Bachelor of Cardiac Physiology

The Bachelor of Cardiac Physiology aims to develop graduates who are able to apply their knowledge of cardiac physiology and basic cardiac ultrasound in a diagnostic setting as a cardiac technologist (cardiac scientist).

Cardiac technologists provide technical services for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

As part of the cardiology team, cardiac technologists operate a range of specialist equipment to provide data for patient care.

To enable this ability in graduates, the course is designed to build a high level of practical skill and data evaluation so graduates can assess patients and evaluate findings in a safe and effective manner.

There is an emphasis on high level communication skills so that graduates can interact positively with patients and other health professionals in the clinical environment.

Clinical decision making and problem solving ability will be promoted in graduates through the use of simulation based learning techniques and exposure to 'real world' conditions while on clinical practice.This course will provide the opportunity for undergraduate students to undertake a three year full-time degree of study leading to a career in the field of cardiac science.

Graduates will not be eligible for ASAR accreditation as 'Echocardiographers' on completion of this course alone.

Core Structure

Course Structure

--> In order to complete this course, you must:

1. Complete the core structure

Core Structure

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To be eligible to graduate with the Bachelor of Cardiac Physiology students must complete the 19 core units (144 units of credit), complete clinical placement requirements and attend all mandatory laboratory activities / residential schools on the campus of enrollment and / or at a specialist simulation facility in Sydney, as determined in the unit profiles.

Clinical Placement:Course years 2-3 include clinical placement. Students must satisfy specific pre-clinical health, safety, security, including a clear criminal record check, and licensing requirements prior to each placement, and must disclose any condition that may put themselves, or the public, at significant risk whilst on placement. Due to limited availability of clinical placements, some block placements have start and/or end dates that fall outside standard term start and end dates. As placements are located throughout Australia and availability is limited in each community, students may be placed at locations that are not of their choosing. Full time attendance is required when undertaking clinical placement. Students must prepare financially and personally to relocate for placements, and are responsible for for the associated costs. In accordance with the course accreditation standards students must achieve competency in a range of cardiac assessment techniques which may require attending different clinical facilities. Whilst on placement, students will perform cardiac assessment on, and provide hands-on care to, people who may be ill or injured. Students will need to be physically fit, able to stand and walk for extended periods, lift, stretch, carry heavy loads and have sufficient visual acuity and contrast sensitivity to assess fine detail of images and perform safely in a range of lighting conditions. Students will undergo clinical assessments on performance of cardiac assessment cases, professional behavioural and technical skills.

Clinical Simulation Laboratory LearningYears 1 - 3 of the course includes hands-on learning in the clinical simulation echocardiography and computer laboratories on campus during most terms. Students must attend all laboratory activities, including residential schools, at their campus of admission. Students must demonstrate professional behaviours including regular attendance and meeting the course dress code during clinical simulation laboratory sessions. During simulations of cardiac assessment techniques, all students will participate in role play as sonographer and patient. These essential learning activities will require partial removal of clothing to the level that is required for the simulation and will involve touching and being touched by peers. These simulation learning activities take place in a mixed gender environment, including the presence of male academic tutors. If a student is unable to participate, it may impact the student's ability to attain required skills and complete unit assessments.

Completion TimelinesTo maintain clinical currency, specified cardiac assessment and clinical skills units must be completed within within one calendar year as scheduled in the course overview.ECHO12004 Cardiac Assessment Skills 1, Cardiac Science and ECHO12005 Cardiac Clinical Unit 2 must be completed within one calendar year of each other,Adult Echocardiography, ECHO13002 Cardiac Assessment Skills 2 and ECHO13007 Cardiac Clinical Unit 3 must be completed within one calendar year of each other,Failure to adhere to these timelines will necessitate completion of a student learning contract which will detail specific learning and assessment requirements to maintain the students' clinical currency.

What do I need to start?

Entry Scores

Entry Requirements

Nil

Security Requirements

No information available at this time

Health Requirements

No information available at this time

Assumed Knowledge

Nil

Fees and Charges

• Domestic Fees -->

Core Learning Outcomes

• 1.
• Apply a body of cardiac physiology knowledge to clinical practice.
• 2.
• Perform competencies in a wide range of cardiac assessment activities.
• 3.
• Behave professionally, using appropriate professional and personal skills to practice as a cardiac physiologist (cardiac scientist)