Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/17/03
DMI294 20036-20082	LEC	2 Credit(s)	6 Period(s)
Capstone Practicum
Emphasis on achievement of entry level nuclear technologist skill level in the areas of radiation protection, instrumentation imaging, non-imaging and computers, radiopharmacy, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Ethical and professional behaviors, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. Prerequisites: DMI278 or permission of Nuclear Medicine Technology program director.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
DMI294   20036-20082	Capstone Practicum

1.	Adhere to agency fire, safety, and patient care policies and procedures. (I)
2.	Independently maintains patient and department records as required by state and federal regulations and facility policies. (I)
3.	Independently explains nuclear medicine procedures to patients and their families, providing answers to their questions concerning procedures and radiation involved. (II)
4.	Transport/transfer the patient safely using proper body mechanics. (II)
5.	Practice infection control in all clinical situations. (II)
6.	Independently monitors support equipment, such as IV pumps and oxygen supplies, for the patient while in the nuclear medicine department. (II)
7.	Independently administers radioactive and non-radioactive drugs by specific routes, as allowed by federal and state regulations and facility policy, following aseptic technique, universal precautions, and required protocols. (II)
8.	Independently assists the physician with intrathecal and intracavitary injections and with the administration of therapeutic radionuclides. (II)
9.	Independently inserts an intravenous catheter, as allowed by state regulation and facility policy, following aseptic technique, universal precautions, and required protocols. (II)
10.	Demonstrate effective communication skills and cooperation with team members at the departmental and institutional level. (III)
11.	Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality and patient rights under HIPAA. (III)
12.	Utilize appropriate radiation safety precautions and procedures. (IV)
13.	Independently demonstrates correct procedures for cleanup when radionuclidic contamination is identified. (IV)
14.	Independently correctly employs a survey meter to detect radioactive contamination or sources. (V)
15.	Independently selects the appropriate equipment for various nuclear medicine studies. (VI)
16.	Independently prepares comparative displays of images on screen and/or on hard copy. (VII)
17.	Independently performs subtraction studies using standard nuclear medicine computer programs. (VII)
18.	Independently adjusts image contrast to provide maximum image enhancement without decreasing accuracy of the study. (VII)
19.	Independently selects the appropriate radiopharmaceutical for various nuclear medicine studies. (VIII)
20.	Independently acquires images at the appropriate times and objections, according to protocol. (IX)
21.	Independently adapts standard techniques to accommodate patient needs and/or limitations. (IX)
22.	Independently processes and prints data and format and print images, according to protocol. (IX)
23.	Independently evaluates images and/or data and non-imaging data for artifacts and possible errors. (IX)
24.	Independently implements appropriate corrective actions if artifacts or errors are suspected in an image and/or data in non-imaging data. (IX)

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
DMI294   20036-20082	Capstone Practicum

I. Orientation A. Program Policies and Procedures 1. Student handbook 2. Evaluation mechanism/forms B. Facility Policies and Procedures 1. Facility/Department policies and procedures 2. Department protocol manual 3. Facility layout and organization 4. Routine daily operations C. Safety Policies 1. Fire safety 2. Emergency codes 3. Emergency cart and other emergency supplies 4. Disaster procedures 5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies 6. Other policies D. Department Organization and Administration 1. Supplies a. procurement b. inventory/location 2. Patient scheduling 3. Records management (ex.patient records, quality control documents, etc.) 4. Licenses II. Patient Care A. Patient communications and interactions 1. Explaining exams and answering questions 2. Age/Group specific 3. Situation specific B. Verification of requisition C. Patient identification and assessment D. Patient transportation and safety E. Infection control F. Controlling contamination G. Patient support 1. Basic needs 2. Support equipment (ex.IV pumps, oxygen tubing, etc.) 3. Pulse, respiration, blood pressure 4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification H. Routes of administration 1. Intravenous administration 2. Intravenous catheter set-up 3. Phlebotomy 4. Oral administration 5. Intramuscular injection 6. Intrathecal and Intracavitary (assisting physician) 7. Inhalation III. Affective Domain A. Professional relationships 1. Cooperation and teamwork 2. Professional etiquette 3. Conflict prevention and resolution 4. Dealing with difficult people/situations 5. Communicating with a diverse population B. Professional issues 1. Attitude a. open to learning b. taking initiative c. assuming responsibility d. shows confidence 2. Physical appearance 3. Recognizes limitations 4. Multitasking 5. Functioning in a stressful environment 6. Critical thinking a. recognizes problems b. uses stepwise procedure to analyze and solve problems C. Ethics and medicolegal considerations 1. Respects patient privacy 2. Patient confidentiality 3. Consent forms (where applicable) 4. HIPAA Compliance IV. Radiation Protection A. Uses survey meter properly B. Personnel monitoring 1. Wears monitoring devices 2. Performs personal surveys 3. Reads and understands radiation exposure reports C. Practical methods of radiation protection D. Radioactive package receipt and shipping E. Radioactive waste disposal F. Monitoring for contamination G. Decontamination following spill H. Radionuclide therapy room preparation and clean-up V. Instrumentation: Nonimaging A. Geiger-Muller counter (survey meter) 1. Checking functional status 2. Standard operation B. Well counter operation and quality control C. Uptake probe operation and quality control D. Dose calibrator 1. standard operation 2. constancy 3. linearity 4. accuracy/precision 5. geometry E. Proper use of pipettes and semi-automatic pipettes VI. Instrumentation: Imaging A. Select appropriate camera and collimator B. Select acquisition parameters on camera/computer C. Quality control 1. Uniformity 2. Linearity 3. Resolution 4. Uniformity correction map 5. Center of rotation VII. Instrumentation: Computers A. Process data 1. drawing/placing regions-of-interest 2. cardiac axis orientation 3. histogram/curve production 4. proper use of filters 5. appropriate comparative display of images 6. subtraction studies 7. contrast adjustment B. Present computer data in appropriate form VIII. Radiopharmacy A. Select and confirm appropriate radiopharmaceutical B. Quality control C. Generator elution D. Labeling syringe shields and vials E. Kit reconstitution F. Dose calculation G. Dose preparation 1. drawing up dose 2. withdrawing blood 3. tagging red blood cells H. Record management IX. Diagnostic Procedures A. Imaging procedures 1. Patient safety considerations 2. Acquire images at appropriate 3. Correct projections 4. Additional views/adaptations when applicable 5. Process data when applicable 6. Format images 7. Analyze images/data for artifacts and errors 8. Print images/data in proper format 9. Label images properly 10. Present completed study B. Nonimaging procedures 1. Sample collection at appropriate intervals 2. Sample preparation 3. Counting samples 4. Standard preparation 5. In vivo counting 6. Data manipulation 7. Analyze data for artifacts and errors 8. Present completed study C. Radionuclide Therapy 1. Confirmation of patient identification 2. Confirmation of written directive 3. Dose calibration 4. Patient instructions

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