Practice Placement 2

Module title	Practice Placement 2
Module code	RAD2004DA
Academic year	2021/2
Credits	30
Module staff	Ms Demelza Green (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	Please see note below

Number students taking module (anticipated)	36

Module description

Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the full year.

This module provides further practical experience of the safe and effective practice of general and fluoroscopic imaging. It introduces you to interventional radiography and other imaging modalities. You will develop your patient-care skills and learn to handle more complex situations. You will develop your role within the imaging department and learn to identify 'professional' and 'leadership’ issues and understand how these are inter-related within the inter-professional context. You will gain experience of adapting practice to care for patients, including having the ability to recognise and support a deteriorating patient.

The module commences with an attendance block at the University of Exeter with an emphasis on face-to-face learning. The module then runs over a 12 month period with two further block attendances across the year for further face-to-face learning. In the non-block weeks there will be protected ‘off the job’ learning (one day (7.5 hours) per week) supported by e-learning materials provided by the academic team. The full calendar of activities and assessment will be made available via the handbook. Annual leave may be booked in accordance with the requirements laid out in the handbook.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will equip you with increasingly complex radiographic skills to enable you to undertake examinations on patients who have complex needs or require adaptation of techniques. You will also gain practical experience in computed tomography and various imaging modalities. Through successful completion of this module, you will gain an appreciation and understanding of the needs of patients along with legal, professional and ethical aspects of radiographic practice. You will gain an understanding of the relative roles of all common modalities within the field of medical imaging. You will gain experience of caring for patients, adapting practice to meet diverse patient needs, and will equip you with the ability to recognise and support a deteriorating patient, including performing basic life support.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Practice safely and effectively within the modalities included within the scope of this placement, demonstrating competence in equipment handling, infection control, patient positioning, patient immobilisation, manual handling, optimal parameter selection and image acquisition.
2. Care for and communicate with patients appropriately, demonstrating a duty of care and awareness of legal and ethical professional boundaries including confidentiality.
3. Describe and implement radiation protection measures (including patient identification, interpreting referral information, and ensuring appropriate use of medical imaging).
4. Evaluate medical images encountered within the scope of this placement using a recognised methodology, identifying normal, developmental and anatomical variant anatomy, assessing image quality and taking corrective action.
5. Demonstrate the ability to assess, monitor and care for patients, before during and after medical imaging procedures, and be able to recognise the deteriorating patient and have the skills and knowledge to undertake basic life support if required.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Demonstrate ability to further develop skills and knowledge by reflecting on clinical experience and identifying strengths and areas for further learning.
7. Maintain accurate records, meeting professional requirements, as well as an individual learning journal.
8. Contribute positively to the placement department, working in partnership with service users, work effectively with other professions and professionals, support staff and others and ensure effective management of caseload and resources.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

9. Practice within limits of own competence seeking advice as appropriate, accepting responsibility for decisions made.
10. Solve problems using knowledge, experience and personal initiative.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows. The amount of time is not prescribed and is at the discretion of the employing department but must be such that the learning outcomes / competencies are achievable.

It is expected that apprentices will undertake basic life support, manual handling, fire safety and other annual Trust requirements as part of their employment contract, and as such these requirements are not, therefore, stipulated here. As a condition of employment, apprentices must abide by their employers’ policies and procedures and as such this is not stipulated within the syllabus.

SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICE

Competence in positioning, and patient immobilisation for x-ray imaging including modification of technique to meet patient needs and supplementary projections for the following areas of practice:

General and Emergency Department / Minor Injuries,
Fluoroscopy,
Mobiles (Portables) and Theatre,
Dental radiography,
Paediatrics,
Computed Tomography (CT) – head (and routine techniques where possible)
Out of hours services.

Observe and assist with imaging in the following areas:

Interventional,
Computed Tomography (CT) – advanced techniques,
Ultrasound (US),
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
Radionuclide Imaging (RNI) (including PET-CT where possible).

Competence in optimal exposure selection and imaging acquisition in general radiography and fluoroscopy.

Operate equipment accurately, working safely, manage hazards and risks in accordance with health and safety legislation.

Safe and effective manual handling.

Understand the principles underpinning infection control and management of waste and spills.

Infection control principles in practice, including use of personal protective equipment.

Differences between aseptic technique and the sterile environment (some fluoroscopy settings and within interventional radiography and theatre).

Applicable health and safety legislation, and relevant safety policies and procedures including incident reporting.

Safety considerations associated with MRI and US.

COMMUNICATION AND SAFEGUARDING

Identification of patients and, providing appropriate information giving

Informed consent in the range of settings encountered within this placement setting

Adaption of communication with patients appropriately, e.g. paediatrics, learning disability, non-English speaking

Respect, dignity values and autonomy

Care and communication with, patients accounting for factors such as age, culture, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and spiritual / religious beliefs.

Ethical issues, including confidentiality, limits of confidentiality and to acting in the best interests of service users at all times.

Information sharing to safeguard individuals or wider public.

Non-discriminatory practice

RADIATION PROTECTION

Referral and other information from other healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate and optimal use of medical imaging.

Radiation protection measures, showing awareness of current legislation and local application in the following environments:
General X-Ray Rooms,
Fluoroscopy and Interventional Rooms,
Theatre,
Dental,
CT,
Paediatrics,
Wards.

Local justification criteria, clinical priorities based on urgency of clinical conditions

Risk benefit approach to ensure individual patient exposure is appropriate, both to protect individual patients and the population gene pool.

Radiation protection issues associated with unsealed sources of ionising radiation (RNI).

IMAGE EVALUATION

Processing and software for imaging viewing.

Normal, developmental and anatomical-variant radiographic anatomy

Common pathology demonstrated on the range of images encountered within the negotiated area of placement.

Assessment (using the department’s recognised methodology) and evaluation of images

Identification of images of poor diagnostic quality and corrective action.

Identification of the need for further projections.

Processes for escalation in the case of unexpected findings.

PATIENT CARE

Recognition of a deteriorating patient

Skills and knowledge to undertake basic life support.

Assessment, monitoring and care for the service user before, during and after medical imaging procedures

Removal and reapplication of supports and dressings.

DOCUMENTATION

Principles of information governance and related legislation (GDPR) as it relates to healthcare in practice.

Maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records

PROFESSIONALISM

Relevance and application of the negotiated area of practice in order to advise other healthcare professionals in relation to the patient's needs.

Professional relationships, both as an independent practitioner and as part of a team.

Caseload management

Resources to ensure safe, effective practice.

Interprofessional teams working in different environments including the ward setting, theatres, and within the radiology department.

Personal professional behaviour (honesty, integrity, respect, character as per HCPC Code of Conduct)

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Limits of own practice, seek advice as appropriate.

Fitness to practice (physical, mental), seeking advice and guidance, actions to be taken in case of change of circumstance

PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

Resolution of problems by using knowledge, experience and personal initiative.

Decisions making in regards to whether to undertake, cease or modify imaging examinations

Professional responsibility in decision making.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
13	74	696

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	3	3 x 1 hour lectures (placement preparation)
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	10	10 x 1 hour tutorials
Placement	696	2 x 7.5 hour days per week (minus leave, study blocks, assessment windows) as per placement guidance and contract with employer
Guided independent study	74	Directed reading, private study and revision
This module is delivered as part of an integrated degree apprenticeship programme. The total required study hours for the programme have been designed in accordance with the ESFA regulations.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio feedback on practice		1-10	Written
Discussions with Mentor		1-10	Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
0	0	100

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) CT	34	1 session	1-10	Written
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) - mobiles	33	1 session	1-10	Written
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) General area requiring modification of technique	33	1 session	1-10	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) CT (34%)	Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) CT (1 session)	1-10	6 weeks after mark release
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) - mobiles (33%)	Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) - mobiles (1 sessions)	1-10	6 weeks after mark release
Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) General area requiring modification of technique (33%)	Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) General area requiring modification of technique (1 session)	1-10	6 weeks after mark release

Re-assessment notes

This programme runs to a non-standard timetable; assessment weeks and Assessment, Progression & Awarding Committees (APACs) for both initial and deferred assessments are held as per the programme’s published timetable.

A pass at 40% in each of these assessment components is necessary to pass the module. Structured Objective Assessments of Practice (SOAPs) must be taken and passed within the placement period for the module; any required assessment not taken within this time is deemed to have been failed. An apprentice who has failed a SOAP component may be reassessed once within the placement period. A second-attempt component mark is capped at 40%. If a second attempt is also failed, a final assessment attempt is permitted, in such cases both the reassessment component mark and the module mark will be capped at 40%. If any component is not passed at the final referral attempt, the module is capped at 39%.

Apprentices who are referred / defer the assessment for this module may be permitted to progress onto the next year of the programme but must achieve the credits for this module at the referred exam board in order to remain on the programme.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Raby N. (2014), Accident and Emergency Radiology - A Survival Guide (3^rd edition), Saunders Ltd, ISBN 9780702042324
Whitley AS, Jefferson G, Holmes K, Hoadley G, Sloane C, Anderson C. (2015) Clark's Positioning in Radiography (13th edition). CRC Press, London. ISBN 9781444122350

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

UK Statutory Instruments (2017), Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017, The Stationary Office, Available from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1075/contents/made,
UK Statutory Instruments (2017), The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, The Stationery Office, Available from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1322/made,
UK Statutory Instruments (2018), The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, The Stationary Office, Available from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/121/contents/made,
The Health & Safety Executive (2018), Work with Ionising Radiation. Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, HSE Books, ISBN 9780717666621,
Standards of conduct performance and ethics https://www.hcpc-uk.org
Code of Professional Conduct, College of Radiographers (2013), Society and College of Radiographers, https://www.sor.org/
Principles for continuing professional development and lifelong learning in health and social care, Society and College of Radiographers, https://www.sor.org/
Obtaining consent: a clinical guideline for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce, Society and College of Radiographers, https://www.sor.org/
Guidance on mental capacity decisions in diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, Society and College of Radiographers https://www.sor.org/

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Carlton R.R. and Adler A.M. (2013), Radiographic Imaging Concepts and Principles (5^th edition), Delmar, ISBN 1473720524
Ehrlich R.A. and Daly J.A. (2017), Patient Care in Radiography (9th edition), Mosby, ISBN 9780323377713
Johns C. (2013), Becoming a Reflective Practitioner (4^th edition), Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN 9780470674260

Key words search

Medical Imaging; Imaging; Patient; Radiations; Anatomy; Care; Protection; Pathologies; Variant; Radiographers.

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	RAD1001DA, RAD1002DA, RAD1003DA, RAD1004DA
Module co-requisites	RAD2001DA, RAD2002DA, RAD2003DA
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	06/06/2019
Last revision date	06/10/2021