OPN465 Clinical Practice 10

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit completes clinical optometric practice in the primary care area within the Optometry program. Through further clinical practice, students will refine specific problem solving strategies in clinical practice, and problem specific examination techniques, illustrating a consolidation and integration of their theoretical knowledge base and clinical skills developed in the previous units. Students will demonstrate significant responsibility for clinical decision making and management, demonstrating independence in decision making and problem solving as final preparation for their transition to professional practice. Students will also participate in clinical placement activity off-campus in a range of practice environments with a view to further developing clinical management skills and exposure to business management in practices.

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:

1. Design and implement problem-specific eye examinations in a technically competent manner at a level consistent with entry level practice;
2. Formulate, review and revise treatment and management plans for patients under your care;
3. Differentially diagnose vision disorders;
4. Provide effective advice to patients in a caring, culturally safe and ethical manner;
5. Apply effective written and oral communication skills in interacting with patients and health professionals.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is taught in a similar manner to other clinical units, in that students examine patients presenting for eye examinations under supervision of qualified and registered optometrists. Clinical practice will be supported by tutorials with emphasis placed on case management and problem solving, differential diagnoses, with reference to current and developing clinical management strategies. Off-campus clinical placements will allow exposure to an increased range of patient presentations, and exposure to clinical thinking and management of clinical practitioners in their practice environments.
You will further develop your evidence portfolio of clinical experiences through clinical practice in the on-campus clinical and through off-campus clinical placement activity. You will use your own self-reflection on your developing clinical experience gained in this unit, and the previous Semester 1 unit OPN365, to develop a continuing professional development plan in the unit OPN461.
Learning in this unit completes students' graduate development in primary care clinical practice towards the Optometry Australia entry-level competency standards for Optometry (2014) in the competency units 2. Communication and patient history 3. Patient Examination, 4. Diagnosis and management and 5. Health Information Management and the appropriate competency performance criteria and indicators within the competency framework.
Expected Clinical Conduct:
Clinical attendance is mandatory for all students and compulsory clinic sessions may be scheduled during the following summer semester (November-February) if necessary to reach the minimum clinical activity requirements for qualification.
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 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 will be provided during clinical practice sessions on your patient management and decision making.
Assessment Submission and Extensions

Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked and will receive a grade of 1 or 0%. If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you can apply for an extension http://www.student.qut.edu.au/studying/assessment/extension. If you don't have an approved extension you should submit the work you have done by the due date and it will be marked against the assessment criteria. QUT's assessment submission requirements reflect the expectations of professional practice where you will need to meet deadlines.

Assessment

Overview

Patient encounters are assessed in both formative and summative ways to provide feedback regarding the development of clinical competency. Clinical skills competency assessments and summative assessment of patient consultations must each be passed to complete the unit.

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Clinical Exam

A number of patient encounters will be assessed at the end of the semester, as an exit clinical assessment, concentrating on your ability to solve clinical problems through a problem oriented clinical routine, and the ability to communicate effectively with a patient. The main emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic and management skills in this final clinical practice unit, with the expectation that you will display the primary role, consistent with that required of an entry-level practitioner.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit.

Assessment: Examination (written)

This is an end of semester written examination, where you will be required to respond to case based scenario questions. This will require demonstration of the synthesis of learning material across the course in solving clinical problems.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit.

Assessment: Case Study

Clinical Practice Portfolio

You will be required to complete and maintain a portfolio of clinical experience that identifies the clinical work carried out during campus-based and external placement clinical activity. The portfolio will contain the following components: (i) a record of your work completed during campus-based clinical activity, noting any activity relating to ocular therapeutic management; (ii) a record of your work completed during external placement clinical activity, noting any activity relating to ocular therapeutic management; and (iii) submission of a series of short case-reports throughout the semester.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit.

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

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

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 are required to be proficient in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid. You will be informed of relevant Standard Operating Procedures of the School of Optometry as they pertain to this unit.

Blue card
The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000) requires that students undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a blue card by the Commission prior to undertaking field experience in a school or centre, or undertaking activities in any unit which may involve contact with children. You will require a blue card for clinical placement/practicum in this unit. You should apply for a blue card at least 12 weeks before any clinical placement/practicum. Current blue card holders must register their card with QUT. More information is available online.

Standards/Competencies

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

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
2. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
3. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
4. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study
5. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
6. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
7. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
8. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
9. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
10. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam
11. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study
12. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study

2: Communication and Patient History

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
2. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
3. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
4. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
5. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam

3: Patient Examination

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
2. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
3. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
4. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
5. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
6. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
7. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
8. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam

4: Diagnosis and Management

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
2. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
3. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
4. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
5. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
6. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
7. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
8. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
9. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
10. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam
11. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam
12. 
    Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study

5: Health Information Management

1. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
2. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam
3. 
   Relates to: Clinical Exam

Course Learning Outcomes

OP85 Master of Optometry

1. Theoretical optometric knowledge, cognitive, clinical and technical skills and research methodology in vision science
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
2. Apply critical thinking and researchable questions to generate solutions to complex conditions in clinical and research settings
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Examination (written), Case Study
3. Apply clinical skills to conduct assessment, diagnose and implement a management plan safely and effectively
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study
4. Acquire and transfer complex knowledge to patients, professionals within multiple environments
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study
5. Practise independently and collaboratively as an ethical, socially responsible health care professional within legal and professional frameworks
   Relates to: Clinical Exam, Case Study