units

SON4020

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 23 April 2024
Monash University

Postgraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 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.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
OfferedClayton First semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Clayton Second semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)Mr Paul Lombardo

Synopsis

The initial component introduces key principles of medicolegal practice, medical ethics, infection control and professional communication. In the second part of the unit, the breast and thyroid are used as exemplars to relate these principles to the practice of medical ultrasound. Sonographic scanning methods and techniques for examinations of the breast and thyroid will be introduced, information gathering techniques and the elements of a clinical history will be discussed, interpretational skills in respect to the recognition of the sonographic appearances of normal anatomy, anatomical variants and disease processes affecting the breast and the thyroid will be developed.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of key principles of medical law, medical ethics and the control of infection;
  2. identify potential medico-legal and ethical situations arising from sonographic practice and the communication of sonographic findings to patients, radiologists or sonologists and referring medical practitioners;
  3. apply information gathering techniques and take a clinical history;
  4. perform routine sonographic examinations of the breast and thyroid safely and to a

standard and ethical conduct expected of a competent sonographer;

  1. recognise and describe normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the breast and thyroid and related artefacts;
  2. appreciate when modifications to routine scanning approaches are required as well as the limitations of ultrasound in respect to imaging the breast and thyroid.

Assessment

Compulsory attainment of a requisite number of ultrasound examinations (hurdle requirement)
Clinical skills assessment (hurdle requirement)
Two x 1500 word assignments (20%)
Written examination (2 hours)(40%)
Image recognition examination (1 hour)(20%)
Reflective journal (20%)

Chief examiner(s)

Mr Paul Lombardo

Prerequisites

SON4000, SON4010

Co-requisites

3 days a week performing relevant clinical ultrasound examinations or equivalent