Clinical Education

Taught, learned and assessed in Semester 1.
Re-assessed during the Semester II, Semester III and Semester IV.

The student must demonstrate competency in this use of radiographic equipment before beginning to perform any radiographic procedure. This is accomplished in the following way:

• Clinical instructors demonstrate the use of the radiographic equipment located in the assigned room, using equipment competency check lists which are distributed to all the students.
• Students are required to practice using and moving radiographic equipment, when the room is vacant.
• Students must perform all items on the equipment competency checklist in order to be considered competent in the use of radiographic equipment.
• Students failing to perform all items on the competency checklist will meet with a clinical instructor. The clinical instructor will re-demonstrate the equipment with emphasis on areas of deficiency. Students will be given subsequent opportunities to demonstrate competency in the use of radiographic equipment during the first semester.

Assessed and achieved in Semester I, II, III and IV.

• Clinical objectives are posted in each room. Students are expected to achieve these objectives during their clinical assignment and as they progress from one semester to the next.
• Students will demonstrate completion of each clinical assignment objective through the use of the Clinical Evaluation Form.

Distributed and assessed in Semesters I, II, III, and IV

• Staff radiographers, at the end of each scheduled room assignment, evaluate students. The evaluations are used to demonstrate the student’s cognitive, affective and psychomotor performance in the clinical area. Evaluations correlate with the objectives and expectation for the first semester, specifically, the students progress through the orientation phase of the clinical education plan.
• The student will give their evaluation to their assigned staff radiographer. The staff radiographer will assess the student’s performance during the clinical rotation.
• Students must score a minimum average grade of 85 percent.
• Students failing to score a minimum average grade of 85 percent will be placed on a remedial schedule(s).

Taught, Learned and Assessed in the following semesters:    Semesters I and II

Clinical labs correlate with the Radiographic Procedures I & II classes. Upon completion of classroom instruction of a specific radiographic procedure, clinical instructors correlate the information with a clinical lab. The following outlines the procedure for clinical correlation:

• A specific radiographic procedure is taught in the classroom. As an example: Chest Radiography Lecture
• A clinical demonstration lab is presented to the class, by a clinical instructor, within two school days of the lecture. The demonstration lab takes place in a radiographic room in the CCMC or DCMH department of radiology. As an example Chest Radiography Demonstration Lab follows Chest Radiography Lecture.
• Students are given printed step-by-step procedures indicating the correct way to perform the procedure. Students are expected to take notes in their clinical books during the demonstration lab.
• Students are encouraged to work with a clinical instructor as a follow up if needed. Please see any instructor to schedule a session.

Unit tests are scheduled as a follow up to clinical labs. Using the printed step-by-step procedure as the testing form, the student meets with a clinical instructor, during a scheduled unit test. At this time the student will simulate the performance of the radiographic procedures. As an example: Chest Radiography Unit Test.

• Students must complete all Radiographic Procedure Unit Tests with a minimum score of 85.
• Students who do not score a minimum grade of 85, for any radiographic procedure on the unit test will re-test the procedure(s), to prove competency.
• If the student doesn't receive 85% competency on a retest they must write out the failed viewed criteria according to the lab notes and retest to achieve clinical competency.
• Achieving less than an 85% average on the entire unit test requires the student to perform each failed view at a minimum of 85% competency. In addition, the student must complete the corresponding unit in the Merrill's workbook.
• As with didactic unit tests, clinical unit tests assure continued proficiency in a content area.

Distributed and Assessed in the following semesters:    Semesters I, II and III
Reassessed in the following semester: Semester IV

Competency testing is used to demonstrate that the student has achieved mastery of a radiographic procedure. Competency testing allows the student to move from direct clinical supervision to indirect clinical supervision. Competency testing is performed on actual patients in the department of radiography. Competency testing must be performed in the presence of a clinical instructor or staff radiographer.

• A copy of the testing tool used to document clinical competency is distributed to all students. Students must document completion of the following before attempting a clinical competency test: lecture, demonstration lab and practice.
• The student will perform twelve (12) competency tests in the first semester, thirteen (13) competency tests in the second semester, and twelve (13) competency tests in the third semester and two (2) competency tests in the fourth semester.
• Final competency testing is performed in the last semester of the program. Final competency testing is a reaffirmation of the student's competence. A list of required final competency exams is distributed to all students.

I. PURPOSE:

To establish guidelines for the supervision of Radiography Program students during the performance of radiographic procedures in the Radiology Department.

II. POLICY:

All Students of the Radiography Program will be supervised by registered radiographers while performing radiologic procedures in the Radiology department in accordance with JRCERT Standards.

III. PROCEDURE:

1. Students who have not yet demonstrated clinical competency will be supervised under the Direct Supervision of a registered radiographer.
2. Direct Supervision dictates that:
   1. A registered radiographer reviews the exam request in relation to the students level of competence in the program.
   2. A registered radiographer evaluates the condition of the patient in relation to the student’s knowledge,
   3. A registered radiographer is present in the room during the duration of the exam.
   4. A registered radiographer reviews and approves the films produced by the student.
3. Students who have demonstrated clinical competency will be supervised under the Indirect Supervision of a registered radiographer.
4. Indirect Supervision dictates that:
   • A registered radiographer will be immediately available to assist the student.
   • “Immediately available” is defined as the presence of a registered radiographer adjacent to the room or location where the radiographic procedure is being performed.
5. All repeat radiographs will be performed under the direct supervision of a registered radiographer regardless of the students level of competency.

IV. DISCIPLINARY ACTION:

Students who fail to follow this policy are subject to disciplinary action, relating to the severity of the incidence. Grounds relating to disciplinary action will follow the Disciplinary Policy in the handbook.

Student radiographers performing radiographic exams and procedures indirectly supervised by registered radiographers.

I. PURPOSE

To acquire a means for the student radiographer to progress clinically from working under direct to indirect supervision.

II. POLICY

Student radiographers must successfully complete the required clinical objectives published in order to work under the status of indirect supervision. 

III. PROCEDURE

1. Students must have completed equipment/room competency with 100 percent proficiency.
2. Student must “live” test learned/practiced procedure on a patient, scoring a minimum of 85 percent. The “live” test must not be the first attempt at performing the exam, as documented by clinical logs.
3. While performing exams under indirect supervision, the student will have a registered radiographer immediately available to them.
   
   
   • Note: “Immediately available” is defined as the presence of a qualified radiographer adjacent to the room or location where a radiographic procedure is being performed.  This availability applies to all areas where ionizing radiation equipment is in use.
4. All unsatisfactory radiographs shall be repeated only in the presence of a qualified radiographer regardless of the student’s level of competency.

IV. DISCIPLINARY ACTION:

Students who fail to follow this policy are subject to disciplinary action, relating to the severity of the incidence. Grounds relating to disciplinary action will follow the Disciplinary Policy in the handbook.