Technologist’s Responsibilities: It is expected that every technologist will participate in the clinical instruction of students. Parameters of direct supervision require the HCMC qualified radiographer: Must review the exam request with the student. Must evaluate the condition of the patient relative to the student’s knowledge. A tech must be PRESENT during the examination. Present means the technologist may be no farther away than the generator control area of the room in which the student is performing the exam. It is mandatory that a technologist directly supervise any repeats. This is regardless of the student’s level of competency. Even if it is the student’s last day of clinical training. The tech must review and approve the images, computer entry or any documentation the student performs. Treat you with respect and remember that you are a student and that you are here to learn and to get the best education that you can. When the workload is heavy and patients need to be expedited, the technologist may ask you to step aside to take over. One of our department goals, is to provide quality patient care, this includes exams be performed in a timely manner. Students are not to be left alone in the department, the OR, or sent to do portables alone. If this occurs, please remind the technologist of the student policy. Please inform the clinical contact as soon as possible of the incident. Teach you all that we know to the best of our abilities. Listen to your questions and answer in a courteous and respectful manner. Student’s Expectations:
Know techniques and positioning for exams at HCMC. If you do not know the positioning, you will be required to look it up in our positioning book. It is your responsibility to become actively involved with patients and their exams. You are expected to approach work positively and with a good attitude. You should be constantly motivated to learn and do exams. The tech is there to help. If you are only observing and sitting back you will not learn. Be in on as many exams as possible, whether it is to observe (first week/difficult exams), help with patient care, or to do the exam. Chippewa Valley and students, breaks are 15 minutes long, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and lunches are a half-hour (8 ½ hour shift). For Dunwoody, St. Kate’s, VA, Rasmussen and MN State students get one 30 minute break (8 hour shift or less). You must take your breaks. If there is an exam that you want to complete and it is late in the day, let the clinical contact know if possible. You will need to make sure you do not go over on time in a week. You cannot “no lunch” like the tech can.
Downtimes: Practice on the equipment or positioning with someone. Pull up images with a tech, for example, difficult/rare exams. Reading material should be restricted to school work or Radiology related material in the work area (personal reading should be done during breaks). Do not have your cell phone out, look at magazines, or do crossword or Suduko puzzles.
Patient Care:
Introduce yourself to all patients by name and title. If a patient is leery of your ability because you are a student, get the tech involved so that they can explain that they will be part of the exam as well. Explain the entire procedure and make sure that they understand what is going to occur during the exam. Ask your patient if they have any questions before starting exam. It will help you and the patient if you speak everything that you need to do. Be observant of your patient’s needs. Ask if they would like a warm blanket. If they do not, respect their wishes. Cover them with a sheet or blanket if they do not have one for when they are traveling in the halls. We cannot give patients food/water in our department. Make them feel as comfortable as possible while in our department. Ask them if there is anything else that you can do for them before they leave the department. Evaluations:
Do an evaluation on every tech that you work with in Clinician Nexus. You will need to be honest and forthcoming about how the tech worked with you and with the patients. You will evaluate the tech on their teaching ability and whether they worked well with you, the student. Let us know if there is anything that we can do better or improve upon. Students are expected to return completed monthly school evaluations to the clinical contact for review and signature preferably a week before they are due. You must be responsible for understanding and maintaining materials that were gone over with you in orientation.
If you encounter any issues while here at HCMC, please contact the following employees:
Jenni Magnine Student Coordinator Hours: 6:30 am to 3:00 pm Office Phone: 612-873-7554 Pager: 612-688-3532
Ericka Zavada Education Coordinator Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Office Phone: 612-873-9394 Pager: 612-260-1660
Cyndie Hallas Day Shift Supervisor Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Office Phone: 612-873-5750 Pager: 612-260-1872
If the people listed above are unavailable, please speak to the acting supervisor on duty. If you are late/sick/unable to come here please e-mail Jenni at [email protected] and 612-873-2771 (X-ray emergency department).