Leader: Mr Bill Lord

Offered

Peninsula Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit continues to develop the role of the paramedic as a clinician using the model of paramedic competence developed in BEH2031. The unit covers commonly encountered acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, minor and major trauma and environmental clinical problems. The unit will be case based, and will include clinical skills laboratory and simulation scenarios to develop the essential clinical skills, clinical problem solving and decision making competencies. The scope of the unit includes developing the skills expected of the paramedic in general care, basic and advanced life support. The unit will be supplemented by the clinical placements in units BEH2032 and BEH2042.

Objectives

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

1. explain the evidence-base of Paramedic management of trauma and environmental conditions;

2. describe the epidemiology, population health, natural history, and pathology related to acute and emergency musculoskeletal, trauma and environmental conditions commonly encountered in paramedic practice;

3. describe the clinical highlights and trends in the management of selected musculoskeletal conditions commonly encountered in paramedic practice;

4. define and describe the criteria for major trauma and the pre-hospital trauma triage guidelines;

5. demonstrate the required standard in each of the core practical skills expected at the basic and advanced life support level relating to the assessment and care of patients with musculoskeletal, trauma and environmental conditions encountered in paramedic practice;

6. outline and explain the rationale of the paramedic clinical practice guidelines in the care of patients with musculoskeletal, trauma and environmental conditions;

7. explain the applied pharmacology of relevant drugs included in the musculoskeletal, trauma and environmental Paramedic Clinical Practice Guidelines and that may be encountered in paramedic practice;

8. using the model of paramedic clinical competence, demonstrate the ability to integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal, trauma and environmental conditions in real time work simulation including clinical problem solving and clinical decision making, professionalism, safety, documentation, communication and teamwork;

9. explain the range of potential behaviour of self, patients, their carers and bystanders in situations of acute trauma and environmental events in a sociological and culturally sensitive context; and

10. describe the special features and trends in the health system relating to prevention and management of patients with trauma and environmental conditions, and describe the benefits of community-based emergency health and the related role of the Paramedic, and other emergency and primary health care team members, in such patients.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hour): 40%
Written assignment (2000 words): 40%
Essential practical skills: pass/fail
Case simulation: pass/fail
4 x worksheets: 20%

Contact hours

18 hours per week including contact time, clinical skills laboratory and scenarios, and private study averaged over the 13 week semester - a total of 234 hours.

Prerequisites

BEH2031 or NUR1102

Co-requisites

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