Transfusion Speciality Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Students should expect to undertake a minimum of 120 hours research, reading, writing and general study to complete this subject successfully.

There are only 4 discussion forum activities allocated to this subject and five individual assessments which make up the clinical portfolio. The time required to study for this subject will vary depending on the students understanding of the individual concepts

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in GC-TRNSPRC. This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The purpose of the clinical subject is to build upon the theoretical concepts already learnt and offers the opportunity to apply this knowledge in the student's specific clinical setting.

The subject involves the completion of 4 hurdles which range from developing patient education information on blood transfusion and the administration of a blood product (competencies for nursing participants) through to an auditing and academic detailing activity on various aspects related to transfusion practice.

At the end of the subject, student should:

• Apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in the clinical setting for areas important to clinical practice improvement

The Clinical Portfolio can be submitted at any time during the semester and all assessment components are due by the end of the semester. Please refer to the information below regarding the individual assessment components.

Students need to ensure they have arranged a Clinical Supervisor at the start of a previous semester (recommended that this is a colleague or manager at their workplace) who will be responsible for supervising and assessing the clinical hurdle components of the portfolio. They may also be required to assist with and assess the other assessments (audit and academic detailing activities).

To obtain a pass, students must complete all tasks listed below:

1. Record of meetings with Clinical Mentor: Meetings between the student and the Clinical Mentor should occur at least 4 times per semester (or more frequently if required). Meetings should be documented by the student and co signed by the clinical mentor. These are required as evidence of structured meetings between the student and mentor over the semester however these are not marked.
2. 2 Significant event/Critical reflection entries. The use of a ‘significant event’ from the student’s own routine practice as a focus point for critical reflection and discussion is defined as a Critical Event. Students must document 2 significant events from their practice in approx 150 words each. This assessment makes up 20% of the overall portfolio mark.
3. Blood Product Administration/Issue Hurdle: Perform the supervised administration or is.suing of blood or blood products.
4. Patient/Staff Education Hurdle: Perform a supervised education session with a colleague. This can be either another blood bank scientist, medical or nursing staff. These hurdles are assessed using a standardised tool and are a Pass/Fail only.
5. Audit Report Hurdle: Working in the area of Transfusion Medicine/Practice you may be involved in trialling change concepts within an identified area (e.g. Haematology, Outpatients, Operating Theatre, Pathology Laboratory) of your organization. Compile an audit report using a set of standards or guidelines that you have identified as appropriate. This assessment makes up 35% of the overall portfolio mark.
6. Academic Detailing Hurdle: This assessment involves you conducting a one-on-one informal interview with a clinician (within your organization) to discuss evidence-based practice. This assessment makes up 35% of the overall portfolio mark.

The Clinical Use of Blood in Medicine, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery and Anaesthesia, Trauma and Burns by the World Health Organisation , Blood Transfusion Safety, Geneva (2002)

• Transfusion Medicine in Practice edited by Jennifer Duguid, Lawrence Goodnough and Michael Desmond (2002)
• Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (21st Edition) American Association of Blood Banks (2002)
• Daileys Notes on Blood (4th Edition) John F Daley (2002) Medical Consulting Group USA
• Guidelines for Blood Utilization Review (2001) American Association of Blood Banks (2002)
• Essential Haematology (3rd Edition) A.V. Hoffbrand & J.E. Pettit: Blackwell Science
• Transfusion Medicine in Practice (2002) J. Duduid, T. Goodnough, M. Desmond (Editors) Martin Dunitz Ltd
• Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (6th Edition) Frederic Martini (2003) Prentice Hall
• Clinical Risk Management: Enhancing patient safety (2001) Charles Vincent BMJ publishers

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• Develop knowledge and confidence in the practice of blood transfusion
• Improve skills in reflective thinking on subject material and recommended readings