Requirements of Accepted Radiologic Technology Students

Students who are successfully selected for the Radiologic Technology program will need to comply with the following requirements of the college and clinical hospitals prior to beginning fall classes and/or clinical education rotations:

Jackson State Community College:

• Professional liability insurance: This insurance is available at a group rate and currently costs approximately $10.50 per year. This amount has been calculated into the fees required for the RAD 101 – Orientation course. Therefore, when tuition is paid, your insurance will be in effect for the upcoming clinical rotations for a year.
• Mantoux inoculation (Tuberculosis skin test): This test must be performed before students begin clinical observation/rotation and at various times throughout enrollment in the program. The test may be attained at a local state Health Department (not offered in Madison Co.) or primary care physician’s office. Please remember that the test must be checked in a specific time frame in order for results to be valid
• Hepatitis B vaccine: The following statement was issued by TBR as a result of a decision made by the TN Dept. of Health, “Effective July 1, 2011, unless exempted by law, any student enrolled in a higher education institution who is a health science student expected to have patient contact shall present proof of protection against hepatitis B before patient contact begins. For purposes of this paragraph adequate immunization is defined as:

1. A complete hepatitis B vaccine series: OR
2. Laboratory evidence of immunity or infection”.

The student is responsible for demonstrating compliance by documentation of 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine or blood test (serology) showing immunity to hepatitis B virus (or infection).

• MMR and Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines: As required by TBR and the TN Dept. of Health, all fulltime students must provide evidence of the immunity as follows:
  • MMR: Compliance may be demonstrated by:
    • Date of birth before 1957 OR
    • Documentation of 2 doses vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella OR
    • Documentation of blood test (serology) showing immunity to measles, mumps, rubella
  • Varicella (chickenpox): Compliance may be demonstrated by:
    • Date of birth before 1980 OR
    • History of chickenpox illness documented by a healthcare provider or verified by a physician, advanced practice nurse or physician assistant to whom the illness is described OR
    • Documentation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine OR
    • Documentation of blood test (serology) showing immunity to varicella
  • DTaP (tetanus vaccine): Must provide evidence of vaccine within the last 10 years.

***Students are responsible for all associated fees.***

Clinical Affiliate Hospitals:

Because the Radiologic Technology program’s four hospitals are owned/managed by different entities, the requirements will vary for each. However, program officials will notify students during the Program Orientation session conducted in July of those necessary for each group. The following items may apply:

• Drug Testing: Prior to participation in the clinical experience, some students may be required to undergo drug/alcohol testing. Prospective students will be informed of the possibility of drug/alcohol testing during the admissions procedure. Students will be responsible for the cost of drug/alcohol testing (approximately $28). Students are also subject to testing based on reasonable suspicion that they are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol while present at the college or clinical education centers. Testing for reasonable cause when the student is present at the college campus will follow the college procedure. Testing for reasonable cause when the student is present at the clinical affiliate will follow the affiliate’s procedure for employees. A student’s refusal to submit to testing or a positive result of the test may affect their eligibility to participate in a classroom or clinical experience, resulting in their inability to complete a course and/or the program and may also result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from Jackson State Community College.
• Criminal Background Checks: Some students enrolled in the Radiologic Technology program may be required to submit to a criminal background check in order to satisfy the guidelines of the clinical affiliate hospitals. Prospective students will be informed of the possibility of criminal background checks during the admissions procedure. Students will be responsible for the cost of this required background check (approximately $60). Based on the results of the background check, clinical affiliates have the right to not allow a student to participate in educational activities at that facility. This could result in the student’s inability to complete a course and the program
• Physical Exams: Some students enrolled in the Radiologic Technology program may be required to have a physical exam conducted by their primary health care provider or other approved practitioner. A signed letter acknowledging the students’ ability to meet the technical standards of the program will be submitted to program officials at the designated time. Students are responsible for any associated fee.
• Influenza Vaccination: Some students enrolled in the Radiologic Technology program may be required to provide evidence of a current influenza vaccination or sign a waiver of refusal. Students are responsible for any associated fee.
• CPR certification: All students will be responsible for earning certification in CPR and maintaining it throughout the program. Currently these classes are provided at no cost to students at each of the affiliate hospitals and will be scheduled at appropriate times by the Clinical Instructors.

In order to successfully complete the clinical component of the radiography program and be employed as an entry-level diagnostic radiographer, students must be able to perform certain physical tasks and to model appropriate types of behavior necessary for proper patient care and safety.

Students must be able to:

Communication

• Communicate clearly and effectively (verbal and written) with patients, family members, and all others of the health care team using the English language.
• Understand and comprehend written English in order to properly determine patient needs.

Social Skills

• Possess mature, emotional behaviors to ensure safety while caring for patients.
• Respond appropriately to constructive criticism as related to professional performance.
• Remain mentally and physically alert while performing clinical duties and be able to concentrate for long periods of time (cannot be under the influence of drugs/alcohol).

Hearing Ability

• Possess sufficient auditory perception to be aware of warning techniques such as low-sounding equipment buzzers, fire alarms, overhead pages, patient monitoring devices, phones ringing, etc.
• Communicate with patients when background noise may be high; be able to hear faint or muffled sounds from a distance.

Visual Acuity

• Possess sufficient visual acuity to read departmental protocols, exam orders in patient records, evaluate patient monitoring devices in areas of low and high light, and to properly evaluate the differences in shades of gray on radiographs.

Motor Skills, Strength, and Mobility

• Use sufficient fine motor skills to grasp small objects required to perform imaging and patient care procedures such as properly filling syringes and manipulating locks on radiographic equipment.
• Possess adequate sensory perception in at least one upper limb to properly determine the location of topographical landmarks for accurate patient positioning.
• Must be able to lift heavy objects from the ground (more than 25 lbs).
• Move patients from a wheelchair or stretcher to an exam table and back; requires being able to push and pull heavy objects and have proper use of all four limbs.
• Raise arms above the head and in all directions in order to properly manipulate various types of equipment used in patient care and imaging procedures.
• Stand, unassisted for long periods of time; at least 90% of clinical shift.
• Walk, unassisted for long periods of time; at least 90% of clinical shift.
• Perform physical tasks such as lifting, reaching, walking, etc. in a rapid fashion due to emergency conditions.

(Students may require additional Learning Support courses)

Communication Requirement
ENGL 1010 English Composition I

Choose ONE Humanities Course
ART 2000 Art History Survey I
ART 2020 Art History Survey II
ART 1035 Intro to Art
COMM 1851 Intro to Film
ENGL 2110 Early American Literature
ENGL 2120 Modern American Literature
ENGL 2210 Early British Literature
ENGL 2220 Modern British Literature
ENGL 2310 Early World Literature
ENGL 2320 Modern World Literature
HUM 1010 Early Humanities
HUM 1020 Modern Humanities
MUS 1030 Introduction to Music
PHIL 1030 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 1040 Introduction to Ethics
THEA 1030 Introduction to Theatre

Social and Behavioral Science Course
PSYC 1030 General Psychology

Natural Science and Mathematics Courses
BIOL 2010 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
MATH 1530 (or higher)

Additional Course
BIOL 2020 Human Anatomy & Physiology II

Major Required Courses
Radiologic Technology courses (RADT course numbers) are taken in sequence after formal admission to the Radiologic Technology Program.
RADT 1315 Introduction to Radiologic Technology
RADT 1390 Principles of Image Acquisition
RADT 1260 Radiographic Practicum I
RADT 1330 Radiographic Procedures I
RADT 1340 Radiographic Procedures II
RADT 1385 Radiographic Equipment Operations
RADT 1220 Radiology Biology and Protection
RADT 1250 Radiographic Digital Imaging
RADT 2250 Advanced Patient Care
RADT 1110 Radiographic Image Critique
RADT 1380 Principles of Radiation Physics
RADT 1470 Radiographic Practicum II
RADT 2330 Radiographic Procedures III
RADT 2335 Radiographic Procedures IV
RADT 2210 Radiographic Pathology
RADT 2340 Radiographic Procedures V
RADT 2360 Radiographic Practicum III
RADT 2370 Radiographic Practicum IV
RADT 2380 Radiographic Practicum V
RADT 2385 Radiographic Capstone
RADT 2195 Radiographic Seminar

The Associate of Applied Science Radiologic Technology requires 75 college level credits. This is a career program which was granted an exception to the 60 hour limit requirement reached through Tennessee Board of Regents consensus. The exception was granted due to additional hours needed to adequately cover the necessary learning outcomes and/or to meet national accreditation agency requirements. Some courses have prerequisites and co-requisites.

In addition to academic courses offered on the college campus, Radiologic Technology students participate in numerous hours of clinical education assignments at one of the four associated clinical hospitals. Clinical education provides the student with a supervised, hands-on experience within a radiology department working with patients and modern technology. The following hospitals are affiliated with the JSCC Radiologic Technology program and their maximum numbers of annual enrollment listed:

Students select their preference of home-base clinical site while completing the program application. Students are interviewed by the RADT Program Admissions Committee.  Once admitted to the program, students will perform the majority of clinical duties at the home-base hospital, but will perform 12 weeks of rotations at other facilities. While the program is approved to accept the numbers of students at each facility as listed, in order to comply with supervision requirements, class size is typically smaller. Over the past few years the average class size is around 20-24 students. 

Students participate in seven days of clinical observation during the first semester of the program (lab for RADT 1315). Beginning in the second semester and continuing throughout, students will register for clinical education courses and receive grades accordingly. Full days of clinical are required and may be scheduled during the hours of 5:30am until 9:30pm. Minimal weekend rotations will only be scheduled the 3rd semester of  the program (4 Saturday and 4 Sunday shifts). There are occasions when students will be assigned clinical education duties while the college campus is open, but traditional academic classes are not in session. 

The following table lists the program’s required clinical contact hours by week and semester: