Mission and Goals
The mission of the radiographic science program at Lewis-Clark State College is to provide a high quality education in medical radiography in order to produce competent practitioners in the field of diagnostic imaging with a high degree of professional responsibility, advancement and leadership potential in the profession.
Radiographic Science Program Expected Outcomes
- Academic and Clinical Excellence: The program must maintain a climate which promotes and sustains student academic and clinical excellence.
- Integrity and Honesty: All individuals associated with or who come in contact with anyone associated with the program are entitled to fair and honest communication and professional ethical behavior. Students and program faculty will adhere to the Code of Ethics advocated by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT).
- Respect for Human Dignity and Diversity: This program will prepare graduates who are sensitive to human dignity and diversity. Faculty and students will strive for mutual respect of diverse cultures, opinions and viewpoints, recognizing that all patients, peers, faculty, students, patient and clinical affiliates have the right to be heard and treated with an open and caring attitude.
- Professional preparation: The LCSC Radiographic Science Program allows radiographic science students the opportunity to practice in a variety of institutional settings and to perform the following:
- Provide standard radiographic care in a compassionate, professional manner at all times.
- Gain special clinical skills from each clinical rotation/site.
- Become an active member of the profession.
- Contribute to the well being of the public and patients whom we some in contact with.
- Educational Advancement/Life Long Learning: The Radiographic Science Program at LCSC provides a foundation for professional and academic advancement at the Associate of Science degree level. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Radiography examination and if they pass, are then eligible for state licensure in states that have radiography licensure.
Radiographic Science Program Philosophy
The philosophy of the Division of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Radiographic Science Program at LCSC is based on the synthesis of two concepts: The provision of appropriate care and the enhancement of professional education in the academic and clinical arena’s, respectively.
Appropriate Care:/Program Outcomes
The radiographic program faculty believe that the provision of appropriate care as ordered by a licensed medical professional is the underlying foundation that will lead to disease treatment and enhanced patient care. From this perspective, the program outcomes of diagnostic imaging competence, critical thinking abilities, professional radiography role development, communication abilities, and the application of knowledge of human diversity are derived and realized by each
program graduate.
Professional Radiographic Science Education
Radiology is “ the branch of medicine concerned with radioactive substances, including x-rays, radioactive tracers and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and the application of this information prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease” (Tabers, 14th ed., p. 1215, 1983). Radiology is an evolving discipline of art and science that anticipates and is responsive to changes in health care delivery, economics, politics, and technology.
Radiography can be defined as …”the making of x-ray pictures” (Tabers, 14th ed., p. 1215, 1983). A radiographer is “”an individuals who maintains and uses equipment to produce images of the human body on x-ray film, computed images or digital images for diagnostic purposes. This individual may also supervise or teach others (Tabers, 14th ed., p. 1215, 1983). A vital role of radiographic science is to enhance the well-being of individuals via the appropriate performance of diagnostic and/or
therapeutic imaging procedures.
Associated of Science Radiography Education
The radiographic science program faculty view education as a dynamic process of teaching and learning. Learning is a continuous, life-long process of formal and informal, planned and unplanned, structured and intuitive experiences through which knowledge, skills, and values are compared and modified. The ASRT/ARRT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct provide a framework which explains how the student, through multiple learning experiences, transitions into the role of professional radiographer. The interaction of teaching and learning shape the student’s
future development and efforts in learning throughout life. Associate degree radiography education provides the foundation for life-long personal and professional growth in the imaging sciences. A broad base of education comprised of courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities, and radiographic science enables students to think critically, empathize with pati3ents, advocate for maximum patient
benefit, and appreciate diversity of values, beliefs, abilities and experience among persons. (Adopted from the LCSC BSN Program Philosophy, 2004-2005).
Student Goals/Objectives/Strategies
The goals/objectives/strategies are derived from the program mission and philosophy.
Goals/Objectives:
- Be eligible to take the radiography certifying examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
- Be technically proficient, being able to consistently produce radiographs of high diagnostic quality on any given part of the human body. This includes proper positioning techniques and the proper setting of all exposure factors.
- Consistently employ principles of radiation protection and safety, and electrical safety to avoid hazards to both patients and equipment operators.
- Be successfully employed in an entry level or advanced level diagnostic imaging position(s), displaying the ability to adapt to new clinical, departmental, equipment,, managerial, professional, and technical situations.
- Consistently manifest a professional attitude and honor the ASRT/ARRT Code of Ethics, thus positively influencing the public image of the diagnostic imaging science profession.
