BEH2031 - Foundations of paramedic clinical practice

Leader: Mr Brett Williams

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit uses a model of paramedic clinical competence to develop foundation skills of clinical approach, problem solving, decision-making and scene management to prepare students for practice in the clinical environment. Essential clinical skills that enable the safe and effective evidence-based management of patients in the pre-hospital environment will be developed in clinical laboratory and simulation settings. A satisfactory level in all these essential clinical skills will be required before students can undertake the clinical placement associated with this unit. The context of paramedic clinical practice will be provided by supervised clinical experience with ambulance services.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

1. describe the essential elements of a contemporary model of paramedic practice;
2. locate and evaluate the evidence-base that informs the paramedic management of common health emergencies;
3. demonstrate the required standard in each of the core clinical skills of clinical approach, clinical problem solving, clinical decision-making and scene management at the standard required of a novice practitioner;
4. define the scope of practice of the Paramedic as described by Ambulance Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Work Instructions and Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines;
5. discuss the principles of occupational health and safety in the workplace with particular emphasis on safe lifting techniques and principles of standard precautions and other aspects of infection control;
6. describe the standards of care and essential components of a patient-centred safety framework;
7. demonstrate methods for recognising, avoiding and removing dangers at an incident scene, achieving safe access and egress, and managing the scene to control and mitigate risk, under supervised routine and emergency situations;
8. demonstrate appropriate communication skills with patients, relatives, co-workers and the multidisciplinary health care team;
9. identify sources of potential stress within the work environment and develop appropriate strategies to minimise and manage these stressors; and
10. investigate and describe variables within the work environment, scope of practice, teamwork and community that contribute towards successful deliver of care within the emergency medical service/ambulance service sector.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hour): 50%
Mid semester tests (x 2): 25% each
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: Pass/Fail
Clinical practice portfolio: Pass/Fail
Reflective journal: Pass/Fail

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic)