Radiography Education
From Classroom to Clinic
On completion of this chapter, you should be able to:
• Describe the essentials for patient–radiologic technologist interaction.
• List and describe the basic courses essential to the education of radiologic technologists.
• Explain the relationship between clinical education and the theory component of the radiologic technology curriculum.
• Explain what is meant by clinical competency evaluation.
• List and describe the competencies evaluated in clinical education.
Few professions are as diverse as radiologic technology. Daily tasks range from communications and psychologic to artistic expression in the production of the radiographic image to the application of physics, anatomy, physiology, and chemistry.
To the novice, the work performed by a well-educated registered technologist may seem methodic, repetitious, and lacking challenge. However, on close examination it becomes apparent that the technologist must possess complex knowledge and apply it to the radiologic examination of patients.
The reason a particular occupation or task appears easy is that the person performing the job has learned the many intricacies involved. This statement is particularly true with radiologic technology. The educated technologist provides every patient with optimal patient care, which includes interaction with the patient, positioning procedures, and the selection of exposure factors that produce the best diagnostic radiologic examination. Therefore the performance of various tasks might appear easy to the patients and others outside the profession.
This chapter introduces the student to the work of the radiologic technologist, provides the minimum core curriculum necessary for entry-level performance, and evaluates the student during the learning process.
The patient as our guest
The key individual in the health care setting is the patient. This means that we must think of the patient as our guest. Examining this phrase and understanding how the patient is a guest is very important. The patient is the recipient of the many services provided in medical facilities. On admission to the hospital, clinic, or physician’s office, the patient is abruptly introduced to an unusual environment filled with wondrous, unnamed machines and a variety of people, all waiting for the guest—the patient.
When a qualified physician requests a radiographic examination, it becomes the radiologic technologist’s responsibility to:
Essentially, this treatment should be respectful without being familiar, empathetic without being maudlin (tearful, emotional), considerate without being solicitous (fearful, overly concerned), and professional without being cold and clinical.
This all sounds like a tall order, especially when the workload is heavy, the hour grows late, and more things are yet to be done; but you only need to put yourself in the place of the patient to understand the importance of a health care professional’s responsibility (Fig. 6-1).
When caring for the very young or the very old, the terminally ill, or the handicapped, this responsibility may be difficult to handle. These patients do not, however, change the importance of these responsibilities. This responsibility is the basis of being in a helping profession. Above all, every patient who comes to radiology is a guest!
Your responsibilities in health care
No substitute exists for the knowledge necessary to perform the tasks of a radiologic technologist with confidence, effectiveness, and efficiency.
This confidence is a direct result of being prepared. Students are confronted with quizzes, competency tests, and finally, the certifying examination. Yet the greatest tests will come with every radiologic examination you perform. Educators in radiologic technology are aware of the need for well-prepared radiologic technologists.
The field of radiology is continually changing in the wake of technology and has recently accelerated with the space age. However, learning the basic principles of the production of x-radiation and how to make these principles work is imperative for the student radiologic technologist.
What does the radiologic technologist need to know to perform the responsibilities of radiologic technology? To answer this question, you need to look at the course recommendations for approved programs in radiologic technology, as well as the unique goals and needs of the sponsoring institutions and clinical affiliates.
Essentially, the courses listed here are considered basic. The titles and brief descriptions of topics are based on the curriculum guide published by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). More complete information is available from ASRT.
Radiologic Technology Basic Curriculum
The radiologic technology curriculum is composed of several courses taught over 2 consecutive calendar years. The courses listed are not inclusive and each is under continual study and review by the professional organizations responsible for recommending the basic curriculum.
Introduction to Radiography
This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic aspects of the department of imaging, radiologic technology, and the health care system in general. The basic principles of radiation protection are introduced. The student should gain a better understanding of the structure and function of agencies through which medical services are delivered.
Medical Ethics and Law
What are the moral, legal, and professional responsibilities of the radiologic technologist? This course helps the student understand how to deal with confidential information and the interpersonal relationships, or interaction, with patients and other health care team members. In addition, attention is given to medicolegal considerations, as well as to professional guidelines and codes of ethics.
Principles of Diagnostic Imaging
This course introduces the student to various methods of recording images. These images result from the fluoroscopic and radiographic application of the principles of image production. The student is expected to comprehend and apply the principles to the various imaging systems. Some special techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital radiography, and ultrasonography, are discussed.
Imaging Equipment
This course describes the process of radiographic image production and the specific equipment needed to produce the radiographic image.
Radiographic Processing
The design, structure, function, and application of the various rooms and equipment needed to obtain a radiograph are presented. Darkrooms, processing and materials, and radiographic film, including its storage, handling, characteristics, and possible artifacts, are discussed.
Human Structure and Function
This course refers to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. For the radiologic technologist to conduct radiologic procedures on various anatomic parts, knowing the location and function of all body parts is necessary.
Medical Terminology
The written and spoken language of medicine incorporates many uncommon words, meanings, and symbols. For the radiologic technologist to work effectively in radiology, understanding the language of medicine is also necessary.
Principles of Radiographic Exposure
What are the technical factors required to produce high-quality diagnostic radiographs? What kinds of accessory equipment is used? This course involves the use of the mathematic principles used in producing a radiograph.
Radiographic Procedures
Every radiology department has a routine for performing procedures specific to that particular department. These procedures range from simple radiographic imaging to more complex tasks requiring contrast media, special radiographic equipment, and accessory materials.
Principles of Radiation Protection
The technologist must know how to use ionizing radiation in a safe and prudent manner. Patients, as well as radiologic technologists and co-workers, must be protected from radiation as much as possible. Therefore radiologic technologists must know how exposure factors affect radiation doses, what the maximum permissible dose is, and the methods for monitoring exposure. The objective is to practice the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) concept in diagnostic radiography.
Radiographic Image Evaluation
What is the difference between an optimal quality radiograph and a nondiagnostic one (Fig. 6-2)? This course integrates all of the material previously learned. Although radiologic technologists do not interpret radiographs, they evaluate them for diagnostic quality, which includes the consideration of pathologic conditions.
Pathologic Conditions
The student needs to be acquainted with the various disease conditions that may affect the resulting radiographic image. In addition, knowledge of disease entities is helpful in working with patients.
Methods of Patient Care
Through information presented in this course, the radiologic technologist prepares to work with patients, regardless of their health conditions, in a manner that does not cause them additional injury or discomfort or hinder their recovery.
Quality Assurance
Optimal quality radiographs achieve many important benefits. They (1) minimize the patient’s exposure to radiation, (2) provide the physician with the best possible image for diagnosis, and (3) contain health care costs. Students must know the regulations that govern quality assurance, as well as the techniques, equipment, and procedures for attaining it.
Radiation Physics
To help the student understand how radiation works, as well as be familiar with the interaction of radiation with matter, this course concentrates on basic information about the physical properties of radiation—how it is produced, how it is measured, and how it is used in the medical environment. In addition, information about electrostatics, electric safety, x-ray tubes and transformers, and x-ray circuits and equipment is also included.
Radiobiology
The hazardous effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue have long been known. The student must be thoroughly familiar with the reactions that occur when a single living cell or an entire organism is irradiated.
Introduction to Computer Science
Many of the technical innovations that are constantly changing the nature of radiology rely on computers. The capacity of computer storage and image manipulation is basic to many of the newer imaging systems, such as computed tomography, digital imaging, and MRI. This course introduces the student to basic computer applications (Fig. 6-3).
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