Leader: Ms Andrea Wyatt

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2008 (Day)
Peninsula Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The focus of this unit is to provide the theoretical underpinnings required to develop in the student an appropriate level of knowledge, understanding and skill related to the provision of MICA Paramedic care to the obstetric patients and the paediatric and neonatal population. This unit is underpinned by a MICA Paramedic clinical approach, clinical problem solving and clinical decision making model.
The students previous clinical experience is used as the basis for identifying key differences in the advanced life support measures appropriate to the management of obstetric complications or the pregnant patient who has experienced physical trauma or is suffering from a medical emergency.
For the paediatric component of the unit, clinical sciences content related to normal paediatric physiology and children's psychological responses to illness and injury, is integrated with clinical management protocols developed from evidence based practice priniciples and the clinical approach used to manage paediatric medical emergencies.
Topics covered include paediatric trauma care, paediatric medical emergencies including paediatric respiratoy emergencies and neonatal resuscitation. Practice in the related skills of intra-osseous infusion and jugular venous cannulation and advance airway management is provided. To aid learning and understanding this unit includes tutorials, case histories and clinical scenarios to allow the application of theoretical knowledge to the MICA Paramedic clinical environment.

Paediatric hospital placement.
Students will be exposed to a range of paediatric illnesses commonly managed in paediatric critical care units, the essential steps in the pre-hospital management of these patients and their continuing in-hospital care.

Students will have the opportunity to revise normal paediatric physiological values and develop an understanding of the significance of figures in abnormal ranges. Where applicable and appropriate, the student will be supervised in assisting with the general management of patients in these critical care units and gain experience in a range of practical procedures that inlcude:
physiological observation;
endotracheal suction;
intra-muscular and intra-venous injections;
inserting IV cannula and line;
intra-venous fluid management; and
intraosseous infusion

During the operating suite placement emphasis will be placed on learning about potential problems during the pre-hospital or inter-hospital transport of intubated, ventilated children and the use of mechanical ventilation. The student will be supervised by an anaesthesist to gain experience in the following practical procedures in the child:
positioning for optimal airway care and manual airway clearance techniques;
bag mask assisted ventilation techniques; and
endotracheal intubation and ventilation.

In the critical care units the student will be exposed to and learn about the equipment which may accompany paediatric patients on an inter-hospital transport and the common range of drugs used which might be concurrently administered during inter-hospital transfer.

The paediatric experience will allow students to develop an understanding of the call-out procedure and the common clinical problems managed by Paediatric Emergency Transport Service.

This unit will be offered in a multimodal form using a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, clinical scenarios and self-directed learning materials. WebCT will be used to supplement face-to-face sessions and support on-line discussion groups to facilitate MUCAPS staff and student interaction in informal tutorials.

Objectives

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

1. Demonstrate an ability through self appraisal, feedback and supervised clinical experience, to continue the process of developing as an interactional professional within the context of managing patients with paediatric and obstetric emergencies.
2. Understand the application of evidence-base practice to the MICA Paramedic management of emergency paediatric and obstetric conditions.
3. Demonstrate the skills, knowledge and understanding to manage obstetric emergencies and care for the pregnant patient who has experienced physical trauma or is suffering from a medical emergency;
4. Relate the pathophysiology of common paediatric conditions to the identification of those with the potential to result in an emergency presentation;
5. Recall the pharmacology of relevant drugs included in the paediatric and obstetric Clinical Practice Guidelines;
6. Demonstrate the clinical skills required of MICA Paramedics to be able to implement the paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines;
7. Demonstrate the ability to integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the management of paediatric and neonatal trauma and medical emergencies in 'real time' work simulation using the MICA Paramedic clinical problem solving and clinical decision making model;
8. Discuss the psychological and physiological responses of children to illness and injury'
9. Identify the common patterns of injury and related MICA Paramedic management;
10. Discuss the epidemiology of paediatric and obstetric conditions;
11. Describe the ongoing management of patients with emergency obstetric or paediatric conditions and
12. Discuss how a MICA Paramedic might relate to and co-ordinate with hospital paediatric critical care units and maternity departments.

Assessment

Examinations 75%, paediatric and obstetric emergencies simulation 25%, professional development Pass/Fail.

Contact hours

104 hours comprising lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and clinical scenarios, self-directed learning materials and WebCT; 20 hours supervised hospital clinical practice in a paediatric intensive care unit and paediatric operating theatre; and 32 hours including reading, research, preparation of assessments.