| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | School of Health |
| Unit Title: | Clinical Paramedicine 1 |
| Unit ID: | HCPAR5001 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | (HCPAR5011) |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 069905 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit, in conjunction with the unit HCPAR 5011: Paramedic Clinical Diagnostics 1 introduces the student to paramedicine, pre hospital care and the paramedic profession. Utilising models of practice, the student will develop the fundamentals of paramedicine practical and theoretical clinical competencies. These will include an introduction to the pre-hospital ambulance management of patients both at scene and in moving vehicles, lifting and transferring of patients, working as a member of the health care team and written and interpersonal communications in paramedicine. The unit will also review Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) issues, an introduction to aspects of law and ethics, and Patient Care Records (PCR) in paramedicine. This leads to undertaking basic and advanced life support in a paramedic context including treatment delivered in resuscitation, medical, trauma and psychological health crises. Throughout the unit problem-based and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), learning models will be used and students will be constantly encouraged to develop critical thinking processes. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | |  | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Describe the human anatomy and physiology, understanding the normal function, structure and pathophysiology specifically relevant to paramedic practice |
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| K2. | Apply relevant principles of pharmacology and accurately describe the indications, contra indication, precautions, side effect and onset times specific to pre hospital pharmacological interventions |
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| K3. | Correctly calculate medication doses and volumes without the assistance of an electronic calculating device |
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| K4. | Define the role of the paramedic and identify the requirements of professional accountability and autonomy within the pre hospital setting |
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| K5. | Analyse Victorian Ambulance Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and Clinical Work Instructions (CWI), along with CPGs from interstate and assess their importance within paramedic scope of practice |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Demonstrate competently the ability to apply specialised skills and knowledge into a practical environment through successful completion of Objective Standard Clinical Examinations (OSCE) |
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| S2. | Safely and proficiently operate ambulance equipment including but not limited to the cardiac monitor, oxygen delivery and stretcher |
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| S3. | Exhibit superior communication and teamwork skills with all essential stakeholders within the pre hospital setting |
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| S4. | Systematically interpret electrocardiographs (ECG) recognising lethal rhythms and applying appropriate management |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Independently interpret patient assessment findings and apply the appropriate management as per the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Work Instructions providing the optimum outcome for the patient |
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| A2. | Combine theoretical knowledge of anatomy and physiology with practical clinical skills to demonstrate a high level of understanding and autonomy relating to pre hospital paramedics care and scope of practise. |
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| Unit Content: |
This unit is designed to build upon and extend your knowledge and skills, and to introduce and develop competence:
Topics may include:
1. The history and the structure of the ambulance service; The role of a paramedic; Legal and ethical considerations; Overview scope of practice
2. Review of assumed knowledge – anatomy, pathophysiology, microbiology and pharmacology
3. Introduction to clinical approach, basic assessment techniques and scenario skills; Introduction to Clinical Practice Guidelines, equipment and Clinical Work Instructions (CWIs)
4. Introduction to cardiac monitoring (manual defibrillation accreditation); ECG analysis; management of the patient in cardiac arrest and decision-making with regard to withholding or ceasing pre-hospital resuscitation
5. Review common modes of medication delivery and assessment of drug practical mathematical calculations
6. Communication (verbal and written) in the pre-hospital environment (including interview preparation); OH&S and Manual Handling in the pre-hospital environment; Working with other first line agencies and emergency services
7. Introduction of pre hospital neurological assessment and management of such health crisis |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S3, S4, A1, A2 | Examination of 2 hours consisting of a combination of multiple choice questions, short answers questions and/or case study based questions to determine understanding and application of unit content | Written Examination | 60% - 80% | | 2. | K1, K4, K5, S2, S3, A1, A2 | Students will work in small groups of 3-4 to research, design and present a short video on an aspect of pre-hospital patient assessment. | Group Project | 20% - 40% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2 | Practical demonstration of theoretical and clinical skills assessed via a scenario setting | Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) | S/U | | 4. | K4, S2, S3, A1 | Students are required to attend and participate in practical sessions during the first face-to-face intensive teaching block. This will occur before they attend clinical placement. | Practical participation | S/U |
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