Clinical Education
Clinical Experience in CT (AL 345 VA and VB)
Clinical Objectives
- To complete 480 clock hours of CT clinical
- To complete 20 clinical competencies that will prepare the student to develop critical thinking skills.
- To demonstrate clinical performance and be evaluated on clinical skills and tasks
- To learn the CT protocols for each region of the body and know how to select the appropriate scan parameters for the clinical signs and symptoms.
Course Description
The clinical experience in CT is to provide the student in the CT certificate program with the ability to perform the required clinical exams necessary to apply to the ARRT CT board exam. The student will complete a total of 480 clinical hours which will earn them 4 credit hours towards the certificate program. During the clinical education the student will perform CT exam competencies, where the student will evaluate their exam performance and the CT technologist who observes the exam will also evaluate the student. The student will also document the exams they perform in accordance to the ARRT requirements to be eligible for the CT registry exam. Follow the link for more information about the ARRT requirements for clinical education.
http://www.arrt.org/education/CT_CX_2008.pdf
Once the student completes the clinical course and has successfully passed the four didactic courses, the student will earn the CT certificate.
There are two different sections to AL 345. AL 345 VA is for the student in the program that has already passed their ARRT radiographer board exam. AL 345 VB is for second year radiographer students who completes the radiographer program and passes the ARRT radiography board exam in June. The dates for each section are listed below.
Clinical Section Dates
AL 345 VA
- Mid May - Mid August
- 12 Weeks of clinical, 480 hours, 40 hours/week
AL 345 VB
- Later part of June - Beginning of October
- 480 hours, At least 35 hours/week
Clinical Hours
The clinical hours will vary depending on the clinical site. The following hours are for first shift rotations. Some students will rotate to second shift hours and the clinical hours will be adjusted so the student will complete the minimum number of clinical hours each week. The scheduled hours may vary depending on clinical site.
40 clinical hours per week (AL 345 VA)
- The student who is completing four ten hour shifts per week will have the clinical hours of 07:30 to 18:00.
- The student who is completing five eight hour shifts per week will have the clinical hours of 07:30 to 16:00.
35 clinical hours per week (AL345 VB)
- The student who is completing three twelve hour shifts per week will have the clinical hours of 07:30 to 19:30.
- The student who is completing four ten hour shifts per week will have the clinical hours of 07:30 to 18:00.
- The student who is completing five eight hour shifts per week will have the clinical hours of 07:30 to 16:00.
Clinical Attendance
Policy in content module
Time Sheet
Policy in content module
The clinical instructor or CT technologist will sign the CT student in and out each day and provide their signature.
Dress Policy
The student will abide by the dress policy of the CT department where the clinical hours are performed.
General guidelines include: clean shoes, clean scrubs/clothes, hair tied up to prevent possible accidents, and well groomed (beards and mustaches trimmed).
Grading Scale
- 93%-100% A
- 85%-92% B
- 75%-84% C
- 74% and below Failing
Grade Composition
AL 345 VA
Clinical Competencies: 40%
Clinical Evaluations: 10%
Final Exam: 35%
Discussions: 15%
AL 345 VB
1st Session
- Clinical Competencies: 50%
- Clinical Evaluations: 30%
- Discussions: 20%
2nd Session
- Clinical Competencies: 40%
- Clinical Evaluations: 10%
- Final Exam: 30%
- Discussions: 10%
Clinical Competencies
As a CT student you will be under direct supervision while you are performing your clinical exams. You will be required to complete a clinical competency for each of the following while under direct supervision. Once you have successfully completed a competency, then indirect supervision is required to perform the clinical procedures.
Direct supervision: The CT technologist is present with the student while the student is performing the clinical exam
Indirect supervision: The CT technologist is within voice calling distance to provide assistance if necessary.
The student is required to perform 20 clinical competencies for the CT certificate program. For the student in AL 345 VB, 10 clinical competencies will be performed each session. Each clinical competency must be a different exam, but can be within the same category of exams. The clinical competency form is located in the content module. A passing score of 16/20 is required to start performing the exams with indirect supervision. More than one clinical competency may be completed on an individual patient.
The Student will keep a copy of the documented clinical exams performed and fax a completed copy with attention to the CT Program at (785)670-1027. The required form is in the content module. A copy will need to be kept by the student for 24 months.
The clinical competency instructions are in the content module.
Clinical Evaluations
The student will need to have the clinical instructor or other CT technologist perform 4 or 5 clinical evaluations during the CT clinical experience. AL 345 VB students will need to have 2 clinical evaluations in the first 7 week session and 3 in the second session.
The clinical evaluation form is located in the content module.
Clinical Exam
There will be only one exam for this course. This exam will be similar to the registry exam. There will be 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam will be completed during the last week of clinical. The exam will be online within the AL 345 course. The AL 345 VB student will complete this test during the second session.
Student Discussions
The CT student is required to participate in weekly discussions. The discussion will include a summary of the student’s week of clinical. The student may describe an interesting case seen during the week, describe any exam modifications they performed, any troubles they are having at clinical, etc. The discussion will also include important topics that are relevant to the clinical setting. A minimum of 12 discussions will need to be completed. For the AL 345 VB CT students, 6 discussions each section will be required.
Each discussion will be worth 10 points.
1-10 points will be issued depending on the discussion content and depth. Do not just point: Clinical was good this week. Explain yourself! At least one paragraph is needed to receive full credit.