Course Title: Radiation Therapy Practice 3

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Radiation Therapy Practice 3

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

RADI1148

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Workplace

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Albert Low

Course Coordinator Phone: 03 99257943

Course Coordinator Email: albert.low@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.8.11


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course builds upon the capabilities achieved through clinical practice in the Radiation Therapy Practice 1&2 courses. This clinical placement will extend the student’s experiences to more advanced techniques and will build on knowledge learned in Radiation Therapy Methods 2 and Radiation Therapy Technology 2. Students will begin to develop evaluation skills and will continue to build on patient care skills gained in Radiation Therapy Practice 2.

Refer to the current program summary for pre-requisite and co-requisite courses.
 


Course Description

The course is designed to extend the student’s theoretical knowledge by incorporating more advanced techniques. Students will constructively reflect on clinical practice experiences, and utilising research skills, ensure an evidence-based approach, while also reflecting on their own personal and professional experiences. Issues relating to staff wellbeing will also be explored.

The student will build on effective communication skills practiced in Radiation Therapy Practice 2 to ensure patient physical and psychological needs are met, while gaining an appreciation for varying cultural perspectives. In turn, the student will prepare the patient both physically and psychologically in order to effectively carry out the clinical procedure. Ethical and support issues will also be explored in the context of the clinical setting.

This course is designed to ensure that the student’s practical skills are developed to a more advanced level than that achieved in Radiation Therapy Practice 2, while gaining experience in more advanced techniques performed under the supervision of a qualified Radiation Therapist.

The format of this course is attendance in a designated accredited clinical radiation therapy department where the student will be supported by the clinical staff, and supplemented by clinical tutorials at the university.
 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

As a student of this course you will begin to apply the principles and practices of more advanced radiation therapy techniques in the clinical setting, functioning as a member of the radiation therapy team. You will be expected to assist with, and demonstrate knowledge of advanced practices, and adapt and apply prior knowledge to a range of clinical scenarios. You will demonstrate the ability to assess and respond to the needs of the patient and interact with the multidisciplinary team in order to provide quality patient care.Reflection on practice utilising an evidence-based approach will be expected to ensure the student is demonstrating appropriate reasoning skills.


 


At the end of this course you will be able to:
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team
• Provide appropriate patient care and response to side effects
• Assist and demonstrate knowledge of planning and treatment principles for more advanced techniques (IMRT, IGRT, stereotactic, brachytherapy)
• Effectively produce and evaluate more advanced treatment plans
• Safely and accurately participate in a range of treatment techniques
• Perform routine daily QA procedures
• Demonstrate reflective practice skills and the ability to synthesise theoretical concepts with clinical practice and communicate these both verbally and in written submissions
 


Overview of Learning Activities

This course is a workplace course, and as such will comprise of a 5 week block release in an accredited centre, with direct involvement with a large number and wide variety of patients under the supervion of an appropriately qualified practitioner. The learning activities will comprise of actual clinical practice, lecture and  tutorial attendance.
 


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be provided with course information via the Learning Hub, as well as a wide range of referred articles and references.  Students will be encouraged to read widely from these sources and supplement their course notes with pre-reading from prescribed texts. . Students will also create a in relective journal in their ePortfolio and participate in structured tutorials designed to further develop understanding of supportive patient care.


Overview of Assessment

A variety of assessment activities are included in this course.  These may include, but are not limited to submission of written case studies, submission of assignments,  active participation in tutorial activities, submission of a reflective journal created using an electronic portfolio (ePortfolio), and assessments by the clinical supervisors. 
 

Work Integrated Learning:

Students enrolled in this course will be required to undertake placement as part of the assessment of the course. A number of requirements must be met by students to ensure eligibility for placement. Further details on each of these are available in Part B of the Course Guide and on MyRMIT.
• National Police check
• Working with Children Check
• Immunisation Declaration Form
• Hand Hygiene certificate
• First Aid Certificate
• CPR Certificate
• Manual Handing certificate


Students enrolled in this course will be required to undertake placement as part of the assessment of the course. A number of requirements must be met by students to ensure eligibility for placement.
Students are responsible for any expenses associated to attending professional placement. These costs may include, but are not limited to the following: uniform, police check application, first aid training, travel, accommodation and vaccinations.
Further details on each of these are available on MyRMIT.

Placement Agreements:
Placement agreements between RMIT and the placement organisation are in place. Any information required by students contained in the agreement is available on MyRMIT or InPlace.

National Police check:
Students are required to apply for a National Police Record Check in each year that a placement is to be undertaken. In some cases students may be required to obtain an additional police check during the year where an organisation stipulates a shorter time period for the issue of the police check.
Where a student has a disclosable outcome recorded on their police check certificate, the Placement Coordinator or WIL Coordinator will make contact with the relevant placement organisation to confirm eligibility to attend the placement. It is important to note that a disclosable outcome may prevent a student from accessing suitable, or any, professional placement(s) and may therefore be delayed or prevented from satisfactorily progressing through the program.
Students are required to advise the School in a timely manner of any change to their criminal record during the academic year. In the case of a change, students are required to apply for a new National Police Record Check if placements for that year are still to occur.

Working with Children Check:
A current Working with Children Card (WWCC) must be held by the student. Students are required by law to list RMIT as an organisation with who you will be undertaking child related volunteer work. Where a student receives a negative notice for their WWCC, the Placement Coordinator or WIL Coordinator will make contact with the relevant placement organisation to confirm eligibility to attend the placement. A negative notice means you cannot engage in child-related work under any circumstance. It is important to note that a negative notice may prevent a student from accessing suitable, or any, professional placement(s) and may therefore be delayed or prevented from satisfactorily progressing through the program.

Immunisation Declaration form:
Students are required to submit the School’s Immunisation Declaration Form as evidence of vaccinations and immunity. This form must be completed and signed off by a medical practitioner.

Hand Hygiene:
Students are required to provide evidence of completion of a hand hygiene course.

First Aid Certificate:
Students are required to provide evidence of completion of a first aid course. This is valid for three years.

CPR Certificate:
Students are required to provide evidence of completion of a CPR course. This is required to be updated annually.

Manual Handling:
Students are required to provide evidence of completion of a Manual Handling course.

Thermo-Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD):
Students are required to wear a current TLD at all times during laboratories and in clinical placement. TLDs are provided by the School. Students whose TLD is returned late or lost will incur a fine.

Uniform:
Students are required to purchase and wear the uniform for Medical Radiations. The uniform must be worn at all times while on placement.