units

SON4023

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 22 November 2024
Monash University

Postgraduate - 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.

LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
OfferedClayton First semester 2015 (Online)
Clayton Second semester 2015 (Online)
Coordinator(s)Mr Paul Lombardo

Synopsis

Review of human genetics, pregnancy and human development. Scanning methods/techniques including transabdominal, transvaginal, transperineal related to sonography of the 3 trimesters of pregnancy, evaluation of ectopic pregnancy and assisted fertilisation techniques. Ethical principals re-examined in light of this medical speciality. Ultrasound of multiple pregnancies, obstetric ultrasound interventional techniques, sonographic assessment of gestational age and growth and use of ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies and diagnosis of foetal death in utero. Physical principles of visualising surfaces in 3D and their applications for obstetric ultrasound.

Outcomes

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

  1. Describe the events of foetal development and circulation;
  2. Describe foetal and placental anomalies;
  3. Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and understanding of genetics, indications and the application of ethics in obstetric ultrasound examinations and the use of ultrasound in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies;
  4. Describe appropriate sonographic imaging techniques and methods to demonstrate normal embryonic processes and pathology visible in the first trimester, including ectopic pregnancy, normal and abnormal fetoplacental anatomy;
  5. Assess gestational age and growth in the second and third trimesters and growth disorders in the third trimester;
  6. Assess gestational age and growth in the second trimester and growth disorders in the third trimester;
  7. perform routine transabdominal, transvaginal and transperineal sonographic examinations involving the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of both single and multiple pregnancies safely and to a standard and ethical conduct expected of a competent sonographer*;
  8. Use the theory and interpretive skills obtained in this unit in the performance of transabdominal, transvaginal and transperineal ultrasound examinations involving the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters*;
  9. Recognise and describe placental abnormalities and foetal death, normal embryonic processes and pathology visible in the first, second and third trimesters.

  • The level of the competency obtained will be dependent on access to obstetric ultrasound clinical experience. There is provision to perform to a lower standard (advanced beginner) as many students now have limited or restricted access to ultrasound practice.

Fieldwork

Students must be actively engaged in supervised ultrasound clinical practice in the workplace for at least three days a week (or equivalent). It is the student's responsibility to secure a supervised ultrasound clinical placement in the workplace.

Assessment

Compulsory attainment of a requisite number of ultrasound examinations (Hurdle)
2 x Assignments (1,500 words each) (30%)
Written examination (2 hours) (40%)
Image recognition examination (1 hour) (20%)
Clinical skills assessment (10%)

Requirement to obtain a pass: Students must obtain at least 50% of available marks overall and at least 50% of available marks in each of the written examination, and image recognition examination and clinical skills assessment. Hurdle requirements must be met.

Chief examiner(s)

Mr Paul Lombardo

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

Medical ultrasound

Prerequisites

SON4000, SON4010.