PARA320 - Paramedic Theory and Practice: Population Variances

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

PARA201 Paramedic Theory: Medical 1 ; PARA202 Paramedic Practice: Medical 1

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

Paramedics encounter situations and problems that require expedient, insightful and competent decision making to achieve optimal patient outcomes. While the number of pre-hospital gynaecological, obstetric, newborn, and paediatric emergencies are small, the acuity in such cases can be high. This unit is required by students to ensure they achieve the knowledge and skills to manage gynaecological, obstetric, newborn and paediatric conditions and emergencies.

This unit will introduce students to the theoretical aspects of pathophysiology and paramedic management of gynaecological, obstetric, newborn and paediatric patients whose presentations, needs and management vary from the general population. Students will also develop knowledge and practical skills in birthing, care of the newborn, and the pre-and post-partum woman.

The aim of this unit is to assist students to achieve an advanced knowledge of gynaecological, obstetric, newborn, paediatric and complex patient presentations and emergencies to ensure the optimal outcomes for patients and enhance the professional practice of paramedics.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Outline current best practice management of the presentations related to the special population groups explored in the pre, in and post hospital setting and apply interventions whilst relating them to the concept of time criticality (GA5, GA7, GA10) 

LO2 - Differentiate provisional diagnoses of various presentations from within various special population groups on the basis of understanding of pathophysiology with reference to available clinical data (GA4, GA5, GA6)  

LO3 - Identify common emergencies in special populations, describe their incidence, pathophysiology, implications, assessment and apply a paramedic clinical assessment framework and appropriate paramedic interventions within a team environment operating with the therapeutic objective (GA5, GA7, GA9) 

LO4 - Describe the unique health issues associated with the older adult population in Australia and outline pre-hospital paramedic management of the common illnesses associated with older adulthood (GA1, GA3, GA5, GA8) 

LO5 - Describe the physical, cognitive and psychosocial impacts of disabilities, chronic illness and co-morbidities across each stage of the lifespan and describe the appropriate pre-hospital paramedic management of these populations (GA1, GA5, GA8)

LO6 - Critically appraise current paramedic management strategies, with particular reference to their ability to cater for the needs of specific sociocultural groups and critically and reflectively to evaluate the effectiveness of various paramedic interventions applied to manage a particular presentation (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9) 

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Paramedicine Board of Australia Professional Capabilities for Registered Paramedics

Content

Topics will include: 

 Theory 

• Special populations 
• Disability 
• The older adult 
• Bariatric clients 
• Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicle (CPAV) 
• Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse groups 
• Common presentations in major sociocultural groups 
• Geriatrics 
• Common presentations in the elderly 
•  Anatomy and physiology of reproductive system 
•  Gynaecological emergencies 
• Ectopic pregnancy 
• Pelvic Inflammatory disease 
• Ruptured ovarian cyst 
• Vaginal bleeding 
• Other gynaecological aetiologies 
• Conditions associated with the male genitalia and perineal structures  
• Epididymitis, orchitis 
• Testicular torsion 
• Varicocele, haematocele, hydrocele, spermatocele  
• Priapism 
•  Obstetrics  
• Assessment of pregnant woman 
• Anatomical and physiological changes in pregnancy 
• Trauma and the pregnant woman 
• Normal birthing 
• Complicated obstetric presentations 
• Placenta Previa, Abrupto Placenta 
• Inversion of the uterus 
• Cord prolapsed 
• Breech presentation 
• Shoulder dystocia 
• Preeclampsia / eclampsia 
• Post-partum haemorrhage 
• Multiple births 
• Abortion / miscarriage / stillbirth  
• APGAR assessment 
• Care of the newborn 
• Neonatal resuscitation 
• Associated pharmacology  
• Paediatrics 
• PETS / NETS 
• Common injury/illness management  
• Paediatric medical emergencies 
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 
• Paediatric trauma  
• Child abuse 
• Paediatric resuscitation  
• Management 
• Associated pharmacology  

 Practical 

• Obstetrics  
• Assessment of pregnant woman 
• Anatomical and physiological changes in pregnancy 
• Trauma and the pregnant woman 
• Normal birthing 
• Complicated obstetric presentations 
• Placenta Previa, Abrupto Placenta 
• Inversion of the uterus 
• Cord prolapsed 
• Breech presentation 
• Shoulder dystocia 
• Preeclampsia / eclampsia 
• Post-partum haemorrhage 
• Multiple births 
• Abortion / miscarriage / stillbirth  
• APGAR assessment 
• Care of the newborn 
• Neonatal resuscitation 
• Associated pharmacology  
•  Neonatal Assessment 
• Values (vital signs) 
• APGAR 

 Paediatrics 

• Paediatric Assessment 
• Values (vital signs) 
• Perfusion Status Assessment 
• Respiratory Status Assessment 
• Conscious State Assessment 
• Pain assessment  
• Paediatric burn assessment and management 
• Burn assessment tools  
• Paediatric drug dose calculation and administration 

Emergency presentations associated with the male and female reproductive systems 

Geriatrics 

• Common presentations in the elderly 

 Special other 

• Common presentations in key sociocultural groups  
• Pain assessment and management  
• Non-pharmacological interventions  
• Airway management 
• Neonatal 
• Paediatric  
• Oxygen therapy and ventilation 
• Nebulised medications 
• Resuscitation 
• Neonatal  
• Paediatric 
• Associated pharmacology and fluid therapy 
• Drug administration 
• Route 
• Dose 
• Calculation 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Modes of delivery in this unit include lectures, tutorials, practical laboratories, online activities and self-directed study. Consistent with adult learning principles, the teaching and learning strategies used within these modes of delivery will provide students with advanced knowledge and skills relevant to professional paramedic practice. These strategies will also support students in meeting the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit and the broader course learning outcomes. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively with peers.  

Located in the third/final year of the programme, this unit includes some face-to-face teaching hours during which clinical case scenarios are used to assist students in linking theory with practice, and an increased online component of learning extends the theory-practice synergy. Lectures are utilised to convey content and its central principles while tutorials assists students in applying theory to clinical practice and to build critical reflective skills. Online materials provide students with the opportunity to manage the significant component of directed, self-motivated study required for graduate practice and life-long learning skills. 

The supervised clinical placement provides a safe environment where students can provide assisted person-centred care essential for successful graduate practice. Students will undertake a clinical placement of 80 hours within an emergency or other appropriate environment. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures consistent with University assessment requirements will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes.

There are two hurdles in this clinical practice unit; the hurdles assess knowledge that is so essential to the unit that the student cannot progress in the course unless a pass is achieved in each hurdle. In real world practice, it is a requirement that the paramedic student demonstrates professional competence on clinical placement. Achieving pass as a standard for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is also mandatory.

The portfolio engages final year students with their pending practice environment. It evaluates key pathophysiological knowledge and practice underpinning obstetric, gynaecological and complex patient emergencies and its application within paramedic practice which will direct future practice as a paramedic.

The examination evaluates knowledge and understanding critical to management of groups whose presentations, needs and management vary from the general population. These groups include gynaecological, obstetric, new-born, paediatric, bariatric and geriatric patients. These assessments are required to build student knowledge which, by the conclusion of this program, will allow the student to graduate as a safe and effective paramedic.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Australian Resuscitation Council (2010). Australian resuscitation guidelines. Retrieved from https://resus.org.au/guidelines/ 

Ambulance Victoria (2016). Ambulance Victoria clinical practice guidelines for Ambulance and MICA paramedics. Doncaster: Ambulance Victoria. 

Ambulance Victoria (2015). Clinical work instructions. Doncaster, Victoria: Ambulance Victoria. 

Copstead, L., & Banasik, J. (Eds). (2013). Pathophysiology (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders  

Guyton, A. C., & Hall, J. E. (2016). Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology (13th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. 

McCance, K., & Huether. S, (2014). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (7th ed.). St Louis: Mosby. 

Queensland Ambulance Service (2017). Clinical Practice Manual. Brisbane: Queensland Ambulance Service. Retrieved from https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/clinical.html 

Sanders, M. J. (2012). Mosby’s paramedic textbook (4th ed.). St Louis, MO.: Mosby. 

Samuals, M. & Wieteska, S. (Eds). (2017). Advanced paediatric life support: A practical approach to emergencies (6th Aust. & NZ ed.). Chichester, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier.  

Weiner, G.M., Zaichkin, J., & Kattwinkel, J. (Eds). (2016). Textbook of neonatal resuscitation. (7th ed.). Elks Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Paediatrics.