Unit Outline

This unit provides a structured introduction to the practical aspects of the clinical environment within a medical radiation department and to basic techniques in medical radiation science. You will be introduced to a range of techniques and instrumentation used in Diagnostic Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Therapy. You will develop skills in critically evaluating professional and ethical practice in medical radiation science and approaches to communication and collaboration as a member of a health care team. During the semester, you will undertake a structured clinical practicum placement in an appropriate medical radiation science department related to your chosen specialisation (Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiography or Radiation Therapy) and develop a portfolio related to clinical situations experienced during clinical placement.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe and evaluate examination and treatment techniques, protocols and technique modifications in medical radiation science.
2.	Explain the role of technology and compare different modalities used in medical radiation science procedures.
3.	Critically evaluate professional and ethical practice in medical radiation science and assess approaches to communication and collaboration as a member of a health care team.
4.	Assess risk for patients and staff including radiation safety in medical radiation science procedures.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA200 AND CXA202

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Diagnostic Radiography Assignment	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Nuclear Medicine Assignment.	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Radiation Therapy Assignment	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 4:	Portfolio	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	Examination	Exam Period	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Diagnostic Radiography Assignment

Task Description:

Medical Imaging Assignment.

Part 1: Discuss the potential issues with performing this examination for each of the three patients.
Part 2: Propose changes to the approach to this examination for each patient. Consider how it would
differ from the requirements for an ambulant, coherent, adult.

Address Domains 1, 2 and 3 of the professional capabilities for medical radiation practice in your
answer.
The domains are:
Domain 1: Medical Radiation Practitioner (1A: Diagnostic Radiographer)
Domain 2: Professional and Ethical Practitioner
Domain 3: Communicator and Collaborator

The assignment does not need to address all aspects of these domains, but all three domains need
to be included.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe clinically relevant issues and propose and assess modifications to Diagnostic Radiography Practice.	LO1, LO2
2	Describe clinically relevant issues and propose and assess modifications to Professional and Ethical Practice (Domain 2).	LO3
3	Describe clinically relevant issues and propose and assess modifications Communication and Collaboration (Domain 3).	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Nuclear Medicine Assignment.

Task Description:

Nuclear Medicine Assignment.

Directed assignment on Nuclear Medicine Modalities principles and instrumentation. Case study and scenario vignettes, and short answers. Online submission

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explains the techniques of operation of nuclear medicine studies including radiopharmacy.	LO1
2	Describe the principles of instrumentation, patient care and radiation safety in nuclear medicine procedures.	LO2
3	Describe relevant physiology and pathology observed in nuclear medicine studies.	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Radiation Therapy Assignment

Task Description:

Radiation Therapy Assignment.

Directed written assignment on Radiation Therapy principles instrumentation and planning. Case study and scenario vignettes, and short answers.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the role of CT simulation in Radiation Therapy	LO1, LO2
2	Describe the purpose and procedure of Quality Assurance undertaken before daily Radiation Therapy treatment.	LO1
3	Explain the purpose and procedure of Radiation Therapy planning principles.	LO2

Assessment Task 4: Portfolio

Task Description:

Portfolio

Students individually write a portfolio describing scenarios they have experienced on placement and reflection in the domains of MRPBA Professional Capabilities.

Students will describe three scenarios involving patient and/or staff interactions (e.g., a clinical examination or procedure). This description should include as much relevant information related to the interaction including the patient condition, handling and communication and details of the examination and equipment used (e.g., exposure variables). These scenarios will be used to support the reflections on the domains of MRPBA Professional Capabilities. Care should be taken to maintain privacy and confidentiality of all involved including patients and staff.

Students will provide reflections on the domains of MRPBA Professional Capabilities associated with the work they have performed/observed on placement. The scenarios previously described will be used to provide context for the reflection. A scenario or situation may be used to illustrate student learning in more than one domain, and additional experiences on placement may be used.

For each domain, the following points should be covered:

How the situation applied to the domain being discussed
What was learned that relates to the relevant domain
Any changes to future actions should a similar situation arise in the future
Students will also prepare and present a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation outlining one scenario presented in the portfolio (you do not need to identify a new scenario for the presentation) and provide reflection on 3 domains related to this scenario.

Task Length:

3000 words. 10 minute PowerPoint presentation

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describes clinical scenarios and practice using Medical Radiation Science terminology.	LO1, LO2
2	Critically evaluate clinical practice and propose alternative approaches related to Domain 1 - Medical Radiation Practitioner.	LO1, LO2
3	Critically evaluate clinical practice and propose alternative approaches related to Domain 2 - Professional and Ethical Practitioner.	LO3
4	Critically evaluate clinical practice and propose alternative approaches related to Domain 3 – Communicator and Collaborator.	LO3
5	Critically evaluate clinical practice and propose alternative approaches related to Domain 4 - Evidence-informed Practitioner.	LO4
6	Critically evaluate clinical practice and propose alternative approaches related to Domain 5 - Radiation Safety and Risk Manager.	LO4

Assessment Task 5: Examination

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.