Individuals admitted to the Associate Degree Radiography Program at Lincoln Land Community College must possess the ability to complete all aspects of the classroom and clinical curriculum. Therefore, in addition to program prerequisites, all students admitted to the program must also possess the following abilities and meet the following expectations related to successful completion of clinical education and subsequent practice in the radiography profession.
Communication/interactions
Be able to clearly communicate in English both verbally and in writing and interacting with all professionals connected with the program as it relates to:
- Obtaining and recording patient history.
- Explaining or discussing procedures and patient consent forms.
- Providing clear verbal instructions to patients either face-to-face or from the radiography control area, which is a distance away from the patient.
- Interacting and working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.
- Providing physical and emotional support to patients during radiographic procedures, being able to respond to situations requiring first aid, and providing appropriate emergency care to the patient until the appropriate assistance arrives.
- Responding professionally with precise, quick, and appropriate action in stressful and emergency situations.
- Having the ability to control emotions and maintain composure under stress.
- Being able to adjust to various personalities of patients and co-workers.
- Accepting criticism and adopting appropriate modifications in behavior.
- Possessing the perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete the radiography program curriculum.
- Learning and performing routine radiographic procedures, using intellectual capacity to select proper technical exposure factors according to the individual needs of the patient and the requirements of the procedure's standards of speed and accuracy.
Visual acuity
Be able to see fine lines and distinguish gradual changes in blacks, grays and whites as related to:
- Reading department protocols for imaging procedures, examination request, computer monitors, and any written directions or orders.
- Properly positioning a patient in relation to the x-ray tube and image receptor.
- Assessing the direction of the central ray to the anatomical part of being imaged.
- Reviewing and evaluating recorded images for the purpose of identifying proper patient positioning, accurate procedural sequencing, proper radiographic quality, and other appropriate and pertinent technical qualities, all under the conditions of dimmed lighting.
Hearing ability
Have the ability to hear sounds as related to:
- Responding to patient questions, concerns and needs.
- Hear faint or muffled sounds when the use of surgical masks are required.
- Hear faint or muffled sounds from the control panel or away from the radiographic room, which are separated from the x-ray table and patient.
Motor functions ability
Good manual dexterity, motor skills and eye-hand coordination are necessary as related to:
- Have sufficient strength, motor coordination, and manual dexterity to transport, move, life and transfer patients from a wheelchair or cart to an x-ray table or a patient bed.
- Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of radiographic equipment, including the physical transportation of mobile radiographic/fluoroscopic equipment, in order to arrange and align the equipment with respect to the patient and the image receptor according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy.
- Don surgical gloves, fill syringes, and handle sterile trays and equipment, including the ability to perform venipuncture.
- Stand unassisted for long periods of time.
The Radiography Practice Analysis compiled by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (arrt.org) will be used to answer questions regarding criteria not specifically addressed by this document. In all cases, patient safety will be the primary determining factor related to the interpretation of non-academic criteria.
