SCHOOL
OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
HANDBOOK
2006-2008
PROGRAM
DIRECTOR
LOU ANN WISBEY, B.S.
R.T. (R) (T)
FACULTY
Dean Taylor, M.S.
CLINICAL
COORDINATOR
DENISE
SWANK, A.S., R.T., (R) (M) B.S.
CLINICAL ASSISTANT
MARY SUTTON, R.T. (R) (RDMS)
TABLE
OF CONTENTS PAGE
Introduction............................................................................................................... 4
Instructional and
Administrative Personnel............................................................... 5
Program Selection Process...................................................................................... 6
Didactic Education and Distance Education Options.............................................. 6
Section I:
CLINICAL EDUCATION.................................................................... 7
Clinical
Requirements............................................................................................... 7
Code of Ethics........................................................................................................... 8
Requirements:
Professional Conduct.............................................................................................. 9
Conflicts of Interest................................................................................................. 9
Sexual Harassment................................................................................................ 10
Clinical Sites.......................................................................................................... 11
Attendance,
Tardiness, Vacation........................................................................... 12
Infectious Disease Policy...................................................................................... 14
Dress Code and Hygiene....................................................................................... 15
Breaks and Lunch Periods..................................................................................... 16
Pregnancy Policy................................................................................................... 17
Grading Policy....................................................................................................... 26
Malpractice Insurance and Film Badges................................................................ 26
Telephone Policy................................................................................................... 27
Disciplinary Action and Form.......................................................................... 28,29
Clinical Grievance Procedure................................................................................ 29
CPR Policy............................................................................................................ 30
ID Markers............................................................................................................ 30
Non-Traditional Program Completion.................................................................... 30
Section II:
GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................... 31
Academic Curriculum............................................................................................. 32
Professional
Organizations...................................................................................... 32
Academic Probation................................................................................................ 32
Academic Suspension............................................................................................. 32
Remediation
..32
Clinical
Competencies............................................................................................. 35
Evenings, Weekends and Third Shift.............................................................. 37
Trauma........................................................................................................... 38
Pediatric......................................................................................................... 39
Surgery........................................................................................................... 39
Clinical Hours......................................................................................................... 41
Section III: FORMS TO BE SIGNED................................................................. 41
Policy Manual Agreement....................................................................................... 43
Reference Release................................................................................................... 44
Pregnancy Policy..................................................................................................... 45
Grounds For
Dismissal............................................................................................ 46
Lab Rules................................................................................................................ 47
Repeat Films............................................................................................................ 48
Section IV: EVALUATION FORMS.................................................................... 49
Competency
Evaluation.......................................................................................... 50
Affective Domain
Performance Evaluation............................................................. 52
Final Positioning
Exam............................................................................................ 57
Physical, Dental,
Criminal History Forms........................................................... 58-60
INTRODUCTION
The Radiologic
Technology Program at
Radiologic
technologists are responsible for operating all sorts of x-ray and other
imaging equipment and obtaining the best quality examinations possible. Radiologic technologists work closely with
doctors and other members of the health care professions to provide the best
patient care available.
This guide is to
inform you of the requirements and regulations to which you will conform as you
progress through the program.
Radiologic Technology Program
The mission of the Radiologic
Technology Program at
Program Goals
With faith in both
the faculty and the Advisory Committee, we set for the following goals for the
Radiologic Technology Program:
1. To provide educational experiences designed to prepare
students for entering a career as a radiographer.
2. To provide the medical community with individuals
qualified to perform radiographic procedures.
3. To contribute to the liberal education of the students
by providing a core of general education courses.
4. To promote a lifelong desire to achieve professional
excellence by registering them with a professional accreditation that requires
continuing education to maintain their credentials, the American Registry of
Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
5. To maintain student registry pass rates of a minimum
of 75%.
6. To maintain excellence in education by maintaining
accreditation with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic
Technology.
INSTRUCTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
800-377-4882
NAME POSITION
Dr. Jeff Pittman Chancellor
Ext.
2200
Dr. Ricky Streight Dean
of Academic Affairs
Ext.
2202
Dr. Deanna King Health Division Chair
Ext.
2205
LouAnn Wisbey, B.S.
R.T. (R) (T) Program
Director
298-2242
Denise Swank, B.S.,
R.T., (R) (M) Clinical Coordinator
School:
812-298-2237 298-2237 Home: 812-446-0502
Mary Sutton, A.A.S.
R.T. (R) RDMS Clinical
Assistant
School:
812-298-2376
Dean Taylor Faculty
812-298-2236
Rananath Vedala, MD Radiologist
Medical Director
St. Vincent Clay Co. Hospital
Program Selection Process
Each year in the Spring a new class is
selected to start the Radiologic Technology Program. The program is limited in
the number of students that may be accepted by the number of Clinical Sites
that provide the student Clinical Education. The number of students that a
Clinical Site may have is determined by the number of FTE day technologists at
that site that are actually performing general radiographic examinations.
The selection process occurs each year in the
Spring Semester sometime after January 1st. Admissions handle the selection
process. If you want to be admitted as a student into the Radiologic Technology
program you must register for the selection process with the RAD program
Admissions Counselor in admissions. The selection process looks at a
prospective students GPA, General Education completed for the program and
scores on the interviews conducted each Spring at
Students coming into the program
will be assigned a Clinical according to space availability. The programs
didactic instruction delivery is by Internet
Once the class is chosen we will
have a meeting at
Didactic Instruction
Before
the Fall semester all students will be required to attend an Internet
orientation session. To participate in the Program all students must have a
home computer and Internet access.
An
all day program seminar twice a week at the Terre Haute campus is required for all first year students. Summer clinicals are
40 hours a week. An all day
seminar is required once a week for senior students.
All
students must follow all aspects of the program including the program sequence
as published.
CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS
Medical
and Dental Examinations
1. You must obtain a medical and dental
examination at your own expense and submit satisfactory results of both to the
Health Division Office.
2. The physical examination must be
repeated on or before the anniversary of your admission. Physical and a mantoux test or PA chest x-ray
results must be included.
Physical
Requirements for Clinical
PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS:
Lifts 100 lbs., infrequently,
50 lbs. or less, frequently.
Walks and/or stands
most of the day. Bends and stoops
frequently.
Pulls/pushes
equipment/carts etc., on a regular basis.
20/100 vision,
correctable 20/30 in one eye or 20/100 vision correctable
to 20/40 in both
eyes.
Clinical Travel Policy
The Ivy Tech
Community College Radiologic Technology Program utilizes many clinical sites.
Some sites are closer to
Students in the
program must attend scheduled rotations, and failure to adhere to this
requirement could lead to clinical probation and/or suspension.
Random Drug Testing
Many of the
clinical affiliates require Ivy Tech students to submit to random drug
tests. If you are placed atone of these
sites you must comply with any request for random drug testing. If you refuse the test you will not be
allowed to participate in clinicals, and therefore not be able to complete the
requirements of the program. If you are
tested and the results are positive you would not be allowed to participate in
clinicals. Any costs incurred by the clinical affiliate for confirmatory
testing will be passed along to the student involved.
Alcohol Consumption
Any student
suspected of alcohol use at school, lab, or in the clinical facility will be
dismissed unless a lab test reveals no alcohol in their blood or a reasonable
medical explanation can be presented by a physician.
RADIOLOGIC
TECHNOLOGISTS
CODE
OF ETHICS
Principle 1
Radiologic
Technologists shall conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the dignity
of their profession.
Principle 2
Radiologic
Technologists shall provide services with consideration of human dignity and
the uniqueness of the patient, unrestricted by consideration of age, sex, race,
creed, social or economic status, handicap, personal attributes or the nature
of the health problem.
Principle 3
Radiologic
Technologists shall make every effort to protect all patients from unnecessary
radiation.
Principle 4
Radiologic
Technologists should exercise and accept responsibility for independent
discretion and judgment in the performance of their professional service.
Principle 5
Radiologic
Technologists shall judiciously protect the patient's right to privacy and
shall maintain all patient information in the strictest confidence.
Principle 6
Radiologic
Technologists shall apply only methods of technology founded upon a scientific
basis and not accept those methods that violate this principle.
Principle 7
Radiologic
Technologists shall not diagnose, but in recognition of their responsibility to
the patient, they shall provide the physician with all information they have
relative to radiologic diagnosis of patient management.
Principle 8
Radiologic
Technologists shall be responsible for reporting unethical conduct and illegal
professional activities to the appropriate authorities.
Principle 9
Radiologic
Technologists should continually strive to improve their knowledge skills by
participating in educational and professional activities and sharing the
benefits of their attainment with their colleague.
Principle 10
Radiologic
Technologists should protect the public from misinformation and
misrepresentation.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
THE STUDENT:
You are now entering
the most important time period in your Radiologic Technology training. You are expected to conduct yourself as a
mature, responsible individual. There is
NO room for unethical or childlike behavior.
THE PATIENT:
The patient's
condition and/or diagnosis is CONFIDENTIAL, and a student must not relay
information pertaining to a patient's condition or diagnosis to anyone without
specific permission of the patient's doctor or radiologist. Failure to comply
with rules of confidentiality may subject the student to litigation.
THE PHYSICIAN:
The student will
show due respect to all house and visiting physicians, and give quick and
accurate service to the physician.
THE RADIOLOGISTS:
The radiologist has
been specifically trained in the field of Radiology. He/she is the person that you will be working
for or with after training, so show him/her your professional courtesy and
respect.
THE CLINICAL
INSTRUCTORS AT THE CLINCAL SITE:
You, the student,
will spend much time under the direct or indirect control of the Clinical
Instructor at the clinical site. This position is a responsibility on top of
his/her normal duties and requirements.
Demonstrate to the Clinical Instructor the courtesy and respect he/she
is deserving of for the position.
THE TECHNOLOGIST:
The student will
show due respect and be helpful in aiding and assisting the technologist when
necessary. The staff technologist will
be your primary resource during your clinical training.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
We realize that at
Any student who in
the opinion of program officials, establishes a conspicuous relationship with
an R.T. or any other medical professional at a clinical site that could
possibly have an effect on their achievement of competency when performing
examinations as a student technologist, will be removed from that clinical site
and placed in another clinical site. The students clinical abilities and
clinical competencies must be fairly and accurately evaluated. This may be done
at the discretion of Program officials.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Issues of sexual
harassment that occur in the clinical site shall be dealt with and reported
according to policies of that clinical site and also the College. Such issues should be brought to the
attention of program officials first so that proper documentation may be
obtained.
Issues of sexual
harassment that occur on the College campus may be addressed according to the
following College policy. Issues of sexual harassment at the Clinical site must
be reported to Program officials.
Clinical Sites
Clinical Affiliates
of the Radiologic Technology Program at
1.
2.
3.
4. A,P & S Clinic 812-232-0564
5. Healthcheck East 812-238-7000
6.
7. Terre Haute Medical Clinic Dr. Ton 812-234-2289
8. AP&S Bone and Joint Center 812-242-3005
9.
10.
11. St.
Vincent
12.
13.
14. Orthopedics
of
15. First Health Care Group 812-339-9980
16. Internal Medicine Associates 812-355-6914
17.
18.
19.
20.
21. SIRA 812-333-7676
ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS, VACATION
1. While in the clinical setting, which
begins in the Spring Semester of your first year, you have semester breaks and
legal holidays that are recognized by the College. Students will observe those holidays
recognized by the hospital.
2. During clinical training you are given
six weeks vacation per year. Two weeks
are granted during Christmas - New Year holiday period. All students will have Christmas Day
off. The additional two weeks will be
taken at the end of the Summer Session.
Includes Summer Break with college.
3. You will be allowed two sick days per semester for clinical with the exception of Summer Semester you will be allowed three sick days. Days missed due to sickness must be made up. You may not carry sick days from one semester to the next. Sick days may not be accumulated and used as time off. Any clinical absence due to any reason other than extended illness, must be made up within three weeks of the absence. Any time missed in the last two weeks of the semester must be made up in the week following the semester's end unless other arrangements have been made with the clinical coordinator. Failure to do so may affect the student's evaluation. Excused clinical absences of more than two days at the completion of a semester will result in an incomplete grade in clinical education for the semester until the time is made up.
If you are going to be absent from a
clinical site, you must notify the appropriate personnel, IE: on-site instructor, chief technologist, or
assistant-chief within a reasonable length of time that you will not be
there. Most institutions consider a
reasonable length of time to be one to two hours before the beginning of your
scheduled rotation. Abuse of this rule
could result in expulsion from the clinical site and/or the Radiologic
Technology Program. An absence from the
clinical site for two or more consecutive days should also be reported to the
program.
4. Students should arrive at the clinical
site at or before the scheduled starting time.
This should be 10 minutes before the scheduled time to allow for
preparations and assignments.
5. Four times tardy will count as a
one-day absence. The clinical
coordinator or the on-site clinical instructor may assign you a full eight
hours make-up for four such occurrences.
6. If a student has need for time off or
for special arrangements on his/her duty days, the student must first get
permission from the program, IE:
Director or Clinical Coordinator, and the change must be approved by the
on-site instructor.
7. Banking time ahead may be allowed on an
individual basis with prior permission from the clinical coordinator or program
director.
8. You will also at sometime late in your
first year or early in your second year be required to rotate through evenings
and weekends at your clinical site. Your
clinical experience may also involve a one-week third shift rotation. This will be assigned with enough advanced
notice for your convenience. The
evening, weekend and third shift rotations shall not account for more than 25%
of any semester clinical time.
9. During the course of your clinical and
didactic education, you will not be scheduled for more than a total of forty
hours per week, or eight work hours in one day including scheduled classes.
10. In the case of school closure, as stated
in the Ivy Tech Community College Student Handbook, the student is not required
to attend his/her clinical rotation that day.
However, any time missed due to these circumstances, shall be made up at
the discretion of the Program Director.
Those attending a clinical rotation during the closing of a clinical
site will be given credit for their attendance.
11. An I.S.R.T. or related educational
programs may be attended for clinical time on a one to one basis. One hour of the time will be given for each
fifty minutes of educational time.
12. Under no circumstances may a Radiography
student work or perform the duties of a staff Radiographer for pay. Any student who violates this rules and
obtains employment in the field while still having classes to complete will be
immediately suspended pending dismissal from the program.
Any questions about employment in a
Radiologic environment should be presented to the program personnel for
clarification.
Criminal
History Checks
The programs
clinical sites have policies that students must fulfill regarding background
checks. Such policies may require that the program students submit to a
background check through law enforcement agencies. We will give you the
requirements that you must comply with to attend clinical as they are not
available to us to include in this years handbook.
ARRT Ethics
Committee
If you should have a criminal matter in your past after you have reached age 18, whether it be recent or not, you must call the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists at 651-687-0048 and request the form to be approved by the ARRT Ethics committee. Failure to do so could jeopardize you credentials and your ability to obtain a state license at a future date, especially if you should become accused of a crime or become involved in a civil legal action.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY
Pre-acceptance
health testing and a physical shall be completed on all potential students
prior to beginning the program with acceptance being made contingent upon the
successful completion of the testing and the physical.
1. Testing shall be required as follows:
A. Laboratory
rests: Rubella Titer.
If the Rubella titer is
negative, the student will be responsible for obtaining the Rubella vaccine.
B. TB
test: Tuberculin, Purified Protein Derivative (PPD skin test). If previous positive test, a chest x-ray will
be ordered.
All accepted students
are to be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B. This is optional, but recommended. If the student does not wish to have a
vaccine, this documentation will be included in their student file.
Infectious Diseases
1. Any student who is diagnosed with an
infectious disease that is infectious despite the use of Standard Precautions
should immediately notify a program official so that an assessment can be made
and any necessary precautions implemented to protect the health of the student,
patients, other students and employees.
The goal in all such cases is to protect the health, welfare and safety
of patients, students and employees to the greatest extent possible.
2. Reasonable efforts will be made to
permit students diagnosed with infectious diseases that is infectious despite
the use of Standard Precautions, to continue their education as long as they
are able to do so without a significant risk of harm to the health, welfare or
safety of themselves, patients, other students or employees. In assessment of the risk involved, the
nature and duration of the risk, the severity of the potential harm, and the
likelihood of transmission will be considered.
3. Each decision will be made on a
case-by-case basis and will require individualized assessment.
Return to the clinical education site
1. A student returning to the clinical
after being off for a medical reason may be required to present a doctor's
release before returning.
2. If the doctor's release indicates
restrictions that would prohibit the student from performing the normal
functions of his/her clinical, the student can return to clinical only with the
approval of the program officials and with agreement of the clinical officials.
DRESS CODE AND HYGIENE
Revised
March 2005
The Ivy Tech Community
College Radiologic Technology students will adhere to our dress code:
Information will be provided in the 1st year Fall semester.
All uniforms MUST be approved by
program personnel.
1. White soft-soled shoes are required. They may be of the tennis shoe type, but no
colors allowed.
2. Name badges and film badges will be
displayed at all times.
3. Cell phones are not permitted in some
areas of the clinical. If you carry a
beeper or a cell phone, it must be of a type that will not make noise. Use of
such a beeper or cell phone must be limited to emergencies only. Constant
attention to personal matters not related to clinical may result in declining
student grades and eventual dismissal from clinical.
* *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
*
While working in the
hospital with other personnel and sick patients the student's personal hygiene
is of the utmost importance.
A. The student's hair should be moderate in
length and clean. If hair reaches beyond
the shoulders, it must be worn back for both the student and patient safety.
B. Males wearing either a mustache or
beard must keep them well-groomed.
Hospital policy should be followed in this regard.
C. Excessive jewelry should not be
worn. A wedding band or engagement ring
may be worn on the hand, but other ornamentation such as large rings, long
fingernails, or bright colored polish will not be permitted due to patient care
issues.
D. Earrings worn should be of the post-type
and shall not be distracting to patients or interfere with the clinical
experience.
E. Excessive use of perfume or cologne is
not recommended.
F. Use deodorant and bathe regularly.
G. Body Art (Tattoos) and Body Piercings
that are visible to the patient may be considered offensive to them. Clinical site personnel and program
instructors may request that the student cover the area with bandages or
clothing while they are attending clinical.
BREAKS AND LUNCH PERIODS
Students will
observe the departmental policies regarding breaks and lunch periods. Occasionally, due to emergencies or heavy
case loads, these will be missed, and only then may you be compensated by early
release from clinical on a slow day.
LEAVING THE
DEPARTMENT DURING SCHEDULED HOURS
A student will not
leave the department without first notifying the technologist in charge.
If you become sick
while on duty, notify the technologist in charge.
OUTSIDE
JOBS
Outside employment
is discouraged during the first year due to program load. If a student must work, employment hours
are scheduled around program hours.
PROBLEMS
We realize that many
problems will arise during your 24 months of training. We can help you solve those problems only if
we are aware of them.
Any problems
incurred in the clinical areas should first be brought to the attention of the
clinical instructor, in writing.
Any problem dealing
with the program as a whole, whether they deal with your work at Ivy Tech State
College or problems that cannot be answered to your satisfaction by the
clinical instructor should be referred to the program director, in writing.
Any situation beyond
this point should be addressed to the Director of Instruction, in writing.
Altering Clinical
Records
Any student who
alters or falsifies clinical records shall be dismissed from the program by the
appropriate procedures.
PREGNANCY
POLICY
This program
complies with the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding
the declared pregnant student (declared pregnant worker).
The Radiography
Program cannot and will not make any policy regarding the reproductive rights
of our students. Any student who becomes pregnant during their training in this program
must come to the Clinical Coordinator or the Program Director and declare
herself pregnant in writing before the program can consider her pregnant. This stipulation will be followed
regardless of the supposed obviousness of the students condition or lack of
evidence confirming a pregnancy. If a student declares herself pregnant in
writing she need not offer immediate proof for the pregnancy policy to be
initiated. She needs only to offer a
written statement. A student may
withdraw their declaration of pregnancy if they choose to do so. (See #16, page
14f)
For the Program to
remain in compliance with government regulations concerning the pregnant
radiation worker we must monitor the student radiation exposures more closely
during pregnancy. This will entail the use of at least one additional film
badge or other radiation-monitoring device the cost of which must be borne by
the student. Radiation exposure will be
limited to no more than 0.5 REM during the entire term of the pregnancy in
accordance with government regulations.
When informed of
pregnancy the program will:
1. Require that the student have another
physical stating that they are capable of meeting the performance standards of
the program. The student should make
arrangements for this with her attending physician who is caring for her during
her pregnancy within a reasonable period of time.
2. Allow the student to remain in the full
program if she and the father, if applicable, and/or the parent as necessary
sign a contract accepting the responsibilities for the radiation hazards and
any birth defects that may be attributed in any manner or associated with the
resultant radiation exposure acquired during any part of the program.
3.
Allow the student to limit her involvement in fluoroscopy
and to take precautions to minimize her radiation exposure such as not holding
patients or being behind a primary barrier during radiography beginning at the
time of her declaration.
4.
Not terminate the student from the program solely as a
result of being pregnant. The student
may, however, elect to take a break of indeterminate length to allow herself
time to adjust to or to just have the child.
A conference will be called if she has performance problems with any
aspect of the program that may be related to the pregnancy that would normally
be addressed if she were not pregnant.
Such alternatives as listed above are unique and may vary according to
the student and the circumstances. Such
breaks will be determined on an individual basis in a conference with program
officials, the student, anyone the student elects to bring and the Director of
Instruction or their designee present. The pregnant Radiologic Technology
student must comply with the rules for all students.
5.
Enforce the 0.5 REM mandated exposure limit with
exclusion from the clinical portion of the program if necessary even if the
declared pregnant student disagrees.
6.
Provide the student with a document from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure.
Revision 3
June
1999
Regulatory Guide
8.13
Instruction
Concerning Prenatal Radiation
Exposure
(Draft issued as
DG-8014)
[ PDF Version (32 KB) | Divisional Index |
Regulatory Guide Index | NRC Home Page ]
Publication
Information
A.
INTRODUCTION
The Code of Federal
Regulations in 10 CFR Part 19, "Notices, Instructions and Reports to
Workers: Inspection
and Investigations," in Section 19.12, "Instructions to
Workers," requires
instruction in
"the health protection problems associated with exposure to radiation
and/or radioactive material, in precautions or procedures to minimize exposure,
and in the purposes and functions of protective devices employed." The
instructions must be "commensurate with potential radiological health
protection problems present in the work place."
The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) regulations on radiation protection are
specified in
10 CFR Part 20,
"Standards for Protection Against Radiation"; and Section 20.1208,
"Dose to an
Embryo/Fetus,"
requires licensees to "ensure that the dose to an embryo/fetus during the
entire
pregnancy, due to
occupational exposure of a declared pregnant woman, does not exceed 0.5 rem (5
mSv)." Section 20.1208 also requires licensees to "make efforts to
avoid substantial variation above a uniform monthly exposure rate to a declared
pregnant woman." A declared pregnant woman is defined in 10 CFR 20.1003 as
a woman who has voluntarily informed her employer, in writing, of her pregnancy
and the estimated date of conception.
This regulatory
guide is intended to provide information to pregnant women, and other
personnel, to help them make decisions regarding radiation exposure during
pregnancy. This Regulatory Guide 8.13 supplements Regulatory Guide 8.29,
"Instruction Concerning Risks from Occupational
Radiation
Exposure" (Ref. 1), which contains a broad discussion of the risks from
exposure to
ionizing radiation.
Other sections of
the NRC's regulations also specify requirements for monitoring external and
internal occupational dose to a declared pregnant woman. In 10 CFR 20.1502,
"Conditions Requiring Individual Monitoring of External and Internal
Occupational Dose," licensees are required to monitor the occupational
dose to a declared pregnant woman, using an individual monitoring device, if it
is likely that the declared pregnant woman will receive, from external sources,
a deep dose equivalent in excess of 0.1 rem (1 mSv). According to Paragraph (e)
of 10 CFR 20.2106, "Records of
Individual Monitoring Results," the licensee must maintain records of dose
to an embryo/fetus if monitoring was required, and the records of dose to the
embryo/fetus must be kept with the records of dose to the declared pregnant
woman. The declaration of pregnancy must be kept on file, but may be maintained
separately from the dose records.
The licensee must retain the required form or record until the Commission
terminates each pertinent license requiring the record.
The information
collections in this regulatory guide are covered by the requirements of 10 CFR
Parts 19 or 20, which were approved by the Office of Management and Budget,
approval numbers 3150-0044 and 3150-0014, respectively. The NRC may not conduct
or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
B.
DISCUSSION
As discussed in
Regulatory Guide 8.29 (Ref. 1), exposure to any level of radiation is assumed
to
carry with it a
certain amount of risk. In the absence of scientific certainty regarding the
relationship between low dose exposure and health effects, and as a
conservative assumption for radiation protection purposes, the scientific
community generally assumes that any exposure to ionizing radiation may cause
undesirable biological effects and that the likelihood of these effects
increases as the dose increases. At the occupational dose limit for the whole
body of 5 rem (50 mSv) per year, the risk is believed to be very low.
The magnitude of
risk of childhood cancer following in utero exposure is uncertain in that both
negative and
positive studies have been reported. The data from these studies "are
consistent with a lifetime cancer risk resulting from exposure during gestation
which is two to three times that for the adult" (NCRP Report No. 116, Ref.
2). The NRC has reviewed the available scientific literature and has concluded
that the 0.5 rem (5 mSv) limit specified in 10 CFR 20.1208 provides an adequate
margin of protection for the embryo/fetus. This dose limit reflects the desire
to limit the total lifetime risk of leukemia and other cancers associated with
radiation exposure during pregnancy.
In order for a
pregnant worker to take advantage of the lower exposure limit and dose
monitoring
provisions specified
in 10 CFR Part 20, the woman must declare her pregnancy in writing to the
licensee. A form
letter for declaring pregnancy is provided in this guide or the licensee may
use its
own form letter for
declaring pregnancy. A separate written declaration should be submitted for
each pregnancy.
C. REGULATORY POSITION
1.
Who Should Receive
Instruction
Female workers who require training under 10
CFR 19.12 should be provided with the
information contained in this guide. In
addition to the information contained in Regulatory Guide
8.29 (Ref. 1), this information may be
included as part of the training required under 10 CFR 19.12.
2.
Providing
Instruction
14a The occupational
worker may be given a copy of this guide with its Appendix, an explanation
of the instruction,
the instructor should have some knowledge of the biological effects of
radiation to be able to answer questions that may go beyond the information
provided in this guide. Videotaped presentations may be used for classroom
instruction. Regardless of whether the licensee provides classroom training,
the licensee should give workers the opportunity to ask questions about
information contained in this Regulatory Guide 8.13. The licensee may take
credit for instruction that the worker has received within the past year at
other licensed facilities or in other courses or training.
3. Licensee's Policy on Declared Pregnant Women
The instruction provided should describe the licensee's specific policy on
declared pregnant women, including how those policies may affect a woman's work
situation. In particular, the instruction should include a description of the
licensee's policies, if any, that may affect the
declared pregnant
woman's work situation after she has filed a written declaration of pregnancy
consistent with 10
CFR 20.1208. The instruction should also
identify who to contact for additional information as well as identify who
should receive the written declaration of pregnancy. The recipient of the
woman's declaration may be identified by name (e.g., John Smith), position
(e.g., immediate supervisor, the radiation safety officer), or department
(e.g., the personnel department).
4. Duration of Lower Dose Limits for the
Embryo/Fetus
The
lower dose limit for the embryo/fetus should remain in effect until the woman
withdraws the
declaration in writing or the woman is no longer pregnant. If a declaration of
pregnancy is withdrawn, the dose limit for the embryo/fetus would apply only to
the time from the estimated date of conception until the time the declaration
is withdrawn. If the declaration is not withdrawn, the written declaration may
be considered expired one year after submission.
5. Substantial Variations Above a Uniform
Monthly Dose Rate
According to 10 CFR 20.1208(b), "The licensee shall make efforts to
avoid substantial variation
above a uniform monthly exposure rate to a declared pregnant woman so as to
satisfy the limit in
paragraph (a) of
this section," that is, 0.5 rem (5 mSv) to the embryo/fetus. The National
Council
on Radiation
Protection and Measurements (NCRP) recommends a monthly equivalent dose limit
of 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv) to the embryo/fetus once the pregnancy is known (Ref. 2).
In view of the
NCRP recommendation, any monthly dose of less
than 0.1 rem (1 mSv) may be considered as not a substantial variation above a
uniform monthly dose rate and as such will not require licensee justification.
However, a monthly dose greater than 0.1 rem (1 mSv) should be justified by the
licensee.
D. IMPLEMENTATION
The purpose of this
section is to provide information to licensees and applicants regarding the NRC
staff's plans for using this regulatory guide.
Unless a licensee or
an applicant proposes an acceptable alternative method for complying with the
specified portions of the NRC's regulations, the methods described in this
guide will be used by the NRC staff in the evaluation of instructions to
workers on the radiation exposure of pregnant women.
REFERENCES
1. USNRC,
"Instruction Concerning Risks from Occupational Radiation Exposure,"
Regulatory
Guide 8.29, Revision
1, February 1996.
2. National Council
on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Limitation of Exposure to
Ionizing Radiation,
NCRP Report No. 116,
APPENDIX: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
CONCERNING PRENATAL RADIATION EXPOSURE
1.
Why am I receiving
this information?
The NRC's
regulations (in 10 CFR 19.12, "Instructions to Workers") require that
licensees instruct individuals working with licensed radioactive materials in
radiation protection as appropriate for the situation. The instruction below
describes information that occupational workers and their supervisors should
know about the radiation exposure of the embryo/fetus of pregnant women.
The
regulations allow a pregnant woman to decide whether she wants to formally
declare her pregnancy to take advantage of lower dose limits for the
embryo/fetus.
This instruction
provides information to help women make an informed decision whether to declare
a pregnancy.
2.
If I become
pregnant, am I required to declare my pregnancy?
No. The choice
whether to declare your pregnancy is completely voluntary. If you choose to
declare your pregnancy, you must do so in writing and a lower radiation dose
limit will apply to your embryo/fetus. If you choose not to declare your
pregnancy, you and your embryo/fetus will continue to be subject to the same
radiation dose limits that apply to other occupational workers.
3.
If I declare my pregnancy in writing, what happens?
If you choose to declare your
pregnancy in writing, the licensee must take measures to limit the dose to your
embryo/fetus to 0.5 rem (5 millisievert) during the entire pregnancy. This is
one-tenth of the dose that an occupational worker may receive in a year. If you
have already received a dose exceeding 0.5 rem (5 mSv) in the period between
conception and the declaration of your pregnancy, an additional dose of 0.05
rem (0.5 mSv) is allowed during the remainder of the pregnancy. In addition, 10
CFR 20.1208, "Dose to an Embryo/Fetus," requires licensees to make
efforts to avoid substantial variation above a uniform monthly dose rate so
that all the 0.5 rem (5 mSv) allowed dose does not occur in a short period
during the pregnancy. This may mean
that, if you declare your pregnancy, the licensee may not permit you to do some of your normal job functions if those
functions would have allowed you to receive more than 0.5 rem, and you may not be able to have some
emergency response responsibilities.
4. Why
do the regulations have a lower dose limit for the embryo/fetus of a
declared pregnant woman than for a
pregnant worker who has not declared?
A lower
dose limit for the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant woman is based on a consideration of greater sensitivity to radiation of the
embryo/fetus and the involuntary
nature of
the exposure. Several scientific advisory groups have recommended (References 1
and 2) that the dose to the embryo/fetus be limited to a fraction of the
occupational dose limit.
5.
What are the
potentially harmful effects of radiation exposure to my embryo/fetus?
The
occurrence and severity of health effects caused by ionizing radiation are
dependent upon the type and total dose of radiation received, as well as the
time period over which the exposure was received. See Regulatory Guide 8.29,
"Instruction Concerning Risks from Occupational Exposure" (Ref. 3),
for more information. The main concern is embryo/fetal susceptibility to the
harmful effects of radiation such as cancer.
6. Are there any risks of genetic defects?
Although radiation injury has been induced experimentally in rodents and
insects, and in the experiments was transmitted and became manifest as
hereditary disorders in their offspring, radiation has not been identified as a
cause of such effect in humans. Therefore, the risk of genetic effects
attributable to radiation exposure is speculative.
For example, no genetic effects have been documented in any of the Japanese
atomic bomb survivors, their children, or their grandchildren.
7. What if I decide that I do not want any
radiation exposure at all during my pregnancy? You may ask your employer
for a job that does not involve any exposure at all to occupational radiation dose, but your employer is not
obligated to provide you with a job involving no radiation exposure. Even if
you receive no occupational exposure at all, your embryo/fetus will receive
some radiation dose (on average 75 mrem (0.75 mSv)) during your pregnancy from
natural background radiation. The NRC
has reviewed the available scientific literature and concluded that the 0.5 rem
(5mSv) limit provides an adequate margin of protection for the embryo/fetus.
This dose limit
reflects the desire to limit the total lifetime risk of leukemia and other
cancers. If this dose limit is exceeded, the total lifetime risk of cancer to
the embryo/fetus may increase incrementally.
However, the decision on what level of risk to accept is yours. More
detailed information on potential risk to the embryo/fetus from radiation
exposure can be found in References 2-10.
8. What effect
will formally declaring my pregnancy have on my job status
Only
the licensee can tell you what effect a written declaration of pregnancy will
have on your job status. As part of your
radiation safety training, the licensee should tell you the company's policies
with respect to the job status of declared pregnant women. In addition, before
you declare your pregnancy, you may want to talk to your supervisor or your
radiation safety officer and ask what a declaration of pregnancy would mean
specifically for you and your job status.
In many cases you can continue in your present job with no change and
still meet the dose limit for the embryo/fetus.
For example, most
commercial power reactor workers (approximately 93%) receive, in 12 months,
occupational radiation doses that are less than 0.5 rem (5 mSv) (Ref. 11). The
licensee may also consider the likelihood of increased radiation exposures from
accidents and abnormal events before making a decision to allow you to continue
in your present job. If your current
work might cause the dose to your embryo/fetus to exceed 0.5 rem (5 mSv), the
licensee has various options. It is possible that the licensee can and will
make a reasonable accommodation that will allow you to continue performing your
current job, for example, by having another qualified employee do a small part of
the job that accounts for some of your radiation exposure.
9. What information must I provide in my written
declaration of pregnancy?
You should provide, in writing, your name, a declaration that you are
pregnant, the estimated date of conception (only the month and year need be
given), and the date that you give the letter to the licensee. A form letter
that you can use is included at the end of these questions and answers. You may
use that letter, use a form letter the licensee has provided to you, or write
your own letter.
10. To
declare my pregnancy, do I have to have documented medical proof that I am
pregnant?
NRC regulations do not require that you provide medical proof of your
pregnancy. However, NRC regulations do not preclude the licensee from
requesting medical documentation of your pregnancy, especially if a change in
your duties is necessary in order to comply with the 0.5 rem (5 mSv) dose
limit.
11.
Can I tell the
licensee orally rather than in writing that I am pregnant?
No.
The regulations require that the declaration must be in writing.
12. If I have not
declared my pregnancy in writing, but the licensee suspects that I am pregnant,
do the lower dose limits apply?
No.
The lower dose limits for pregnant women apply only if you have declared your
pregnancy in writing. The United States Supreme Court has ruled (in United
Automobile Workers International Union v. Johnson Controls, Inc., 1991) that
"Decisions about the welfare of future children must be left to the
parents who conceive, bear, support, and raise them rather than to the
employers who hire those parents" (Reference 7). The Supreme Court also
ruled that your employer may not restrict you from a specific job "because
of concerns about the next generation." Thus, the lower limits apply only
if you choose to declare your pregnancy in writing.
13.
If I am planning to become pregnant but am not yet pregnant and I inform
the licensee of that in writing, do the lower dose limits apply?
No. The requirement for lower limits applies only if you declare in writing
that you are already pregnant.
14.
What if I have a miscarriage or find out that I am not pregnant?
If you have declared your pregnancy in writing, you should promptly inform
the licensee in writing that you are no longer pregnant. However, if you have
not formally declared your pregnancy in writing, you need not inform the
licensee of your nonpregnant status.
15.
How long is the lower dose limit in effect?
The dose to the embryo/fetus must be limited until you withdraw your declaration
in writing or you inform the licensee in
writing that you are no longer pregnant. If the declaration is not withdrawn,
the written declaration may be considered expired one year after submission.
16. If I have
declared my pregnancy in writing, can I revoke my declaration of pregnancy even
if I am still pregnant?
Yes, you
may. The choice is entirely yours. If you revoke your declaration of pregnancy,
the lower dose limit for
the embryo/fetus no longer applies.
17. What if I work
under contract at a licensed facility?
The
regulations state that you should formally declare your pregnancy to the
licensee in writing. The licensee has the responsibility to limit the dose to
the embryo/fetus.
18. Where can I
get additional information?
The
references to this Appendix contain helpful information, especially Reference
3, NRC's Regulatory Guide 8.29, "Instruction Concerning Risks from
Occupational Radiation Exposure," for general information on radiation
risks. The licensee should be able to give this document to you.
For information on
legal aspects, see Reference 7, "The Rock and the
You may telephone
the NRC Headquarters at (301) 415-7000. Legal questions should be directed
to the Office of the
General Counsel, and technical questions should be directed to the Division of
Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety.
You may also
telephone the NRC Regional Offices at the following numbers: Region I, (610)
337-5000; Region II,
(404) 562-4400; Region III, (630) 829-9500; and Region IV, (817) 860-8100.
Legal questions should be directed to the Regional Counsel, and technical
questions should be directed to the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety.
REFERENCES FOR APPENDIX
1.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Limitation of
Exposure to Ionizing Radiation, NCRP Report No. 116, Bethesda, MD, 1993.
2.
International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1990
Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection,
ICRP Publication 60, Ann. ICRP 21: No.
1-3, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 1991.
3.
USNRC, "Instruction Concerning Risks from
Occupational Radiation Exposure," Regulatory Guide 8.29, Revision 1, February 1996.1(1)
(Electronically available at www.nrc.gov/NRC/RG/index.html)
4.
Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations, National
Research Council, Health Effects of Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing
Radiation (BEIR V), National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1990.
5.
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation,
Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations, New York, 1993.
6. R.
Doll and R. Wakeford, "Risk of Childhood Cancer from Fetal
Irradiation," The British Journal of Radiology, 70, 130-139, 1997.
7.
David Wiedis, Donald E. Jose, and Timm O. Phoebe, "The Rock and the
Hard Place: Employer Liability to
Fertile or Pregnant Employees and Their Unborn Children--What Can the Employer
Do?" Radiation Protection Management, 11, 41-49, January/February 1994.
8.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements,
Considerations Regarding the Unintended
Radiation Exposure of the Embryo, Fetus, or Nursing Child, NCRP Commentary No. 9, Bethesda, MD, 1994.
9. National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurements, Risk Estimates for Radiation Protection, NCRP Report No. 115,
10. National Radiological Protection Board,
Advice on Exposure to Ionising Radiation During Pregnancy, National
Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, UK, 1998.
11. M.L. Thomas and D. Hagemeyer,
"Occupational Radiation Exposure at Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors and
Other Facilities, 1996," Twenty-Ninth Annual Report, NUREG-0713, Vol. 18,
USNRC, 1998.(2)
FORM LETTER FOR DECLARING
PREGNANCY
This form letter is
provided for your convenience. To make your written declaration of pregnancy,
you may fill in the
blanks in this form letter, you may use a form letter the licensee has provided
to
you, or you may
write your own letter.
DECLARATION OF PREGNANCY
To:
_________________________
In accordance with
the NRC's regulations at 10 CFR 20.1208, "Dose to an Embryo/Fetus," I
am
declaring that I am
pregnant. I believe I became pregnant in________________ (only the month and
year need be provided).
I understand the
radiation dose to my embryo/fetus during my entire pregnancy will not be
allowed to exceed 0.5 rem (5 millisievert) (unless that dose has already been
exceeded between the time of conception and submitting this letter). I also
understand that meeting the lower dose limit may require a change in job or job
responsibilities during my pregnancy.
___________________________
(Your Signature)
___________________________
(Your Name
Printed)
___________________________
(Date)
REGULATORY
ANALYSIS
A separate
regulatory analysis was not prepared for this regulatory guide. A regulatory
analysis
prepared for 10 CFR
Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation" (56 FR 23360),
provides the regulatory basis for this guide and examines the costs and
benefits of the rule as
implemented by the
guide. A copy of the "Regulatory Analysis for the Revision of 10 CFR Part
20"
(PNL-6712, November
1988) is available for inspection and copying for a fee at the NRC Public
Document Room, 2120
L Street NW, Washington, DC, as an enclosure to Part 20 (56 FR 23360).
[ Divisional Index | Regulatory
Guide Index | NRC Home Page ]
1. Single copies of
regulatory guides, both active and draft, and draft NUREG documents may be
obtained free of
charge by writing the Reproduction and Distribution Services Section, OCIO,
USNRC,
<DISTRIBUTION@NRC.GOV>.
Active guides may also be purchased from the National
Technical
Information Service on a standing order basis. Details on this service may be
obtained by writing NTIS,
2. Copies are
available at current rates from the U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box
37082, Washington, DC 20402-9328 (telephone (202)512-1800); or from the
National Technical
Information Service
by writing NTIS at
available for inspection
or copying for a fee from the NRC Public Document Room at 2120 L Street NW.,
Washington, DC; the PDR's mailing address is Mail Stop LL-6, Washington, DC
20555; telephone (202)634-3273; fax (202)634-3343.
GRADING POLICY
The grading scale
for each course will be determined by the instructor. It will never be more rigorous than the
following except in certain clinical competency tests.
A 100-94
B 93-88
C 87-80
F 79 and below
Any grade below a "C" will
demonstrate a failure in that course. Therefore, an F will be awarded as a
grade and will require dismissal from the program. Re-admission will be
considered using the policy on page 33.
MALPRACTICE
INSURANCE
Malpractice
insurance is secured through the school.
The cost is included in the student's semester fees.
FILM
BADGES
Each student must
wear a film badge for monitoring on the collar outside the lead apron at all
times while in the clinical setting. The
absence of your film badge will constitute a violation, which requires your
removal from the site until your badge is available.
Badges will be
purchased through
TELEPHONE
POLICY
The telephone
located in the Radiology Department and Program Office is for professional and
business use only.
Personal calls are
to be limited to emergencies only.
Excessive outside
phone calls will not be tolerated by the clinical sites/programs and may be
grounds for clinical probation or suspension.
Cell phones in the
clinical setting will be subject to the rules of the Clinical sites.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND FORM
DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
The successful
completion of the program depends on the completion of all clinical education
courses.
The Radiologist,
Chief Technologist, Assistant Chief Technologist and/or the on-site instructor
in the affiliated hospital have the authority to verbally reprimand, place on
probation, or dismiss a student from their assigned clinical temporarily or
permanently for unethical behavior or for not complying with hospital or
college policies. If a disciplinary
action should become necessary, a form will be filled out by one or more of the
above listed personnel and a copy will be given to the student. The Clinical Coordinator and Program Director
will decide if further action is appropriate.
If the student is
dismissed from the affiliate that he is assigned to, he/she will not be allowed
to continue in any clinical rotation for the length of the suspension
regardless of the level of his/her grades in any other area.
Any student
suspension will be handled through the Clinical Coordinator, the Program
Director, the involved clinical site, and the College, as needed.
It is a requirement
that the clinical education phase of the program must be completed before the
graduate can sit for the registry of the American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists.
Grounds for
immediate dismissal include felonies, theft, alcohol consumption, all improper
uses and abuses of legal and illegal drugs, gambling, fighting, and any other
situation deemed injurious to the well-being of the clinical affiliate.
Days missed due to
suspension must be made up by the student.
DISCIPLINARY
ACTION FORM
STUDENT DATA:
Name:___________________________________________________
Hospital:_______________________________________________
Supervisor:_____________________________________________
NATURE OF THE
INCIDENT:
COMMENTS:
PREVIOUS DISCIPLINARY
ACTION:
DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
VERBAL
REPRIMAND:_____________
PROBATION:________
(_____) DAYS
DISMISSAL FROM
SITE:_____________________
_______________________________ ____________________________
Radiologist Date
_______________________________ ____________________________
Chief Technologist Date
_______________________________ ____________________________
On-Site Coordinator Date
_______________________________ ____________________________
Clinical Instructor Date
CLINICAL GRIEVANCE
POLICY
Students must
subjugate themselves and show due respect to all technologists and program
officials considering their position over them regardless of their personal feelings. This must be done at all times and students
must follow instructions issued by staff technologists unless such instructions
adversely affects the safety of a patient, or violates accepted program
standards, facility rules, applicable law or shows a pattern of
harassment. This rule is not intended to
encumber a student from any avenue of resolution at
The procedure that
is outlined in this document is to be used to address any and all grievances
with the program clinical sites and shall be followed:
1. Complaints will be addressed with
the clinical instructor at the clinical site in an attempt to resolve the
issue(s) with the help of the clinical instructor in charge at the clinical
site. The program director and/or
clinical coordinator shall be made aware of the existence of any problem by
verbal notification by students of the attempt at such resolution even if it is
successful.
2. If an understanding regarding the
issue or complaint with the clinical site cannot be reached the student will
provide in writing to the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director a
description of the issue or complaint as outlined in the Radiologic Technology
Program Handbook. Such complaints will
be written on time other than the time that the student is in clinicals, if the
student feels that the complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved and
another step is needed.
3. Any other problem with the
Radiologic Technology Program may be addressed in writing to the clinical
coordinator and program director or handled according to the Ivy Tech Community
College Handbook before any further effort to obtain a solution is attempted.
4. According to the rules of
Failure to comply
with the rules as set forth in this handbook, policies of the clinical
affiliate to which the student is assigned or rules of
CPR
POLICY
All students must
maintain a current CPR card throughout the program.
ID
MARKERS
Students must
have their film markers with them at all times while in the clinical
sites. These must have their initials on
them, and may not be interchanged with others.
Failure to have markers can result in dismissal from the clinical area
until the student obtains the proper marker.
All markers will be
secured through the instructor at the program, and it is suggested two sets be
maintained at all times.
UNIVERSAL
PRECAUTIONS
All students prior
to clinical rotations will be informed an educated on the use and application
of the universal precautions. Each
student will document attendance at a minimum of two sessions prior to
graduation.
Students will also
be informed on the availability of Hepatitis B vaccine, (at students expense)
they will also be required to sign a waiver should they not become immunized on
the dates of the inoculations.
NON-TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM COMPLETION
Completion of the
program depends on completion of all of the program requirements and
competencies. Any student needing extra
time to complete the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
SECTION
II: GENERAL INFORMATION
ACADEMIC GRADING SCALE
The grading scale
for the program (didactic) is the same as that listed in the Clinical Education
- Section I: Method of Evaluation and
Grading.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
All students are
encouraged to attend and join the Indiana Society of Radiology Technologists,
both at the local and state level.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
The process and
result of academic probation is clearly defined in the Ivy Tech Community
College Student Handbook.
ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
Failure to maintain
the defined standards of progress of the Radiologic Technology Program or upon
well documented violations of the Program Guide or Institutional Handbooks can
lead to student suspension from the program.
The student does
have the right and privilege to pursue the Student Grievance Procedure outlined
in the Ivy Tech Community College Student Handbook.
Any student
dismissed for just cause will not be entitled to refunds.
RE-ADMISSION POLICY
Any student who
drops out, expelled or suspended from the program for any reason must re-apply
for admission to the program. This may
also require an interview.
After being out of
the program for more than one year a student must repeat all of the RAD courses
in the program.
Re-entry into the
program will be on condition of faculty vote. Any student re-admission is
dependant on faculty consensus by anonymous vote, clinical spots available,
program sequencing and the quality of any assigned remedial requirement that
the faculty deems appropriate.
STUDENT TRANSFER
INTO THE PROGRAM FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM
Any student wishing
to transfer into the program must apply for college admission. Transfer credits will be evaluated and
transfer of credit will occur through college policy. Such transfer shall be subject to the
availability of an appropriate clinical placement, and student admission
policies.
Any credit
transferred into
Remediation
Candidates for primary certification who fail
three exam attempts generally require extensive additional study if they are
ever going to pass. So ARRT limits candidates to three attempts to pass an exam
within three years.
When either three unsuccessful attempts have
been made or three years have expired, individuals are no longer considered
eligible. They may obtain eligibility to take the exam one additional time by
submitting documentation that, since the third attempt, they completed remedial
activities acceptable to the ARRT. The fourth attempt must occur within the
one-year period following the third unsuccessful attempt.
Remediation options are:
1. Independent Study. The individual studies the content
areas for examination on his or her own. A minimum of 40 hours is required.
2. Study with an ARRT-Certified Technologist. The
individual studies the content areas for examination with an ARRT technologist
certified in the examination category. A minimum of 20 hours is required. All
20 hours must be spent with the certified technologist.
3. Study with an Educator from an Accredited Educational
Program. The individual studies the content areas for examination with a
program director or other educator from an approved radiologic technology
program. A minimum of 10 hours is required. The 10 hours must be actual time
spent with the educator.
Re-graduation:
Those failing the fourth attempt or waiting
longer than one year following the third unsuccessful attempt subsequently
become eligible by once again successfully completing the didactic and clinical
competency requirements of an educational program accredited by an
ARRT-recognized mechanism. Enrollment may be in the same or a different
program. To be considered for
Individual programs may decide whether to
extend advanced placement status to certain
candidates, which would consequently result in a shorter program.
Its up to the Radiology Program Chair to
decide what courses will have to be repeated after testing scores have been
re-evaluated and clinical competencies will be required.
ARRT
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Last
Revised: July 1, 2005
(a) Radiography. Candidates must have successfully
completed a formal educational program in radiography accredited by a mechanism
acceptable to the ARRT. Eligibility to participate in the certification
examinations must be established within five years of program completion.
Effective January 1, 2002, candidates must successfully complete the ARRT
Radiography Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements as part of the
educational program.
410
IAC 5-11-4 General certification
Sec.
4. The requirements for the general certification of diagnostic X-ray machine
operators for use on human beings are as
follows:
(a)
An applicant for general certification as an operator of a radiation machine
who is not elsewhere exempted in 410 IAC
5-11
shall:
(1) have graduated from a CAHEA/JRCERT approved
program;
(2) have satisfactorily completed the board
approved American registry of radiologic technologists examination and be
certified by the American registry of radiologic
technologist in diagnostic radiology designated as ARRT(R);
(3) have satisfactorily completed an application
form approved by the board. &Bl1.(b) An applicant may challenge the
board-approved examination three (3) consecutive
times with a valid temporary status letter. After the third unsuccessful
attempt at the board-approved examination, the
temporary status is no longer valid and the applicant must refrain from
taking radiographs in
(c)
All certificates are valid for two (2) years.
Radiologic Technology
Required Program Competencies
|
THORAX |
DATE
COMPLETED |
PATIENT
OR |
VERIFIED
BY |
|
|
|
SIMULATED |
|
|
Chest,
routine (2 views) |
|
|
|
|
Chest,
decubitus |
|
|
|
|
Chest,
age 6 years or younger (Peds) |
|
|
|
|
Chest,
wheelchair |
|
|
|
|
Chest,
stretcher |
|
|
|
|
Ribs |
|
|
|
|
Sternum |
|
|
|
|
EXTREMITIES |
|
|
|
|
Foot |
|
|
|
|
Ankle |
|
|
|
|
Tibia
and Fibula |
|
|
|
|
Knee |
|
|
|
|
Femur |
|
|
|
|
Finger
or Thumb |
|
|
|
|
Hand |
|
|
|
|
Wrist |
|
|
|
|
Forearm |
|
|
|
|
Elbow |
|
|
|
|
Humerus |
|
|
|
|
Shoulder |
|
|
|
|
Trauma
Shoulder (Trans Thoracic) |
|
|
|
|
Toes |
|
|
|
|
Os
Calcis |
|
|
|
|
Patella |
|
|
|
|
Scapula |
|
|
|
|
Clavicle |
|
|
|
|
Acromioclavicular
Joints |
|
|
|
|
Extremity,
age 6 years or younger (Peds |
|
|
|
|
Sterno-clavicular
joints |
|
|
|
|
HEAD AND NECK |
|
|
|
|
Skull |
|
|
|
|
Facial
Bones |
|
|
|
|
Mandible |
|
|
|
|
Nasal
Bones |
|
|
|
|
Orbits |
|
|
|
|
Paranasal
Sinuses |
|
|
|
|
Zygomatic
Arches |
|
|
|
|
Larynx
(Soft Tissue Neck) |
|
|
|
|
SPINE AND PELVIS |
|
|
|
|
Cervical
Spine with obliques |
|
|
|
|
Trauma
Cervical Spine |
|
|
|
|
Thoracic
Spine |
|
|
|
|
Lumbosacral
Spine with obliques |
|
|
|
|
Pelvis |
|
|
|
|
Hip |
|
|
|
Competencies
continued
|
spine and pelvis
(continued) |
|
|
|
|
Trauma
Hip |
|
|
|
|
Sacrum
and/or Coccyx |
|
|
|
|
Sacroiliac
Joints |
|
|
|
|
Scoliosis
Series |
|
|
|
|
ABDOMEN AND GI TRACT |
|
|
|
|
Esophagus
Study |
|
|
|
|
Abdomen,
supine and upright |
|
|
|
|
Abdomen,
decubitus |
|
|
|
|
Upper
G.I. Series |
|
|
|
|
Small
Bowel Series |
|
|
|
|
Barium
Enema, Double Contrast |
|
|
|
|
Gall
bladder (oral) |
|
|
|
|
OTHER |
|
|
|
|
IVU
(IVP) |
|
|
|
|
Myelogram |
|
|
|
|
Conventional
Tomogram (other than IVU) |
|
|
|
|
Retrograde
Urethrogram |
|
|
|
|
MOBILE AND SURGICAL |
|
|
|
|
Portable
Chest |
|
|
|
|
Portable
Abdomen |
|
|
|
|
Portable
Orthopedics |
|
|
|
|
Operative
Cholangiogram |
|
|
|
|
Retrograde
Urogram |
|
|
|
|
C-Arm
Procedure (surgical) |
|
|
|
STUDENT
SPECIAL ROTATIONS FOR EVENINGS, WEEKENDS AND THIRD SHIFT
CLINICAL
ASSIGNMENTS
RADIOLOGIC
TECHNOLOGY
Rationale:
The purpose of the
special rotations is to be exposed to
the department flow at a time when things are handled in a non-routine
manner. The opportunity for more trauma,
portable, and possibly pediatric exams is much greater. Since a newly graduated student is subject to
employment, it is to their advantage to have experienced these shifts. Students may be exposed to various
"special views" and emergency procedures. This will serve to enhance their decision
making skills.
Students may be
assigned to afternoon or evening shift for a two (2) week rotation during every
clinical after Clinical I. Students may have a one weekend evening
rotation and be assigned to two (2) 8 hour clinical assignments over a
weekend. The hours considered
"evening shift" may vary from one clinical facility to another
depending on department schedules and work oads. The schedule will be determined by the site
clinical instructor and program coordinator and will be distributed in
advance. Further special rotations must
be requested by the student and approved by the Clinical Instructor, the
Clinical Coordinator and Program Director.
Such requests will be limited to one student at a clinical site and the
availability of an appropriate clinical experience.
Performance Objectives:
At the completion
of the evening shift and/or weekend rotation, the student will be able to:
1. Interpret patient history from the
requisition.
2. Assess patient condition and/or range
of movement.
3. Determine if additional or alternative
projections may be required.
4. Select and retrieve any accessory
radiographic devices such as grids or retraining devices as appropriate to the
examination.
5. Identify the location of the emergency
cart.
6. Make readily available oxygen
apparatus, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, emergency cart and supplies needed
for injections of medication when requested by physician or other qualified
personnel.
7. Without undue hesitation, adjust tube,
film and patient to obtain projection required if patient cannot assume the
routine position.
8. Select and adjust exposure factors as
necessary to compensate for positioning changes or patient condition.
9. Perform non-radiographic duties
(filing, scheduling, darkroom) as required by department.
TRAUMA PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
After the patient
has been assessed and judged by an R.T. to be suitable for the student's ability
level, the student must in the area of patient care:
1. Demonstrate the ability not to
contribute to the patient's immediate concern over his/her condition or the
condition of others who may have been involved in the accident, which caused
their injuries.
2. Display the talent to obtain
cooperation from the patient with reassurances and competent positioning
methods which cause minimal patient discomfort.
3. Exhibit the expertise to obtain
radiographs without causing patient discomfort or disturbing patient IVs,
catheters, O2 tubing, or any other device attached to the patient
for treatment.
4. Choreograph the movement of the patient
from the cart to the table and back to obtain radiographs with minimal patient
discomfort obtaining assistance when necessary.
5. Notify the proper personnel if the
patient's condition changes or if they suspect the patient's condition is
changing.
Associated with
safety and protection the student will:
1. Follow the OSHA guidelines at all times
thus minimizing the possibility of disease transfer between themselves and the
patient. (body fluid precautions)
2. Use appropriate radiation shielding at
all times.
3. Apply the knowledge of radiation
protection to themselves by avoiding the primary beam at all times.
4. Protect the patient's safety by having
the side rails up at all times when transferring patients.
Regarding trauma
positioning methods the student must:
1. Display the ability to obtain
radiographs of the patient without moving the patient if the need arises.
2. Never remove a splint or immobilization
device without the attending physician's request or permission.
3. Modify positioning methods to minimize
patient discomfort while obtaining satisfactory radiographs.