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Program Mission

The mission of the Radiologic Science Program at Â鶹´«Ã½ is to prepare students for entry into the profession of diagnostic radiography. The program provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to achieve clinical competence, which includes the safe use of ionizing radiation and quality patient care. The program is committed to the concept of life-long learning and promotes standards of professionalism that will serve radiographers throughout their professional careers.

Program Goals

• Students will be clinically competent.
  Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to apply radiation protection principles.
  • Students will be able to competently perform routine radiographic procedures.
  • Students will determine appropriate technical factors.
• Students will communicate effectively.
  Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
  • Students will identify best practices for communicating with diverse populations.
• Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will adjust radiographic techniques for non-routine situations.
  • Students will modify positioning for non-routine/ trauma exams.
  • Students will demonstrate improvement in problem-solving skills over the duration of the program.
• Students will determine the importance of professional growth and development.
  Student Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will identify the continuing education requirements for ARRT certification renewal.
  • Students will write a professional development plan.

Students in the Radiologic Science Program are given the opportunity to acquire extensive hands-on experience in the field, not only through clinical assignments outside of the university, but through simulation experiences inside of NKU's very own radiographic laboratory facilities.

The program's laboratory facilities include the latest computed radiography technology along with three energized, radiographic rooms, as well as film processing capabilities. These laboratories allow students to:

• simulate and practice the various radiographic positions they learn in class on fellow classmates (without radiation exposure).
• take exposures of radiographic phantom parts to evaluate the accuracy of their positioning.
• review the anatomy shown on each of the radiographic phantom part exposures for real life visual learning.
• aid in their understanding of technical theories of radiography that are taught in class.
• allow for experimentation with various exposure settings and accessory devices.
• visually show  how changes made at the control panel or in the type of equipment used will affect the quality of their radiographs.
• gain experience and learn the dynamics involved in the the clinical setting and patient care atmosphere.

With the knowledge from their classroom instruction, in conjunction with simulation and laboratory practice, students are able to increase their confidence, competency, and independence prior to starting their clinical assignment, enabling them to get the most out of their clinical experience and a head start on the competition in the job market.

Direct patient contact within the Radiologic Science Program makes it necessary for all students entering the program to provide verification of specific immunizations.  In addition, certain technical standards must be met due to the physically demanding nature of radiologic care.

All candidates who receive acceptance must provide proof of immunity to and/or immunizations for the following communicable diseases*:

• Rubella
• Rubeola (measles)
• Mumps
• Varicella Zoster (if no history of chicken pox)
• Polio
• Hepatitis B (series of 3 injections)
• A two-step tuberculosis (TB) test (PPd)
• Diptheria/Tetanus
• Influenza, seasonal flu vaccine
• COVID vaccine

*Note:  this list could change based on circumstances out of our control (i.e.:  COVID pandemic); students will be notified of any such changes should they arise.

Learning Outside the Classroom

The Radiologic Science program includes clinical practicum courses in each semester in which students perform radiographic examinations on patients under the supervision of registered technologists employed by the hospitals.

The Radiologic Science Program is affiliated with the following hospitals in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area:

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• Dearborn County Hospital (Lawrenceburg, IN)
• The Jewish Hospital - Kenwood (Cincinnati, OH)
• St. Elizabeth Healthcare
  • Covington, Edgewood, Fort Thomas, Florence, Grant County
    
• Mercy Hospital Anderson (Cincinnati, OH)
• Mercy Hospital Clermont (Batavia, OH)

In addition to these hospitals, the program maintains affiliations with area orthopedic offices and outpatient imaging centers to provide students with experience in these types of setting.

Practicum Schedule

The program’s clinical coordinator assigns students to clinical education centers based on available placements.  During the first professional year of the program, students attend their clinical assignments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Normal shift hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the second and third professional years, students will rotate through hospitals, orthopedic offices, outpatient imaging centers, pediatric and specialty/advanced imaging rotations. Shift hours will vary, to include second shift opportunities. Clinical days during the second professional year will be Monday-Wednesday-Friday, while the clinical days may vary during the third professional year. Depending on availability, students may have the opportunity to choose a concentrated clinical rotation, such as CT, MRI, or vascular imaging to name a few.