Undergraduate - UnitBEH2022 - Paramedic management of trauma and environmental conditions

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Synopsis

This unit continues to develop the role of the paramedic as a clinician by extending
clinical examination and decision making skills that were introduced in previous clinical units.
The unit addresses injury and injury prevention across the lifespan, with specific reference to commonly encountered acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, injury associated with environmental exposure, and poisoning.
The unit will be case based, and will include clinical skills laboratories and simulation to develop essential clinical skills, clinical problem solving and decision making competencies. The scope of the unit includes developing the skills needed to provide general health care as well as care at an advanced life support level.

Outcomes

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

1. Describe the epidemiology, population health and pathology related to injuries and commonly encountered in paramedic practice.
2. Describe criteria used to identify major trauma and demonstrate the application of pre-hospital trauma triage guidelines.
3. Identify and evaluate evidence that informs paramedic clinical practice guidelines used to care for patients with injury.
4. Relate the pharmacology of drugs used by paramedics for the management of injury or environmental conditions to drug indications and actions.
5. Demonstrate the ability to integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the assessment and management of patients with injury and environmental conditions in real time simulation including clinical problem solving and clinical decision taking, professionalism, safety, documentation, communication and teamwork.
6. Demonstrate the management of patients, their carers and bystanders in situations of acute injury in a sociological and culturally sensitive context.
7. Describe the special features and trends in the Australian health system relating to prevention and management of injury, 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 injury prevention.

Assessment

Written examination (3 hour): 45%
Written assignment (2000 words): 40%
Mid-semester test (1 hour): 15%
Scenario-based clinical examination (30 minutes): pass/fail (hurdle)

Hurdle requirements: To pass this unit the student must pass the written examination AND pass the scenario-based clinical examination. 80% attendance at paramedic skills laboratories is mandatory to pass this unit.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Malcolm Boyle

Contact hours

6 hours per week involving lectures, tutorials, simulation, clinical laboratory and small group exercises.

Prerequisites

BEH1011

Co-requisites

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