Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Practice Laboratory Medicine 1

Credit Points: 48.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MEDS2202

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Dodie Pouniotis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6680

Course Coordinator Email: dodie.pouniotis@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.10.10


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

And one (1) of the following courses:

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 includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real workplace context and where feedback from industry is integral to your experience. 

This course is conducted as a co-operative education sandwich course during which you undertake a program of supervised professional practice in either medical research or hospital or private pathology laboratory affiliated with the department, for the purposes of educating and training future diagnostic or research Medical Scientists. 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 competency standards). 

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM).  

See the WAM information web page for more information. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability you should contact the Program Coordinator or the Equitable Learning Services for further advice. Students need to be able to meet the inherent requirements of the program.

At any time prior to or during your placement if there are concerns raised related to your fitness to practice the clinical coordinator can request that you gain full medical clearance to continue your placement.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for the following programs:  

BH129 Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Honours) 

  • PLO1 Apply coherent and advanced laboratory medicine theories, concepts and evidence in various real-world settings using a scientific approach. 
  • PLO2 Apply systematic thinking and a range of advanced analytical and technical skills using a blend of digital and traditional methods, tools and technologies to solve complex scientific and medical problems. 
  • PLO3 Apply research principles and methodology to design and implement a laboratory medicine research project to address complex real-world scientific challenges and make original contribution to disciplinary knowledge. 
  • PLO4 Demonstrate the ability to generate and critically evaluate solutions to all aspects of interdisciplinary professional practice while complying with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards that underpins the field of laboratory medicine. 
  • PLO5 Communicate and collaborate with diverse audiences utilising contemporary and traditional formats employing inclusivity, integrity, judgement, adaptability, and culturally safe practices related to laboratory medicine. 
  • PLO6 Demonstrate responsibility, accountability and autonomy for own learning and professional practice as part of a multidisciplinary team. 
  • PLO7 Apply and demonstrate the cultural intelligence and safety to practice, with consideration of the experience and  perspectives of First Nations peoples and the global community in all aspects of work. 


On successful completion of this course you should be able to address the objectives below as evidenced by a portfolio of competencies and an appraisal by your laboratory supervisor/s: 

  1. Describe and analyse pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical specimens/processing procedures and requirements in your workplace setting.
  2. Discuss and apply relevant procedures for results validations, including quality control and quality assurance measures in your workplace laboratory.
  3. Interpret laboratory results for a wide range of specimens/tests in your workplace setting and describe the process for issuing final patient reports.
  4. Receive training and become competent in a wide range of tests/methods for your specific discipline/laboratory area of industry placement.
  5. Reflect on your placement experiences of applying a professional approach and professional skills to practice as a trainee medical scientist to enhance your career prospects.
  6. Communicate accurate and relevant discipline specific knowledge
  7. Show capability in discipline specific laboratory skills
  8. Apply generic capabilities in a discipline specific context 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.

As you may be placed in a diverse range of laboratory settings it is not possible, or in fact desirable, to be too specific about the type of learning experiences that you might encounter. As guidance to supervisors your learning experiences should be designed to address the professional competencies articulated for Medical Scientists in Australia. 

You are expected to complete laboratory/professional practice experience over 20 weeks at 4 days per week. A minimum total of 560 hours of professional practice must be completed for AIMS accreditation.  

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 for all assessments. 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). 

HURDLE: The evidence provided for each of the competency standards must be satisfactory. You must have satisfactorily completed the placement including a satisfactory performance appraisal in this course MEDS2202).  

Assessment Tasks – Professional Practice Portfolio 

Assessment Task 1: Professional Practice (HURDLE) 
Weighting 40% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 

Assessment Task 2: Professional Practice Appraisal (HURDLE) 
Weighting 30% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 

Assessment Task 3: Professional Practice Competency Checklist (HURDLE) 
Weighting 10% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 

Assessment Task 4: Reflective Presentation (HURDLE) 
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 

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.