinics Optometry clinic at all times. Failure to comply with relevant policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the QUT Health Clinics and inability to complete the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback on your development of specialist clinical skills, and diagnostic and management skills will take place during clinical practice sessions on an ongoing basis. You are encouraged to communicate with the clinical supervisors if you require any specific feedback on clinical skills and to communicate with the unit coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.

Summative feedback on your clinical performance and case study will be provided in written format within 2 weeks of the assessment.

Assessment

Overview

Patient encounters are assessed in both formative and summative ways to provide feedback regarding the development of clinical competency. Skills competency assessment and assessment of patient consultations will require knowledge of industry-specific digital technology used to evaluate anterior and posterior eye health. A written case study analysis will be held towards the end of semester and a written examination will be held at the end of semester during the exam period.

Satisfactory performance in Assessment Item 1 (Clinical examinations) and Assessment Item 3 (End of semester exam) is a condition for passing this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Clinical examinations

As a student optometrist, you will undertake routine eye examinations on QUT Health Clinics Optometry Clinic patients. Across three different patient consultations across the semester, you will be assessed on different components of the eye examination, concentrating on your ability to solve clinical problems through a problem-oriented clinical routine, and the ability to communicate effectively with a patient. In Week 8, you will be assessed on your technical ability to undertake advanced specialist testing on your colleagues in an optometric environment.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in this assessment item is a condition for passing this unit. For professional accreditation, demonstration of safe clinical practice and performance and appropriate knowledge of specialist clinical tests to inform diagnosis and management of patients, consistent with the Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry is required. You will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark is within 40-49% of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt. You will not be eligible for a reattempt if your overall grade in the unit is a failing grade.

Weight: 50

Individual/Group: Individual

Due (indicative): Week 3 onwards

Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 4, 5

Related Standards: ENTRYLVL OPT2014: 1, 1.01, 1.02, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 2, 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 3, 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.08, 4, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 5, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03

Assessment: Case study analysis

This assessment will require you to reflect on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety content and develop a response to a case study question. The assessment is completed in-class and is closed book.

Weight: 15

Length: 60 minutes

Individual/Group: Individual

Due (indicative): Week 10

Related Unit learning outcomes: 2

Related Standards: ENTRYLVL OPT2014: 1, 1.01, 1.02, 1.07, 1.08

Assessment: End of semester exam

The exam will be comprised of a combination of MCQ and short answer questions. The exam will cover all content delivered across the semester except content delivered in Module 2 (ULO 2): Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in this assessment is a condition for passing this unit. For professional accreditation, appropriate skills to analyse, interpret and integrate examination results and other clinical information, to inform diagnosis and appropriate treatment and management plans, consistent with the Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry is required. You will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark is within 40-49% of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt. You will not be eligible for a reattempt if your overall grade in the unit is a failing grade

Weight: 35

Individual/Group: Individual

Due (indicative): During central examination period

Central exam duration: 1:40 - Including 10 minute perusal

Related Unit learning outcomes: 3

Related Standards: ENTRYLVL OPT2014: 1, 1.01, 1.02, 1.07, 1.08, 1.12

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.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

You are required to meet the mandatory requirements for clinical placement in the QUT Health Clinics, including mandatory vaccinations, a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid certificate and a Blue Card. You must also complete Queensland Health's Cultural Introductory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Practice online module.

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Resources

Clinical journals available through the QUT Library Collection.

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit will involve practice of clinical techniques on fellow students and on people from the general public who present as patients to the QUT Optometry Clinic. High standards of hygiene and safe practices are required. You will be informed of relevant Standard Operating Procedures of the School of Optometry as they pertain to this unit.

Some of the lecture material may cover personal and potentially distressing topics including discussions about racism, privilege, colonisation and colonialism. If students feel uncomfortable and need to take a break, they are able to leave the lecture theatre at any point. Students will be reminded of this at the start of these sessions. If students need further support, QUT's free student counselling service is available to them.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

OP85 Master of Optometry

Synthesise complex optometric knowledge, cognitive, clinical and technical skills and research methodology in vision science.
Relates to: Clinical examinations, End of semester exam
Reflect and apply critical thinking and researchable questions to generate solutions to complex conditions in clinical and research settings.
Relates to: Clinical examinations, Case study analysis, End of semester exam
Assess and diagnose patients using proficient clinical skills and evidence-based practice that result in culturally safe and effective management plans.
Relates to: Clinical examinations
Communicate complex information effectively using oral, written and digital formats responsive to the clinical and cultural needs of diverse patients, other health professionals and community.
Relates to: Clinical examinations, Case study analysis
Practice as an inclusive, collaborative and reflective healthcare professional with capacity to adapt and develop resilience, and commitment to sustainable health care delivery within ethical, legal and professional frameworks.
Relates to: Clinical examinations

OPN263 Clinical Practice 2

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Learning Outcomes

Content

Learning Approaches

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment

Overview

Unit Grading Scheme

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Clinical examinations

Assessment: Case study analysis

Assessment: End of semester exam

Academic Integrity

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Blue Card

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

Standards/Competencies

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

2: Communication and Patient History

3: Patient Examination

4: Diagnosis and Management

5: Health Information Management

Course Learning Outcomes

OP85 Master of Optometry

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