Course Title: Professional Practice - Laboratory Medicine
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Professional Practice - Laboratory Medicine
Credit Points: 48.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
MEDS2156 |
Bundoora Campus |
Postgraduate |
173H School of Health and Biomed |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 2 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 2 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 2 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 2 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Rosita Zakaria
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7668
Course Coordinator Email: rosita.zakaria@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 201.09.014A-4
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Assumed Knowledge
Students must have successfully completed a total of 144 credit points (or equivalent credit exemptions) in courses that fulfil the requirements for the MC158 program including two advanced 24 credit point courses; MATH1300 Biostatistics and MEDS2154 Advanced Laboratory Medicine.
Course Description
This course includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to the experience.
This course is intended to cover the areas of: knowledge capability (in various areas of laboratory medicine), technical capability in discipline related skills relevant to the laboratory of placement; communication skills (with professional co-workers and key users of the laboratory); professional work practices (in the day to day performance); and reflective capability (in completion of the Portfolio of Evidence of competency standards).
Students undertake a program of supervised professional practice in either a medical research, hospital or private pathology laboratory affiliated with the school, to educate and train future diagnostic or research Medical Scientists.
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:
• National Police check
• Working with Children Check
• Immunisation Declaration Form
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes of the MC158 Master of Laboratory Medicine:
- PLO 1 Knowledge capability: Have a comprehensive understanding of key scientific principles underpinning laboratory medicine and have developed a systemic knowledge of core cellular and molecular processes underlying health and disease. Have advanced knowledge of two core clinical speciality disciplines of laboratory medicine and advanced management skills.
- PLO 2 Technical capability: Ability to develop and perform a range of diagnostic techniques relevant to the field of laboratory medicine. To use logical and systemic thinking and high level critical analysis skills to solve problems by utilising diagnostic techniques and methodologies in the chosen areas of clinical laboratory specialisation.
- PLO 3 Professional work practices: Have a critical awareness of principles relating to scientific integrity, ethical issues and legal framework that underpins the field of laboratory medicine. Contribute to professional work settings through effective interpersonal and teamwork skills to support constructive interactions.
- PLO 4 Communication skills: Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups within the diagnostic laboratory environment. Acquire, organise, critically analyse, interpret and present information to media in professional settings on current issues in laboratory medicine.
- PLO 5 Reflective capability: Ability to reflect and integrate based upon experiences in relation to theory and work practices to demonstrate creativity in the identification of problems and their solutions. Identify personal skill deficiencies that require further professional development.
- PLO 6 Research capability Ability to apply the principles and methods of scientific inquiry and research design to plan and perform hypothesis-driven research project in the field of laboratory medicine or an in-depth advanced professional practice in laboratory medicine work experience.
On successful completion of this course you should be able to:
- Communicate accurate and relevant discipline specific knowledge
- Show capability in discipline specific laboratory skills
- Apply generic capabilities in a discipline specific context
Overview of Learning Activities
The main learning activity in this course is a placement experience in an appropriate laboratory such as a medical Research laboratory, or a hospital/ private pathology laboratory affiliated with the School. In general, the activities on placement include the use of instrumentation employed in the laboratory and the performance of routine techniques. Exposure to special techniques will be provided to allow students to appreciate their use in problem-solving situations. Students will participate in the correlation, validation and interpretation of test results. Through this process, they should acquire an appreciation of the value of clinical information, including patient histories and therapy, for proper interpretation of results. They should develop an understanding of medical terminology including standard abbreviations.
The completion of a portfolio of evidence will allow the demonstration of knowledge and reflection on key competencies.
Students are offered a full-time placement position and are required to complete 16 weeks of placement. This 16-week undertaking is on the condition of 5 days per week and cannot be extended. Extension due to sick leave, outside what is outlined in the Professional Practice Handbook, or exceptional circumstances that arise during placement, must be discussed with the course coordinator and may require special consideration or other university intervention in line with the appropriate university policies and procedures.
You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
This course contains hurdle requirements. All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).
Assessment in this course is based on a Professional Practice Portfolio, which includes professional competencies and a performance appraisal by the workplace supervisor.
To pass the course, a pass must be obtained in each competency elements under the assessment tasks below, plus the supervisor’s performance appraisal. This is to ensure capability in the key areas of professional practice. In addition, the duration of placement is a hurdle requirement.
Assessment Tasks - Professional Practice Portfolio
Assessment Task 1: Reflective Presentation (HURDLE)
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 3
Assessment Task 2: Competency Checklist (HURDLE)
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 3: Competency Standards (HURDLE)
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 4: Professional Practice Appraisal (HURDLE)
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3
If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.