Course Title: Professional Skills for Laboratory Medicine

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Skills for Laboratory Medicine

Credit Points: 24.00


Course Coordinator: A/Prof Cindy O'Malley

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7590

Course Coordinator Email: cindy.omalley@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.09.014e

Course Coordinator Availability: Please make an appointment by email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required prior study (Pre-requisites):

Successful completion of TWO (2) of the following courses:


Course Description

Professional Skills for Laboratory Medicine is a Work Integrated Learning course designed to prepare you for professional practice and employment in a diagnostic laboratory. It will give you experience of workflow management in a laboratory, the importance of laboratory information systems, quality assurance and interdisciplinary knowledge.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for the BP147 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Laboratory Medicine) Program:

  • Knowledge Capability (PLO 1)
  • Technical Capability (PLO 2)
  • Professional Work Practices (PLO 3)
  • Communication Skills (PLO 4)
  • Reflective capability (PLO 5)


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the skills and attributes required of a medical laboratory scientist including ethical considerations, OH & S and safe work practices and continuing professional development.
  2. Have devised for yourself a career progression plan, a Curriculum Vitae and prepared for employment interviews.
  3. Competently use a Laboratory Information System to facilitate workflow in a diagnostic laboratory.
  4. Competently use instrumentation specific to your discipline including maintenance, quality control and troubleshooting.
  5. Correctly interpret patient results from other relevant disciplines of laboratory medicine and relate them to patient diagnosis.
  6. Be able to effectively work as a member of an interdisciplinary team and communicate diagnostic information in a clear and scientific manner.
  7. Be able to reflect on personal performance and design and implement strategies to improve your professional skills.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course includes interactive learning in tutorial sessions, practical laboratory sessions and self-directed learning by accessing on-line materials and undertaking personal research. You will also be expected to spend considerable time in self-directed study, personal reflection and preparation.


Overview of Learning Resources

The RMIT Learning Management System will house learning materials. Other reliable websites such as those provided by governments, professional bodies and diagnostic companies could be accessed to obtain further relevant and creditable information.


Overview of Assessment

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Leaning & Teaching).

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Curriculum Vitae and job application

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLO 2

Assessment Task 2: Laboratory Information System assessment including competency assessment (HURDLE)

Weighting 25%

This assessment task supports CLO 3

Assessment Task 3: Competency Assessment – Instrumentation (HURDLE)

Weighting 25%

This assessment task supports CLO 4

Assessment Task 4: Interdisciplinary Case Study Assessment (HURDLE)

Weighting 25%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 5: Personal and career development plan

Weighting 10%

This assessment task supports CLO 7