Radiography Technical Standards

Purpose Statement

All students in the Radiography program are expected to meet certain technical standards which are essential for the successful completion of all phases of the program, and which reflect industry requirements and standards. To verify the student’s ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the technical standards below.

Meeting these technical standards does not guarantee employment in this field upon graduation. The ability to meet the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for any certification exams or successful completion of the program.

 

Technical StandardDefinition of StandardsExamples
Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving SkillsAbility is sufficient for clinical judgment.
  • Utilize radiographic concepts as a basis for determining patient acuity and/or cognitive ability in order to achieve the best possible images.
  • Apply positioning and technical factors taught in the classroom to the clinical setting.
  • Be able to modify conventional x-ray positioning processes due to patient condition.
  • Assimilate knowledge learned in the classroom and put it into practice in the clinical setting.
  • Demonstrate skills to remain calm and professional in an emergency/stressful situation.
  • Adapt rapidly to changing environments/stress.
Interpersonal SkillsAbilities are sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
  • Establish rapport and communicate with fellow students, instructors, patients, patient’s family, and other healthcare personnel.
  • Respect and care for clients whose appearance, condition, beliefs, and values may conflict with your own.
  • Deliver patient care regardless of the client’s race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or diagnosis.
  • Establish and maintain professional boundaries.
  • Exhibit ethical behavior and exercise good judgment.
Communication SkillsAbilities are sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
  • Give verbal directions and/or follow verbal directions from other members of the healthcare team.
  • Participate in healthcare team discussions of patient care.
  • Convey information to patients and others as necessary to teach and direct in an accurate, effective, and timely manner.
  • Be aware of the patient’s understanding or lack thereof, of medical terms.
  • Elicit and record information about health history and current health state from patients and family members.
  • Observe and interpret nonverbal cues.
Coping SkillsAbility to cope with stressful situations.
  • Ability to control emotional behavior.
  • Ability to deal with the stressors of patient’s injuries, family reactions, and death.
  • Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
Mobility/Motor SkillsPhysical abilities are sufficient to move in one’s environment with ease and without restriction.
  • Move around in work and treatment areas.
  • Maneuver in small spaces.
  • Ability to maintain a minimum of 18 inches from personnel and equipment in a small space.
  • Full range of motion to twist/bend, stoop/squat, and reach forward/reach overhead.
  • Possess the ability to maneuver x-ray equipment with both hands.
  • Manually resuscitate clients in emergency situations.
  • Stand and/or walk up to 12 hours per day with limited breaks.
  • Maneuver C-arm and O-arm equipment.
  • Carry, lift, and position the x-ray detector.
  • Transfer patients from wheelchairs or stretchers onto an x-ray table.
  • Push/pull 100 pounds or greater.
  • Possess physical abilities to lift/move 75 lbs.
  • Possess physical abilities to lift 75 lbs. from knuckle height, bench height, ankle height, and shoulder height.
  • Possess the physical abilities to wear a leaded apron for an extended amount of time.
  • Ability to go up and down a flight of stairs several times a day.
Auditory SkillsAuditory abilities are sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
  • Hear patients, family members, and health care professionals when they speak to you.
  • Hear muffled speaking sounds from several feet away due to surgical or oxygen masks.
  • Hear auditory alarms (monitors, fire alarms, call bells).
  • Hear cries for help.
  • Hear blood pressure and heart sounds with the use of a stethoscope.
Visual SkillsVisual ability is sufficient for observation and assessment is necessary in the healthcare field.
  • Possess the ability to observe patient status, behaviors, and responses.
  • See a change in skin color
  • Read calibrations on a syringe.
  • See objects up to 20 feet away.
  • Read electronic medical records and/or associated paper medical records.
  • Possess the ability to differentiate shades of grey.
  • Possess the ability to work in dimly lit rooms.
Tactile SkillsTactile ability is sufficient for physical assessment.
  • Perform functions of the physical assessment and/or those related to therapeutic intervention (e.g. palpation of pulse, detect temperature changes).
  • Performs palpation of anatomical landmarks during patient positioning, as well as vessels for contrast injections.
  • Utilizes touch screens and computer keyboards for data input.
EnvironmentalPossess the ability to tolerate environmental stressors.
  • Safely work with potentially harmful chemicals used in health care settings.
  • Practice standard precautions in the clinical setting.
  • Work in areas that are close, crowded, and/or noisy.
  • Anticipate exposure to blood, communicable diseases, body fluids, and toxic substances.
  • Accept that you will be exposed to radiation and magnetic fields.
  • Accept you will need to be able to ride in an elevator with large equipment, people, and sick people.
Emotional/BehavioralPossess emotional stability sufficient to maintain composure in stressful situations and assume responsibility/accountability for actions.
  • Adapt rapidly to changing environments and/or stress.
  • Calmly receive feedback.
  • Appreciate constructive feedback.
  • Demonstrate honesty and integrity beyond reproach.
  • Follow rules of professional conduct.
  • Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm, and initiative.
  • Perform exams with accuracy and maintain organization under stressful circumstances, such as increased workload, difficult patients, instrument malfunction, emergent situations, etc.
  • Demonstrate emotional intelligence to remain calm and professional in an emergent and stressful atmosphere.
  • Deliver adequate patient care regardless of patient’s race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or diagnosis.
  • Demonstrate a positive, respectful attitude toward all patients, peers, and other healthcare workers regardless of appearance, condition, or beliefs.
  • Present self in a composed, respectful manner in all situations and with all persons.
  • Adapt to changes in a work environment.
  • Demonstrate ethical behaviors as set forth by the ARRT.
  • Take responsibility for one's actions.

 

In the case of an otherwise qualified individual with a documented disability, appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be made unless to do so would fundamentally alter the essential training elements, cause undue hardship, or produce a direct threat to the safety of the patient or student.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is invested in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Support Services is part of Student Services and is located in the K. Ray Bailey Student Services Center. For detailed information or to request accommodations visit Support Services. An appointment is recommended prior to enrollment in order to discuss any special concerns.