units

PAR4302

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Monash University

Postgraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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

LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
OfferedPeninsula First semester 2012 (Day)
Peninsula Second semester 2012 (Day)
Peninsula Summer semester A to Semester one 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Ingrid Brooks

Synopsis

This unit will cover the theoretical underpinnings required to develop in the student an
appropriate level of knowledge, understanding and skill related to the management of
patients with chest pain. Specific topics include cardiac anatomy and physiology, the
natural history of ischaemic heart disease, cardiovascular pathology, interpretation of
electrocardiographic rhythms and waveforms and pharmacology of drugs used in the
treatment of acute myocardial infarction. This unit also provides the student with
supervised hospital clinical placements.

Outcomes

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

  1. describe the structure and function of the heart through the application of their
knowledge of normal cardiac anatomy and physiology;
  1. describe the natural history of ischaemic heart disease and cardiovascular pathology
related to acute myocardial infarction;
  1. interpret common electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms and waveforms;
  2. recall the pharmacology of relevant drugs used in the emergency management of
cardiac conditions;
  1. integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to the management of cardiac
emergencies in 'real time' work simulation using a clinical problem solving and
clinical decision making model;
  1. describe the benefits of pre-hospital advanced cardiac life support and the related role of the MICA Paramedic;
  2. discuss the epidemiology of cardiac disease;
  3. describe the role of coronary care units in the management of patients with
emergency cardiac conditions;
  1. discuss how community emergency health practitioners might relate to and coordinate
with hospital coronary care units;
  1. demonstrate the characteristics of an interactional professional within the context
of managing patients with cardiac emergencies; and
  1. implement evidence-based practice to the management of emergency cardiac
conditions.

Assessment

Examinations (75%)
Advanced cardiac life support simulation (25%)
Professional development assessment (Pass/Fail)

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Ingrid Brooks

Contact hours

104 comprising lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and clinical scenarios, self-directed learning materials and WebCT, 20 hours supervised hospital clinical practice, 32 hours independent work;

Prerequisites

This unit is only available to students sponsored by Ambulance Victoria, and the
Alfred Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre, or other industry sponsored
students.