Course Title: RMIT Laboratory Medicine Professional Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: RMIT Laboratory Medicine Professional Practice

Credit Points: 48.00


Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Cindy O'Malley

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7590

Course Coordinator Email: cindy.omalley@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.09.14E


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You 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

The RMIT Laboratory Medicine Professional Practice course includes a Simulated 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).

You will undertake a program of supervised simulated professional practice in the RMIT pathology teaching laboratories at Bundoora West campus, for the purposes of educating and training future diagnostic or research Medical Scientists.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes of the Master of Laboratory Medicine:

  • Knowledge Capability (PLO 1)
  • Technical Capability (PLO 2)
  • Professional Work Practices (PLO 3)
  • Reflective Capability (PLO 5)


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

  1. Safely prepare and analyse clinical material
  2. Correlate and validate results of investigations using knowledge of method(s) including analytical principles and interpret patient results.
  3. Maintain and take responsibility for the maintenance of documentation, equipment, resources and stock in a diagnostic laboratory.
  4. Practice reflection and attend continuing professional development appropriate to your discipline.


Overview of Learning Activities

The main learning activity is this course is a simulated placement experience in the RMIT pathology teaching laboratories at Bundoora West campus. In general, the activities on placement include the use of instrumentation employed in the laboratory and performance of routine techniques. Exposure to special techniques will be provided to allow you to appreciate their use in problem solving situations. You 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 demonstration of knowledge and reflection on key competencies.

You will be required to complete a period of 12 weeks placement. This 12-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 not be possible.


Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources available during this course include the resources of the laboratory for the placement and online resources such as myRMIT and RMIT library.


Overview of Assessment

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 Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

Assessment in this course is based on a Professional Practice Portfolio of evidence of competence and a performance appraisal by the laboratory supervisor.

Hurdles: To pass the course, a pass must be obtained in each piece of assessment.  This is to ensure capability in the key areas of professional practice as is required by professional accrediting body.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Competency Assessment Tasks (Pass/Fail)

Weighting 0%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 2: Portfolio of evidence of successful fulfilment of the “Competency Based Standards for Medical Scientists”. This Standard includes 6 units each of which must be satisfactorily completed.

Weighting - 6 standards x 12% each = 72%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Supervisors Appraisal

Weighting 20%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 4: Continuing Professional Development Log

Weighting 8%

This assessment task supports CLO 4