SON5020 Sonographic professional skills and sonography of the breast and thyroid
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
SON5020 Sonographic professional skills and sonography of the breast and thyroid is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs SON4010 and SON4000 and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 55%
- and 2 other tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before SON5020
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After SON5020
1 unit list SON5020 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
The initial component of this unit introduces key principles of medicolegal practice, medical ethics, and professional communication. In the second part of the unit, sonographic scanning methods and techniques for examinations of the breast and thyroid will be introduced, information gathering techniques and the elements of a clinical history will be discussed, interpretational skills in respect to the recognition of the sonographic appearances of normal anatomy, anatomical variants and disease processes affecting the breast and the thyroid will be developed. Throughout the unit, you will also engage in self-directed and peer-to-peer learning in teams to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to collaboratively address racism in healthcare.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Online |
| Second semester | Clayton | Online |
Assessment
- Journal Part A - Medico legal (1500 words) (15%), Journal Part B - Ethics (1000 words) (10%)Written25%
- Combined theory and Image recognition examination (100 mins)Examination45%
- Compulsory attainment of a requisite number of ultrasound examinationsExaminationCompetency hurdle-
- Clinical Skills assessment (25 mins)ExaminationCompetency hurdle10%
- Case study analysis and reflectionWrittenCompetency hurdle20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Interpret, compare and explain the key principles of medical law and medical ethics
- 2
Identify and describe potential medico-legal and ethical situations arising from ultrasound practice and the communication of ultrasound findings to patients, radiologists, sonologists and referring medical practitioners;
- 3
Identify and describe normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the breast and thyroid and related artefacts;
- 4
Perform routine sonographic examinations of the breast and thyroid safely and to a standard and ethical conduct expected of a competent sonographer;
- 5
Recognise when modifications to routine scanning approaches are required and describe the limitations of ultrasound in regards to imaging the breast and thyroid;
- 6
Develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to collaboratively address racism in healthcare.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials3 hours
Applied Sessions: 2 x hours per week (2 x 12 weeks = 24 hours)
Tutorials: 3 hours per semester
Teaching is all online.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Ignatius Pereira
- Unit Coordinators
- Carolynne Cormack
Common questions
What can I take after SON5020?
SON5020 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including SON5000.
When is SON5020 offered?
In 2025, SON5020 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton, with an online option.
Does SON5020 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 55% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.