Professional Veterinary Practice Part 1 (VETS40022) // Assessment

Additional details

This assessment statement applies to the entire enrolment across Parts 1 and 2 of the subject (i.e. VETS40022 and VETS40023 together).

Overall assessment

• Clinical rotations, extramural placements and electives; ongoing (100%)

Internal and External Clinical Rotations (core and elective), Extramural Placements (100% of total subject assessment)

Continuous assessment of performance in the internal clinical rotations at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital and in the external clinical rotations and in the extramural placements. Students will be assessed in each of the five core themes of veterinary practice.

Each of the rotation and extramural assessments will be weighted on the number of weeks (i.e. proportionate to the time undertaken in each rotation/placement). Rotation marks and feedback will be provided to the students within approximately 1 - 2 weeks of each rotation.

HURDLE REQUIREMENTS 1-5:

Satisfactory performance (defined by a mark of 60% or higher) in each of the five core themes individually, averaged across all internal and external clinical rotations, and extramural placements, is a hurdle requirement for this subject.

Internal and External Clinical Rotations

All students must perform satisfactorily in each of the clinical rotations. Performance appraisal is undertaken by veterinary staff supervising the rotation and generally encompasses evaluation of attendance and punctuality, theoretical knowledge, practical skills, professional demeanour, oral and written communication skills, initiative and enthusiasm. Some rotations may require submission of a short written assignment or case report, an oral presentation, and /or successful completion of objective assessment tasks as part of the assessment.

HURDLE REQUIREMENT 6:

Satisfactory performance in each of the clinical rotations is a hurdle requirement for this subject. A student who fails to satisfactorily complete any rotation (i.e. a mark of 60% or higher) may be given the opportunity to repeat that rotation once.

Extramural Placements

Students must perform to a satisfactory standard (as assessed by the designated Academic Associate or Supervising Veterinarian) during each of the extramural placements.

HURDLE REQUIREMENT 7:

Achieving a pass (i.e. a mark of 50% or higher) in each of the extramural elective placements is a hurdle requirement for this subject.

A case log-book must be submitted in the required format if learning at an extramural elective placement is case-based (e.g. general and referral veterinary practices). A case log-book will comprise case record sheets of a minimum of 5 cases observed per week of placement and will illustrate the variety of cases investigated and treated over that period. Each log-book must be submitted in a neat format with the case record sheets bound or otherwise constrained within a presentation folder. All information presented in the log-book must be in English. The log-book or report must be submitted to the Faculty Academic and Clinical Programs Office. Each log-book or report will be reviewed by appropriate members of the Faculty.

A placement block report must be submitted if an extramural elective placement does not involve case-based learning (e.g. placements with the Department of Primary Industries or equivalent).

The format of the report should be agreed upon in advance with the supervising veterinarian and the Head of Department, but is generally expected to describe the experience and achievements of the student during the placement. As a guide, the placement block report should be between four and five pages of double-spaced 12-point text.

A Research Report must be submitted where an extramural elective placement is completed in a research facility. The form of this report will vary depending of the length of the research placement. The report should include a review of current research activities of the laboratory and a description of methodologies observed in the laboratory. Where students spend more than 3 weeks in the research facility, the report should in addition include an aim, description of results obtained and discussion of the results.

HURDLE REQUIREMENT 8:

Students must submit a satisfactory case log-book, placement block report or a research report for each of the three electives.