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RDGY41210

Academic Year 2024/2025

Professional Practice of CT II (RDGY41210)

Subject:
Radiography
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
20
Module Coordinator:
Ms Edel Thomas
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The purpose of this module is to enable CT radiographers to develop their diagnostic reasoning skills and to critically evaluate multi-phasic CT protocols and resultant images of the trunk (adult and/or paediatrics). Students are encouraged to self-evaluate and reflect on a variety of approaches, strategies, and clinical skills. The overarching content challenges CT radiographers to justify the approach, optimise and modify practice, evaluate imaging outcomes, and explore management and research issues.
Student journal club activities aim to support research and presentation skills.

The summative clinical/image-based examination is a must pass component of assessment. Students who are not successful in their 1st attempt will have an opportunity for an in-module repeat examination (prior to the programme examination board meeting).

Interested candidates working in Ireland must be qualified radiographers and must be registered with the Health & Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) and have the Department of Health & Children's approval to practice radiography in Ireland. Interested candidates working in Northern Ireland, must be qualified radiographers and should be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Applicants from other EU countries must be registered with the appropriate national professional body.

All interested candidates must have at least one year post-qualification experience and must arrange their own clinical placement and provide evidence of an agreement to spend a minimum of 350 hours in CT clinical practice during this module. Students must complete a Portfolio and Record of clinical practice documenting evidence of clinical experience during the module and reflecting on clinical learning.

International students are advised to contact the admissions tutor for information about clinical placement requirements. You must undergo Garda vetting prior to your clinical placement if you have not already done so.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. Critically evaluate and apply an understanding of evidence-based guidelines, departmental policies and professional standards underpinning routine/multi-phasic trunk (Thorax/Abdomen/Pelvis) Computed Tomography (CT) (adults and/or paediatrics);
2. Justify & effectively communicate aspects of patient care/preparation/safety/risk management for routine/multi-phasic trunk CT examinations;
3. Critically appraise and tailor routine/multi-phasic trunk CT protocols (adults and/or paediatrics) with an emphasis on optimisation of practice (applying the lowest radiation dose consistent with achieving diagnostic images);
4. Competently perform routine/multi-phasic trunk CT examinations, image processing, and protocol modification to achieve the most appropriate diagnostic outcome (optimisation & dose limits);
5. Proficiently interpret and describe CT image appearances to achieve the outcomes of the CT exam/provide a radiographic conclusion;
6. Reflect on personal performance and identify approaches to develop professional expertise/competence;
7. Effectively manage and reflect on organisational elements of CT service provision/multidisciplinary teamwork;
8. Engage in CT departmental research and develop the skills to critique research relative to CT.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will explore issues relating to clinical protocols, patient preparation/care, scanning principles, radiation dose, and image quality for routine/multi-phasic body CT (adult and paediatric CT). Some research & CT service management topics will be explored. Introduction provided to cardiac CT, photon counting and AI in CT.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

10

Autonomous Student Learning

100

Lectures

24

Tutorial

1

Computer Aided Lab

5

Placement/Work Experience

350

Total

490


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
A blended learning approach is adopted on this module including :
Group work, tutorials, lectures, online lectures/learning, image review/evaluation, student presentations, clinical reasoning, clinical placement (350 hours).

Citation methods used on on this module should be Harvard referencing style.

The use of generative artificial intelligence, or other machine learning technology, is NOT permitted in this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Required: To undertake this module, applicants are required to:
• Have a BSc Radiography degree or equivalent with second class honours.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Required:
RDGY41200 - Professional Practice of CT I


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Practical Skills Assessment: Clinical assessment in students own CT department. Involves scanning patients and image evaluation. Week 11, Week 12, Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes
50
Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): Image evaluation criteria design for clinical cases. Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
40
No
Portfolio: Portfolio reflections and record of clinical practice. Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

*Feedback on the assignment and clinical examination is via rubric and also with overall class comments provided.

*Computed tomography for technologists: a comprehensive text / Lois E. Romans. eBook | Wolters Kluwer | 2019 | 2nd edition.
Electronic Book. & also available at Health Sciences, General library (616.07572 ROM)
*Computed tomography: physical principles, clinical applications, and quality control / Euclid Seeram. Book | Elsevier | 2015 | 4th edition. Available at Health Sciences, General (616.07572 SEE)
*Atlas of cardiovascular computed tomography / Matthew J. Budoff [and three others], editors. eBook | Springer | 2018 | Second edition. Electronic Book.
*Principles of cardiovascular computed tomography / Stuart J. Hutchison, Naeem Merchant. Book | Saunders | 2014. Available at Health Sciences, Short Loan Collection (616.1075 HUT)