Radiography Program Attendance

Radiography Program Clinic Attendance Policy

A-B Tech Radiography students will attend all Clinical Assignments as scheduled by the Program Faculty. Appropriate methods will be used by the Clinical Instructors to keep an accurate record of the clinical attendance for each student. Each student is expected to abide by the sign-in and sign-out policies enforced at each facility. Due to the parking situations at the clinical affiliates, it is recommended that you arrive 15-20 minutes early to be able to sign in without being tardy.

You are reminded that it is his or her responsibility to follow the correct sign-in and sign-out procedure. If a student is found to be violating this procedure, all parties concerned may be dismissed from the program.

Note: Clinical Tardiness--As a result of feedback from various Radiography department managers and supervisors, we have developed an attendance policy to correlate with expectations of a radiographer in the workplace.

• You will complete Daily Worksheets every scheduled clinical day. A maximum of 15 points will be added to the points portion of the clinical grade for every day the worksheet is completed. The total points accumulated for the semester will be used in determining the overall clinical grade. A range of points will be provided every semester, in the respective course syllabus, to be used to determine the participation portion of the grade. You will receive "0" of the 15 points for every day of absence.
• You are required to notify the appropriate person in the event of an absence 1 hour BEFORE the start of the scheduled clinic shift. Failure to do so will result in a “no call/no show” absence. You will earn a 20-point deduction from the total possible accumulated points portion of the clinical grade for each “no call/no show”.
• Anytime a student misses more than three consecutive days of class and/or clinic due to illness, they must obtain proper medical documentation indicating they are physically able to return to class/clinic.
• Faculty will discuss possible make-up in the event of extenuating circumstances. Such circumstances would include absences resulting from hospitalization, weather-related absences, or other extreme situations. Having a doctor's note does not constitute permission for a make-up of time missed. Childcare and transportation issues are not excused.
• If a student has an absence and feels that make-up time is warranted, they must complete a request for missed time within one week of the missed day. A copy of the request can be found at the end of the clinical course syllabus.
• In the event of approved make-up time, the site of the make-up time will be at the faculty's discretion. This will have to do with site availability, permission, and other variables. An A-B Tech paid clinic instructor may not be present at the clinic during make-up time. However, there will always be a site clinical instructor available. Patient labs and competencies can be completed during make-up time, but the review of the anatomy portion will have to wait till A-B Tech Clinical Instructors are present.
• Approved activities, such as registry review seminars or professional society meetings, will not be deducted from the participation portion of the clinical grade pending prior approval of the department chairperson and presentation of follow-up documentation upon request. The program faculty will make attendance requirements for these activities.
• The College's 10% rule for Allied Health programs is also in effect for clinical absences. The number of hours will vary with the semester. All time missed, whether tardy or absent, accrues toward the 10% mark for that course. Once 10% of the time for that course is missed, you will be dropped from the course. Please note that a student must have completed all prerequisites and co-requisites for each course before being allowed to proceed in the program.
• No student will be in the clinic during observed holidays of the College or the clinic site.
• If you do not complete the orientation/onboarding by the designated date and time, you will not be allowed to rotate at the assigned clinical site, and no other clinical arrangements will be made. 15 points will be deducted from the clinical participation portion of the grade for each day missed until the assigned clinical site orientation is completed. The days missed will count toward the 10% point for the clinical course.
• Meals and Breaks--Coffee breaks, lunch, and dinner schedules will be assigned at the discretion of the Clinical Instructor at each Clinical Affiliate. You are reminded that, with the nature of the professional responsibilities of radiography, it is often impossible to predict a schedule of meals and breaks in advance. You are responsible for observing the meal/break schedules of their assigned clinic site. (The intent here is that the students should not expect to take longer meal or break times than what the staff techs get at that clinical site.)
  1. You are provided the equivalent of a 30-minute break during the day. Other breaks are at the discretion of the clinical instructors and may or may not be given, dependent on the workflow or work pattern of the clinical site.
  2. You must have their assigned clinical instructor/staff tech sign them in and out at mealtimes. This will be done on the daily worksheet. Failure to do so will result in point deductions for that day.
  3. You are not allowed to take lunch or breaks in the department lounge unless you are specifically invited. Please note who offered the invite. You may be asked to provide the individual's name.
  4. If your assigned technologist is on break, the student should remain in the department and work with other technologists.
  5. If you come back from a break smelling of smoke, you may be asked to leave at the discretion of the clinical instructor. Any time missed will result in a tardy and will count towards 10%, and points will be deducted from the daily worksheet.
• In the event the workload is low and extra time is available, you should use this time to your advantage. You are encouraged to practice manipulation equipment in the X-ray rooms, perform labs, or review anatomy.
• You will be allowed to bring program materials for study during slow times. If students are found to be studying while work is being done, they may lose this privilege. Novels, magazines, or any other kind of non-program-related literature is not allowed. Time spent with unapproved literature will result in attendance and point deduction.
• If the workload is finished for your assigned area for the day or there is a long delay expected before the next patient, you may be reassigned.

Radiography Program Proper Clinical Call-In Procedure

You are responsible for contacting the clinical site and clinical instructor at least 1 hour before the expected time for the clinical rotation to begin. The call should include your name, reason for absence, and expected date of return to class or clinic. When you call the clinical site, it is suggested you speak with a clinical instructor, if available, or speak with the department supervisor in charge. The student must notify the appropriate person(s) 1 hour before the clinical start time, or an Additional five (5) points will be deducted for the occurrence.