CLINIMAG 724 : Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Practice

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Refines and expands specialised skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to demonstrate proficiency in the competency domains set out by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board, within the scope of practice of Cardiac Ultrasound.

Course Overview

A significant number of competencies are required to proficiently perform cardiac ultrasound in a clinical setting. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate evidence of clinical competence while emphasising the importance of synthesising theory and clinical practice elements. Further, they will build on knowledge and skills gained throughout the PGDipHSc (cardiac ultrasound) programme to evaluate clinical practice specifically relating to the core competencies of the ultrasound scope of practice as defined by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB). More precisely, higher-level clinical, professional, and reflective skills will be refined and advanced, to promote the development of holistic and reflective practitioners capable of working autonomously while delivering the highest standard of patient-centred care. As a final exploration into cultural safety, students are provided an opportunity to collaboratively apply indigenous knowledge to solve current issues of health inequality and promote ongoing inquisitiveness into cultural safety. Lastly, the skills required to critically evaluate research and research methods will be explored.

The course is delivered primarily online by distance via the University of Auckland’s learning management system ‘Canvas’. It incorporates a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to library databases and resources, and utilising online technologies to promote shared learning opportunities. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Department approval

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr Sibusiso Mdletshe
Senior Lecturer
Email: sibusiso.mdletshe@auckland.ac.nz
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/sibusiso-mdletshe

Course Coordinators
Allanah Harrington
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: allanah.harrington@auckland.ac.nz
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/allanah-harrington

Dr Ellen Woodcock
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: ewoo161@aucklanduni.ac.nz 

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate clinical competence (including performance of ultrasound, communication and clinical judgement) at a graduate-level practitioner level with a focus on patient-centered care in a range of clinical contexts while adapting to a variety of social, cultural, and ethical perspectives. (Capability 6)
  2. Demonstrate the ability to reflect critically and apply an evidence-based approach to clinical decision-making and problem-solving on a wide variety of aspects within clinical practice. (Capability 4)
  3. Integrate an understanding of indigenous knowledge including kawa and tikanga into clinical practice. (Capability 2 and 3)
  4. Communicate important clinical findings in an appropriate and safe manner relevant to level of training and relevant legislation. (Capability 3 and 6)
  5. Assess the quality of commonly used diagnostic modalities to investigate heart disease, including cardiac radiography, cardiac catheterization, nuclear imaging, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. (Capability 3 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Case Studies 30% Individual Coursework
Test (Clinical Competency Mastery Test) 40% Individual Test
Portfolio (Clinical) 0% Individual Coursework
Case Studies 0% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Essay
Case Studies
Test (Clinical Competency Mastery Test)
Portfolio (Clinical)
Case Studies
This course is 100% internally assessed. A 70% pass mark in the Clinical Competency Mastery Test is required to pass this course. An aggregated mark of 60% or more is required to successfully pass this course. Resubmission of failed assessments is not permitted.
Penalties for excessive word count and/or late submission (without prior written approval for an extension) will be applied according to the 'Medical Imaging Assessment Requirements and Presentation Criteria document.

The course Canvas page has more detailed information on assessment processes and requirements.


Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in. This represents approximately 150 hours of study and may be broken down as follows:

  • Set readings relevant to ultrasound theory and clinical practice (40 hours)
  • Other resources provided on Canvas e.g. videos, and websites (10 hours)
  • Assignments and self-directed learning (100 hours)
  • Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)/ Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (5 hours)


Delivery Mode

Online

The course is delivered online with all modules being available from the beginning of the semester to allow some degree of exible learning. Attendance on campus is not required for the summative test; however, this course will be supported by a mandatory orientation course delivered at the Grafton campus near the start of the rst semester. The mandatory orientation course will incorporate an overview of the second-year courses using lectures, tutorials, demonstrations, labs, and interactive scanning sessions to enhance learning. Self-assessment tools throughout the course will provide an opportunity for students to receive continuous feedback on their comprehension of the content delivered.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

No prescribed or required textbooks for this course. Resources will be published on Canvas using the Talis Reading List.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Postgraduate courses do not have a Class Representative; instead, they have programme/ specialisation representatives who can take feedback to the Medical Imaging Board of studies.

This course is offered for the first time in 2025 and there is no prior feedback available from students. However, feedback received from other courses within this programme and other postgraduate programmes in Medical Imaging has been used to inform the design of this course. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Postgraduate courses do not have a Class Representative; instead, they have programme/ specialisation representatives who can take feedback to the Medical Imaging Board of studies. Contact details for the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Student Representatives may be found in the 'Medical Imaging Programme Information' on Canvas.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 13/12/2024 07:21 p.m.