Course Title: Radiation Therapy 3

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Radiation Therapy 3

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

RADI1181

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

RADI1181

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020

Course Coordinator: John Ryan

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7909

Course Coordinator Email: john.ryan3@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.08.016


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. 

 

Required Concurrent Study

You should undertake the following courses at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. 


Course Description

This course will develop your knowledge and skills relating to contemporary Radiation Therapy practice.  You will develop your understanding of treatment planning and delivery through simulated learning environments and attendance at a designated radiation therapy facility during a clinical placement.

This is a designated work-integrated learning course for BP148 Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations).

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

There is no flexibility with these requirements.  It is your responsibility to ensure THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLETED.  Any student who has not provided this information will not be able to attend placement and will receive a fail grade for the placement course.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP148 Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) (aligned to the Accreditation Standards of the Medical Radiations Practice Board of Australia):

Standard 1.1 Professional and ethical conduct

1.1a. Practice in an ethical and professional manner, consistent with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements

1.1b. Provide each patient/client with an appropriate level of dignity and care

1.1c. Under supervision demonstrate the ability to assume responsibility, and accept accountability, for professional decisions

1.1d. Under supervision demonstrate the ability to advocate on behalf of the patient/client, when appropriate within the context of the practitioner’s particular division of registration

Standard 1.2 Communication and collaboration

1.2a. Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively with patient/client and your family or carers

1.2b. Collaborate with other health professionals

Standard 1.3 Evidence based practice and professional learning

1.3a. Apply critical and reflective thinking to resolve clinical challenges

1.3b. Identify ongoing professional learning needs and opportunities

Standard 1.4 Radiation safety and risk management

1.4a. Implement safe radiation practice appropriate to your division of registration

1.4b. Protect and enhance patient/client safety

1.4c. Confirm and operate equipment and instrumentation safely as appropriate to your division of registration

1.4d. Maintain safety of self and others in the work environment appropriate to your division of registration

1.4e. Safely manage radiation and radioactivity in the environment

Standard 1.5 Practice in medical radiation sciences

1.5a. Apply an understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology that is appropriate to your division of registration

1.5b. Apply principles of medical radiation physics and instrumentation

1.5c. Use patient information management systems appropriately

1.5d. Confirm the procedure according to clinical indicators

1.5e. Assess patient/client’s capacity to receive care

Standard 1.8 Practice in radiation therapy

1.8 1a. Apply knowledge of stabilisation devices related to radiation therapy

1.8 1b. Apply treatment simulation techniques

1.8 1c. Apply knowledge of treatment planning

1.8 1d. Implement computed tomography (CT) imaging for oncologic treatment planning

1.8 1e. Implement treatment techniques according to approved plans

1.8 2b. Under supervision demonstrate the ability to alert the appropriate health professional when you observe significant findings of a medically urgent nature


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Perform and evaluate a wide range of radiotherapy pre-treatment (including planning) and treatment techniques
  2. Demonstrate consistently high standards of professional behaviour, interpersonal and patient care skills
  3. Critically evaluate the clinical management options for a range of complex tumour sites
  4. Critically evaluate the importance of a holistic approach to clinical management and patient care
  5. Utilise 3D planning software to design and optimise dose distributions for complex planning techniques
  6. Critically apply knowledge of dosimetry principles and critical appraisal of literature to plan evaluation of complex 3D planning techniques in written and verbal communications
  7. Critically reflect on your role in the team, strengths and development needs and a range of key learning experiences and develop a logical action plan for future personal and professional development


Overview of Learning Activities

You will learn through a variety of activities that will include lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes, computer-based planning classes, Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) simulation, attendance at a work-integrated learning (WIL) clinical placement and self-directed study.  This course is supported by RMIT's online Learning Management System (LMS).

You will undertake the equivalent of five hours per week in lectures and three hours per week in problem-based practical classes.  In addition you are expected to spend a minimum of four hours per week in independent study.  You will also attend a 5-week block clinical placement.


Overview of Learning Resources

You are expected to make use of RMIT's online Learning Management System (LMS).  This resource provides a range of materials aimed at supporting your learning and you are encouraged to actively use this site and the material it contains.  You are also expected to conduct a significant level of self-directed learning to reinforce learned concepts.  There is the expectation that you will access appropriate peer-reviewed literature via the RMIT library.  The Medical Radiations Subject Guide (URL: http://rmit.libguides.com/medical-radiations) provides useful references.  A detailed course schedule will be available via myRMIT.  Any changes to this schedule due to unforeseen circumstances will be posted on the LMS.


Overview of Assessment

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly and have been approved by the College Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Clinical Placement (HURDLE Requirement)

Weighting 0% 

This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 2

Assessment Task 2: Professional Development Journal

Weighting 20% 

This assessment task supports CLO 7

Assessment Task 3: Plan evaluation

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 5 & 6

Assessment Task 4: Clinical Case Study

Weighting 20%

This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 5: Examination

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4, 5 & 6