units

BEH2131

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 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.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Community Emergency Health and Paramedics
OfferedPeninsula First semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Mr Damien Dambrosi

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 covers commonly encountered chronic, acute, and life threatening cardiovascular problems across the lifespan. The unit will be both theory, and case based. It will include clinical skills laboratories and simulation to develop essential clinical skills, clinical problem solving and decision making competencies. This will be supported by a significant theoretical component including pathophysiology and ECG interpretation. The scope of the unit includes the development of skills needed to provide general health care as well as care at an advanced life support level.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the epidemiology, population health, pathology and clinical manifestations of acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions commonly encountered in paramedic practice across the lifespan;
  2. Locate and evaluate evidence that informs paramedic care for patients with cardiovascular conditions;
  3. Demonstrate systematic patient assessment and formulation of a statement describing the individual's alteration in health status;
  4. Demonstrate the planning and implementation of care and accurately document and communicate the care provided;
  5. Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration with patients, families and other members of the multidisciplinary health care team;
  6. Evaluate the appropriateness and efficacy of care in relation to the special needs of patients across the lifespan and the needs of patients, family and carers from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds;
  7. Relate the pharmacology of drugs used by paramedics for the management of cardiovascular conditions to drug indications and actions;
  8. Reflect on the diagnostic reasoning, clinical problem solving and clinical decision making processes that influence the care of patients with cardiovascular conditions in order to evaluate and justify management decisions and identify threats to patient safety;
  9. Describe the special features and trends in the Australian health system relating to prevention and management of cardiovascular disease;
  10. Demonstrate appropriate professional behaviours and provide peer review within simulated learning environments.

Assessment

Mid-semester test (1 hour) (20%)
Clinical portfolio (30%) (Hurdle)
Written examination (2 hours) (50%)
Case simulation (30 minutes) (Pass / Fail) (Hurdle)

Workload requirements

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

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in course 3445.