Unit rationale, description and aim
As a physiotherapist you need to be able to formulate a problem list for a person with acute and chronic cardiorespiratory disorders and develop, implement, evaluate and progress an intervention program which is efficient, effective, culturally responsive, evidence-based and person-centred. In this unit you will build on the knowledge acquired and clinical reasoning skills developed in year 2 units (specifically, physiotherapy practice for people following surgery and with medical disorders, and exercise). You will gain new knowledge including an understanding of medical management for people who are critically ill and the implications of this for physiotherapy practice. You will apply your knowledge of exercise prescription for people with chronic respiratory and cardiac disorders. The overall aim for the unit is to further prepare students for professional practice in the area of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.
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.
Describe, and discuss the implications for physiot...
Learning Outcome 01
Safely and effectively assess and, develop, implem...
Learning Outcome 02
Safely and effectively assess and, develop, implem...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
Examination
- Adaptation of subjective examination
- Adaptation of physical examination
The critically ill patient across the lifespan
- Investigations
- Monitoring
- Airway management
- Tracheostomies
- Non Invasive ventilation
- Mechanical ventilation
- Intensive care settings
- Coronary care settings
- Clinical reasoning
Physiotherapy techniques
- Airway suction: oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal suction
- Artificial airway use: nasopharyngeal and guedel airways
- Manual hyperinflation
- Application and precautions of use of supplemental oxygen
- Application, precautions and contraindications of non- invasive ventilation
- Cough Assist Device
- Mobilizing/exercising individuals in the intensive care setting
- Treatment evaluation
Rehabilitation
- Role of the physiotherapist in the multidisciplinary team
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Individual education
- Outcome measures used in rehabilitation programs
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks align with the presentation of the content in this unit of study. This unit takes an authentic assessment approach allowing students to demonstrate their learning and competency for clinically relevant scenarios. In preparation for clinical placements in year 4, students are required to demonstrate their knowledge in both written and verbal forms. Assessment tasks 1 and 2 require students to demonstrate their acquisition and assimilation of knowledge and application to the assessment and treatment of patients with acute and chronic cardiorespiratory disorders and effectively communicate their clinical reasoning, assessment and proposed treatment plan for selected case scenarios in verbal form. Assessment task 3 requires students to demonstrate acquisition, assimilation of knowledge and application of knowledge to selected clinically relevant case scenarios in written form.
Overview of assessments
Viva: Requires students to demonstrate their acqu...
Viva:
Requires students to demonstrate their acquisition and assimilation of knowledge and application to the assessment and treatment of critically ill cardiorespiratory patients and effectively verbally communicate their clinical reasoning, assessment and proposed treatment plan.
30%
Viva: Requires students to demonstrate their acq...
Viva:
Requires students to demonstrate their acquisition and assimilation of knowledge and application to the assessment and treatment of persons with chronic cardiorespiratory disorders and effectively verbally communicate their clinical reasoning, assessment and proposed treatment plan.
30%
End-semester written examination: Requires stude...
End-semester written examination:
Requires students to demonstrate their acquisition and assimilation of knowledge from across the semester and application of knowledge to selected case scenarios.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning with a combination of face-to-face, online and other directed independent learning activities.
The theoretical knowledge underpinning assessment and intervention will be delivered via lectures and online modules. Practical classes provide students with the opportunity to develop their assessment and treatment skills through the use of clinical scenarios within simulation learning activities.
Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities, demonstrating respect for the individual as an independent learner.