Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE RAD4121

 
TITLE Clinical Imaging Practice 6

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT Radiography

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit presents radiography students with the application of theoretical radiography principles in practice in all the areas covered in Clinical Imaging Practice 1-5.

The study-unit is made up of clinical demonstrations, practice and tutorials where students can discuss issues related to physical principles in radiography, radiation protection and aspects of patient care in clinical practice.

Students attend for 200 hours of clinical practice related to this study-unit during the academic year. Clinical placements are assigned by the Department in consultation with the clinical centres Students are expected to practice under the supervision of a qualified radiographer. A clinical tutor and a mentor ensure the development of clinical competencies and assessment. Students keep a log book with their daily activities and personal observations.

Teaching and assessment:
The clinical tutor is expected to spend time with the students under her/his charge to explain the procedures used in the various placement areas. The University mentor is also expected to monitor the students when they are called to perform practical tasks.

Academic members of staff and mentors visit students in each placement during each semester. Each visit lasts for approximately a whole morning. The clinical tutor and mentor regularly meet the students for tutorial and give each student feedback. At the scheduled periods during the clinical placement assessment are held. The examination of each student lasts approximately 3 hours which is then discussed at the examination board.

Study-unit Aims:

- Continue to meet all learning outcomes from previous Clinical imaging Practice study-units to achieve competency level 5 by carrying out radiographic procedures consistently well with no assistance and is able to adapt his/her technique to overcome difficulties safely.
- Present radiation protection guidelines for patients, staff and visitors.
- Reinforce physics principles and their application in clinical practice.
- Familiarise students with the structure, shape and orientation of the bones and other body organs covered in Clinical Imaging Practice 1-5.
- Provide the students with the skills required to position patients appropriately for the required imaging examination.
- Provide an overview of radiological appearance of trauma and pathologies related to anatomical areas in Clinical Imaging Practice 1-5.
- Use of correct anatomical terminology.
- Provide a practical learning environment which encourages competent, confident and safe working practices.
- Enable the students to understand the needs of the patient and the respect and care necessary to be given in different circumstances.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Identify anatomical structures related to the areas covered in Clinical Imaging Practice 1-5;
- Identify and locate anatomical surface markings and centering points related to all radiographic projections covered in Clinical Imaging Practice 1-5;
- Identify and describe pathological features on resultant images;
- Explain the terminology used for different clinical indications related to extremity, chest, abdomen, vertebral column, skull and dental imaging.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to reach competency level 5. Pertinent problems typically arising from the patient's condition may be those of positioning, communication and selection of exposure factors. An assessment of risk factors such as infection control and manual handling is implicit at this level. The student remains supervised by a qualified radiographer. Procedures at this level include:
- Justify requests for planar radiography examinations based on the clinical indications;
- Choose appropriate radiographic projections to exclude or confirm the clinical indication;
- Manage and prioritise requests based on the clinical indications considering the health and urgency of the cases;
- Carry out radiographic procedures with no assistance from but while being supervised by a qualified radiographer;
- Select appropriate exposure factors and imaging accessories as required;
- Conduct the exposures with the minimum radiation exposure risk in accordance with ‘ALARA’ (as low as reasonably achievable) principle;
- Critically evaluate the resultant images and identify areas for improvement;
- Recommend and carry out further projections without assistance from the supervising radiographer to better demonstrate findings from standard projections;
- Effectively communicate the required information to the patient at the end of the examination;
- Practice appropriate patient care depending on needs of the patient and the radiographic examination.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text/s:

- Adam A, & Dixon, AK (2007) Grainger & Allison’s Diagnostic Radiology: 2 Vol Set (5th ed.) Churchill Livingstone.
- Aichinger, H, et al (2003) Radiation Exposure and Image Quality in X-Ray Diagnostic Radiology: Physical Principles and Clinical Applications. Springer.
- Ball, JL, & Price T, (2010) Chesney’s Radiographic Imaging (6th ed.), Wiley-Blackwell.
- Bontrager, KL & Lampignano J (2009) Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy (7th ed.), Mosby.
- Carlton, R & Adler A, (2005), Principles of Radiographic Imaging: An Art and a Science, Delmar Publication.
Eisenberg, RL & Johnson NM (2007) Comprehensive Radiographic Pathology (4th ed.), Mosby.
- Frank, ED, Long, BW & Smith, BJ (2007) Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positioning and Procedures (11th ed.), Mosby.
- Kowalczyk, N & Mace, JD (2008) Radiographic Pathology for Technologists (5th ed.), Mosby.
- Mayer-Baese, A (2003) Pattern Recognition for Medical Imaging, Academic Press.
- Morrison, WB, & Sanders, TG, (2008) Problem solving in Musculoskeletal Imaging, Mosby.

Supplementary Readings:

- American College of Emergency Physicians (2010), ACEP First Aid Manual (3rd Ed), DK Publishing.
- Ehrlich, RA & Daly, JA (2008) Patient Care in Radiography: With an Introduction to Medical Imaging (7th ed.), Mosby.
- Stabin, MG (2007) Radiation Protection and Dosimetry: An Introduction to Health Physics.
- SpringerSuetens, P (2009) Fundamentals of Medical Imaging (2nd ed.) Churchill Livingstone.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in each assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement and Demonstrations

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Portfolio [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 20%
Competencies [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 20%
Clinical Assessment [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 60%
Note: Assessment due date will be notified by the Faculty/Institute/Centre/School.

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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