Clinical Information
Mary Washington Hospital
1001 Sam Perry Blvd.
Fredericksburg, Va.22401
Medical Imaging at Lee’s Hill
10401 Spotsylvania Ave., Suite 100-1
Fredericksburg, Va.22408
Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg
1201 Sam Perry Blvd, Suite 102
Fredericksburg, Va.22401
Cancer Center of Virginia
6105 Health Center Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Stafford Hospital
101 Hospital Center Boulevard
Stafford, VA 22555
General Plan for Clinical Education
Each clinical site affiliated for the education of radiography students
has a clinical instructor responsible for supervision. The clinical instructor,
or a designated technologist, supervises the student in the clinical education
center. Supervision must be direct or indirect, depending on the progress
of the student in the program.
Students are assigned to different clinical education sites. Clinical assignments
will begin with the fall semester of the program and may include evening
and weekend rotations. Students will rotate through the different diagnostic
areas to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from theory to application
of skills by performing diagnostic radiographic procedures.
During the clinical orientation course, students are oriented to fire safety,
infection control, back safety, and CPR. Following orientation, students
begin attending clinical.
At each site, students are oriented to the department which includes the
film library, emergency room, portable equipment, individual radiography
rooms, the area supervisors and the department directors. At the end of
each clinical rotation, students are evaluated using a clinical progress
evaluation form. The length of clinical rotations will vary in length
from daily rotations during the first month of the first semester to 3
to 5 weeks in length during the remainder of the program.
During initial rotations, students will be primarily engaged in observation.
Students will become proficient and gain competence through practice and
experience. The clinical competencies that follow are designed to prepare
the student for job entry-level competence upon graduation. Specific category
competency requirements are listed in the respective clinical education
course syllabus provided by the instructor as required by ARRT.
Opportunities for attaining competence in pediatric radiographic procedures,
tomography, trauma, surgical, and bedside procedures are provided. Simulation
is utilized for infrequent or limited volume examinations and will comprise
a minor component of clinical education. Opportunities are provided for
observation in computed tomography, cardiovascular interventional, magnetic
resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, and ultrasonography.
Clinical Supervision
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
requires that, prior to a student attaining competency; the student must
function in a clinical setting under DIRECT supervision of a qualified
radiographer. The JRCERT defines a qualified radiographer as a technologist
certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
All radiologic procedures/examinations will be performed under the DIRECT
supervision of a qualified radiographer until the student has obtained
the required competency on a given procedure/examination. The level of
supervision the student receives is determined by the student’s
level of competency. Students may only be tested for competency by an
ARRT qualified radiographer.
Direct Supervision
Until a student achieves and documents competency, clinical assignments
shall be carried out under the direct supervision of qualified radiographers.
This means that a qualified radiographer:
- Reviews the request for the examination and evaluates the readiness of
the student to perform the examination
- Evaluates the condition of the patient in relation to the student’s knowledge
- Is present during the examination
- Reviews and approves the images
Indirect Supervision
After demonstrating competency, students may perform procedures under indirect
supervision.
For indirect supervision, a qualified radiographer is immediately available
to assist students regardless of the level of student achievement. This
means that the qualified radiographer is present in an area adjacent to
the room or location where the radiographic procedure is being performed
and is within calling distance without obstacles in the way. This applies
to all areas where ionizing radiation equipment is in use.
**
Students are never allowed to perform portables or operating room cases alone.
*** Students are never allowed to repeat a film alone. A registered technologist
must always be present when a student is repeating an image and must sign
and date a MWH SORT film repeat document.
**Students found in violation of the direct/indirect supervision policy
will automatically drop one Clinical letter grade per occurrence. **