RTS5110 - Radiation therapy science and practice 1 - 2019

This is a unit of 6 weeks of clinical placement, allowing students to begin developing both their technical and professional skills within the field of radiation therapy. This unit will provide students with the opportunity to practice infection control, occupational health and safety, radiation safety; communication and cultural safety and administrative skills. Students will demonstrate the characteristics of a beginning practitioner.

Summer A Offering: This offering (for students who have RTS4102 as a pre-requisite) includes a period of 4 weeks of Eclipse cloud-based planning and pre-clinical activities prior to clinical placement in November/December and a clinical placement of 6 weeks which commences in January.

Summer B Offering: Students will commence in January and will be exempt from Pre-clinical Eclipse Planning activities, as they will have completed these in RTS4104 and RTS4105 of the Bachelor of Radiation Sciences.

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

1. Analyse, apply and reflect on theories of human communication, cultural safety, empathy, occupational health and radiation safety of the working environment, within a professional standards and ethics context;
2. Record and obtain information from individuals employing appropriate observation and interviewing skills, such that the information generated may be integrated with advanced scientific theory and knowledge to provide quality levels of patient care;
3. Apply the principles of anatomy pathophysiology and radiation oncology in the radiation therapy clinical environment, critically reflecting on these for individual patient cases;
4. Critically reflect upon multi-disciplinary radiation therapy practice and identify on-going professional development needs with respect to planning, treatment and patient management;
5. Implement radiation therapy planning, treatment and patient management protocols across a diverse range of patients and evaluate their efficacy at the level of a 'beginner/novice practitioner';
6. Evaluate the principles of palliative care, reflecting on patient management strategies in the radiation oncology palliative care sector.

6 weeks clinical placement

• Case reports (50%) (3000 words):
  a. Treatment case report (1,500 words)
  b. Planning case report (1,500 words)
• Clinical skills assessment (10%)
• Written evidence-based assignment on Palliative care (2,000 words) (40%)

Hurdle:

• All elements of assessment must be passed to pass the unit; and
• Successful completion of pre and post clinical Moodle, clinical workbook activities and Pebblepad portfolio tasks.
• Successful completion of online treatment planning activities

Summer A Offering: 4 weeks of Eclipse cloud-based planning and pre-clinical activities during November/December prior to clinical placement of 6 weeks which commences in January.

Summer B Offering: 6 weeks of clinical placement commencing January.

See also Unit timetable information

Radiation therapy