PAR2011 · Paramedic advanced life support

Overview

This unit builds on the foundation of the paramedic clinician and expands on the patient assessment skills developed in clinical concepts 1. In this unit your primary focus is on the recognition and management of the unconscious and cardiac arrest patient. You will gain an understanding of the major causes of an altered conscious state and develop the skills required to safely and effectively manage a patient in cardiac arrest. In the practical setting you will practice advanced airway management, drug administration and defibrillation. In addition, this unit encourages you to explore the concept of evidence based practice and gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of practice in relation to resuscitation. Your paramedic clinical practice will be contextualised through supervised clinical experience with an emergency ambulance service.

Areas of study: Paramedicine

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate the standard clinical approach and patient centred interview techniques;
2. Identify the role research evidence plays in informing paramedic protocols and practice;
3. Describe the causes of altered consciousness, and describe and demonstrate the effective management of these patients;
4. Perform safe and effective practice in relation to drug administration, defibrillation and manual handling of patients;
5. Explain the concept of perfusion and the shock process and the implications of this in the out of hospital setting;
6. Identify and demonstrate the management of safe and effective resuscitation techniques including ventilation, external cardiac compressions and defibrillation.

Workload

A combination of lectures, tutorials, practicals and online activities (6 hours per week), and self-directed study (6 hours per week).

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.