Communication |
Oral and written communication skills to communicate in English with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency with patients, their families and other members of the healthcare team, including non-verbal communication, such as interpretation of facial expressions, affect and body language. |
- Communicate with clear dictation and in a concise manner to patients, visitors, and other healthcare professionals in various departments
- Read, type, and write appropriate instructions and documentations in patients’ charts, notes, and medical records accurately
- Elicit information and cooperation (i.e.: obtaining patient history, giving breathing instructions)
- Describe changes in a patient’s mood, activity, and posture
- Perceive nonverbal communication (i.e.: pain, lack of understanding)
- Recognize and report critical patient information to other caregivers
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Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving |
Critical thinking and problem solving skills sufficient for sound clinical judgment during the performance of radiography. |
- Organize and accurately perform in proper sequence, and within a specified time, the steps required for radiographic procedures
- Ability to remember and recall large amounts of information
- Ability to accurately read and transcribe illegible handwriting
- Ability to quickly assess patients’ conditions and other emergent situations, determine appropriate courses of action, request assistance or delegate responsibilities to coworkers, and/or respond as needed
- Solve problems (i.e.: mathematical computation)
- Comprehend three-dimensional relationships (i.e.: anatomical relations)
- Understand the spatial relationship of structures
- Critical Thinking/ability sufficient for clinical judgement (i.e.: modification of radiographic procedures and/or technical factors to accommodate patient age/or condition
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Emotional/Behavioral |
Emotional stability and appropriate behavior sufficient to accept responsibility/accountability for actions |
- Deliver unbiased patient care
- Establish rapport with patients, healthcare workers, instructors and peers
- Ability to calmly and respectfully cope in stressful situations, emergency situations, or in situations involving other personnel
- Accept constructive and professional criticism
- Follow all program, college, and clinical site policies
- Expected to maintain confidentiality at all times
- Expected to adhere to the ARRT/ASRT Code of Ethics and Rules of Ethics
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Environmental Tolerance |
Radiography students may be exposed to communicable diseases and/or blood and body fluids, toxic substances, medical preparations, latex, and ionizing radiation.
Students shall use appropriate precautions at all times. |
- May care for patients with a communicable disease and shall provide all care using universal precautions
- Possible exposure to chemicals, irritants, and latex and shall follow all safety and health protection guidelines
- May be exposed to ionizing radiation and shall follow radiation protection guidelines at all times
- Ability to work in a noisy environment with frequent interruptions
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Hearing |
Auditory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of patient health care needs and during performance of radiography. |
- Ability to understand, and respond appropriately to comments, questions, and instructions given in person, over the phone, or from a distance including those given when personnel are wearing surgical masks.
- Ability to hear various equipment and background sounds during equipment operations
- Hear normal speaking level sounds, ausculatory sounds, and auditory alarms (i.e.: equipment, monitors, fire alarms, call bells, emergency signals, and cries for help)
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Motor Skills |
Motor abilities required for radiography include gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, strength, and functional use of all combined senses for the safe handling of patients, self and equipment. |
- Regularly reach up to six (6) feet off the floor
- Push, pull, or lift fifty (50) pounds of weight
- Transfer immobile patients from stretcher to radiographic table with some assistance from other personnel
- Push standard and oversized patient wheelchairs, as well as mobile (portable) x-ray equipment to and from various areas
- Standing for extended periods of time along with frequent bending and kneeling
- Wearing a five (5) pound lead apron for extended periods of time
- Elicit information from patients by palpation, percussion, testing muscle strength and function, penetration of the skin, and other diagnostic maneuvers
- Safely perform diagnostic, therapeutic procedures and/or laboratory procedures
- Provide other patient services and patient associated services
- Safely lift, manipulate, and use equipment
- Manual dexterity for patient positioning and with accessory devices and equipment controls
- Move within confined spaces such as treatment rooms, patients’ rooms, or operating rooms
- Administer CPR and maintain current certification
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Professional Attitudes and Interpersonal Skills |
Present with professional appearance and demeanor; follow instructions and safety protocols and maintain a positive attitude. Demonstrate honesty and integrity beyond reproach.
Possess interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, groups, etc. from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. |
- Allow mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, healthcare workers, instructors and peers (interpersonal skills)
- Maintain all professional boundaries
- Display flexibility and adaptions while working with diverse populations
- Effectively work within a team and workgroups
- Provide prompt and safe completion of all patient care responsibilities
- Exhibit ethical behaviors and exercise good judgement
- Display the following:
- Compassion
- Empathy
- Integrity
- Concern for others
- Interest and motivation
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Smell |
Olfactory ability sufficient to detect significant environmental and patient odors. |
- Detect odors from patient (foul smelling drainage, alcohol breath)
- Detect burning and/or smoke
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Technological |
Adaptability and skills to utilize current electronic, digital, and medical technologies. |
- Utilize keyboard or touchscreens for selection and inputting of clinical data into consoles, computers and charts
- Adapting to different technologies within the medical field, especially medical imaging
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Vision/Observation |
Visual ability sufficient for accurate observation and performance of radiography in bright, normal or dim lighting. |
- Visually monitor patients
- View anatomy and appropriate imaging techniques on radiographic images displayed on hard copy or computer screen, all within a low light environment
- Observe changes in equipment operation (i.e.: warnings)
- Safely work in dimly lit rooms
- Observe and evaluate (i.e.: patient’s body habitus, image receptor sizes and selection of appropriate radiographic exposure factors.)
- Skillfully use precision instruments such as microscopes, oscilloscopes, gauges, control panels, and other electronic and digital equipment
- Observe the results of certain stimuli (i.e.: medication reaction, patient’s skin color changes such as cyanosis or pallor)
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Other |
Adapting to Radiography Program course and clinical schedules, including any unforeseen changes. |
- Ability to work long and/or varied hours
- Tolerate physically taxing workloads
- Adapt to changing environments (i.e.: flexible schedules)
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