Download PDF

Course Outline

MLS131 Medical Laboratory Placement 1

Course Coordinator:Rosemary Rasmussen (rrasmuss@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Biomedicine

2024Session 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course involves 20-days of work-integrated learning during which you are provided with structured and supervised training in the general functioning of a pathology laboratory.  The course provides you with the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team to learn and reflect on the requirements to generate precise and accurate pathology test results.  On completion of the course, you will be able to capably and confidently demonstrate the skills and competencies in up to two pathology disciplines that are necessary to enter the pathology workforce.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Placement – This course involves a 20 day work-integrated learning placement within a pathology laboratory located in metropolitan, regional or rural areas of Queensland. Students must fulfill vaccination requirement and may be required to travel, at their own expense, to complete placement. 150hrs Not applicable Once Only

Course Topics

Work-integrated learning in one or more of the following discipline fields:

  • Pre-analytical (Central Specimen Reception)
  • Histology and Cytology (Anatomical Pathology)
  • Haematology
  • Immunohaematology (Blood Banking)
  • Clinical Chemistry (Biochemistry)
  • Microbiology

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate basic skills and competencies required to enter the pathology services industry. Pathology Queensland Standards. Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Enact professional responsibilities according to appropriate decision making frameworks and codes of conduct of ethical practice. Ethical
Engaged
3 Demonstrate awareness of ecologically and economically sustainable laboratory practices. Sustainability-focussed
4 Plan for sustainable professional development and be aware of employment pathways in the field of laboratory medicine. Empowered
Engaged

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

MLS101 and MLS121 and enrolled in Program SC211 or UB001

Co-requisites

MLS100 or MLS110

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Limited Grading (PNP)

Pass (PU), Fail (UF). All assessment tasks are required to be passed for successful completion of the course.

Details of early feedback on progress

Each day, you will present your reflective diary to your workplace supervisor for review and feedback. A 5-day progress report will be submitted at the start of your second week of placement. This report will help you to identify your learning goals and any support needs, and provide an opportunity for feedback on your progress.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 
N/A
 Refer to Format To Supervisor
All 2 Report Individual 
Complete progress report after Day 5 of placement and daily reflective diary entries throughout the placement experience.
 Refer to Format To Supervisor
All 3 Written Piece Individual 
Complete relevant sections of the competency manual.
 Refer to Format To Supervisor
All - Assessment Task 1:Supervisor's Report
Goal: 
You will develop a satisfactory level of skill and competencies in up to two clinical areas of a pathology laboratory.
Product: Report
Format: 
Your laboratory supervisor will submit a placement performance report within 1-week following your placement completion in which they will be invited to make comments about your performance during the placement.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
A student who fails to complete the required 20-days will NOT be able to pass this course. A student who fails to comply with the ‘Code of Conduct for Medical Laboratory Science students on work placement’ will not be able to pass this course.
 1 2
2 
(a) Capably and confidently demonstrate the skills and competencies required to enter the pathology services industry.
 1
3 
b) Work in multidisciplinary teams to contribute to the health and well-being of patients/clients by generating precise and accurate pathology test results.
 1 2
4 
c) Enact professional responsibilities according to appropriate decision-making frameworks and codes of conduct of ethical practice
 2
All - Assessment Task 2:Progress Report and Reflective Diary
Goal: 
This task was created to support the development of reflective practice which is a critical quality and skill in the field of pathology. You will prepare a written progress report and reflective diary about your placement experience.
Product: Report
Format: 
Written progress report reflection after completing Day 5 of placement (template available on Canvas). 
Daily reflective diary entries detailing experiences and progress due 1-week following placement completion.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Reflect on how you work in multidisciplinary teams contribute to the health and well-being of patients/clients by generating precise and accurate pathology test results.
 1 2
2 
Reflect on ecologically and economically sustainable laboratory practices.
 3
3 
Plan for sustainable professional development and be aware of employment pathways in the field of laboratory medicine.
 4
All - Assessment Task 3:Competency Manuals
Goal: 
To ensure that fundamental laboratory skills and competencies in up to two clinical areas of a pathology laboratory have been developed by you on placement.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
Submit: 1-week following placement completion directly to Course Co-ordinator. The exercises in the competency manual have been designed by Pathology QLD to ensure that you develop an understanding of the structure and function of the pathology service in up to two clinical areas that you will be placed.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
​You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate basic skills and competencies in two clinical areas in the pathology service, specifically: 
a) Demonstrate awareness of ecologically and economically sustainable laboratory practices
 1 2
2 
b) Investigate, analyse and document the function of up to two clinical areas in the pathology service that you have been placed in;
 1 2
3 
c) Demonstrate an understanding of principles behind diagnostic tests in the clinical areas conducted by the pathology laboratory.
 1 2

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

It is a requirement from industry that you must attend and complete 80% of the practical component in MLS110 Haematology and MLS121 Histology, and have received an overall pass grade in the practical assessment of these courses before enrolment in MLS131. You are also required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during the placement, including covered, non-slip shoes, laboratory coat/gown and safety glasses, long hair should be tied back. You must complete a range of vaccinations before placement begins and complete all relevant paper work for working in a pathology laboratory prior to the session enrolment opening date. Disposable gloves and other protective equipment will be provided when required.  Details about the PPE required for the industry placement will be provided by the MLS131 Course Coordinator and placement Supervisor.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all laboratory classes and a moderate level of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks are those associated with laboratory work such as working with chemicals and hazardous substances. You will be required to undertake laboratory induction training and it is also your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the USC.

In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
Download PDF