Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module, the student should be able to:
Knowledge Outcomes:
• Discuss the different types of radiation encountered in different settings; how x-rays are produced; how they interact with the body; and what is meant by radiation dose.
• Discuss the three principles of ionising radiation protection (i.e., justification, optimisation, dose limitation). Critique their application in the context of nurse-midwife referral practice.
• Critically discuss the impact of ionising radiation exposure for the foetus and the breast feeding infant, including radiological procedures and the use of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Critically discuss the management of women of childbearing age undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures with specific reference to radiation protection protocols.
• Describe the legal standards for writing a referral for a radiological procedure.
• Differentiate roles and responsibilities of the undertaking, practitioner, and referrer.
• Demonstrate an understanding of more commonly used diagnostic radiological procedures and other imaging modalities and their implications for a person’s safety.
• Critique the steps in the justification and optimisation process with reference to evidence-based decision support frameworks (i.e., iRefer Guidelines) based on the lowest possible radiation risk in the context of individual patient characteristics.
• Critique referral for radiological procedures governance structures, guidelines, and policies at national, organisational and practice level.
• Critique the role of the nurse-midwife referrer in the management of adverse events, unintended exposure to ionising radiation or near misses and describe the process of reporting these incidents to the relevant regulatory authority and local management.
• Discuss clinical audit as a quality improvement method to assess and evaluate competence in referral practice. Outline methods and resources for implementing and recording clinical audit of nurse-midwife referral practice.
• Understand why certain groups of patients are more susceptible to harmful effects of ionizing radiation and identify situations in which the use of ionising radiation is justified for these patients.
Professional Skills:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the benefits and risks associated with a variety of radiological procedures, to be able to explain these to the patient at an understandable level.
• Understand how to provide necessary information in referrals for radiological procedures, to aid in optimization of an examination by the practitioner.
• Demonstrate knowledge of effective doses for a variety of common imaging examinations, to be able to assess cumulative dose for a given individual patient.
• Understand how to diagnose radiation induced skin injury and other potential radiation effects in a patient.
• Understand the importance of utilizing clinical and radiological information from previous examinations in the process of justification.
• Understand how to explain the planned procedure to the patient at an understandable level.
Personal / Professional Development:
• Critically explore one’s own scope of referral practice, the granting of authority to refer for specific radiologic modalities by the undertaking, indemnity insurance cove, teamwork and collegiality, maintaining practice competence and the need for continuous education and ongoing professional development