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, Sem 2 2024, Sem 1 2025, Sem 2 2025 |
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: MATH2209 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 a 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 Forms
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes of the MC158 Master of Laboratory Medicine:
PLO 1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of key scientific principles in two core clinical speciality disciplines of laboratory medicine.
PLO 3. Perform and interpret a range of diagnostic techniques relevant to the field of laboratory medicine.
PLO4. Adapt critical analysis skills in problem-solving methodologies and artefacts.
PLO 5. Critically evaluate the principles relating to scientific integrity, ethical issues and legal framework through effective connected interpersonal and teamwork in the field of laboratory medicine.
PLO 6. Communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and multidisciplinary groups to critically analyse, interpret and present information in the diagnostic laboratory environment.
PLO 7. Critically reflect and integrate experiences in relation to theory and work practices to further professional development.
PLO 8. Apply the principles and methods of scientific inquiry, research design, and performance in a laboratory project in the field of laboratory medicine.
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 of Health and Biomedical Sciences. 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 element 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 5%
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 35%
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.