Program Description & Details

NMU radiography program offers a learning opportunity in the radiologic sciences; which allows a graduate the ability to prosper as a professional entry-level radiographer or seek further advancement through the diverse opportunities in diagnostic imaging. The radiography program is a five-semester, consecutive 21-month program divided into theory and clinical practicum components. 

Explore the information on this page to gather detailed information on NMU's radiography degree program.

Northern Michigan University's radiography program is dedicated to the education of entry-level radiographers. It is the intention of this Program to promote radiographers that will function as proficient health care professionals possessing a constant concern for quality patient care, quality customer service and technical competency in a diverse healthcare population.

Our philosophy is to provide our students the highest quality of education with the most efficient use of our resources. The comprehensiveness of our academic offerings provides: opportunities for instruction to students from a broad range of ability levels and interests, placement of staff members and the radiography student in a one-on-one relationship of guidance and feedback during instruction, and adaptability to balance the evolution of diagnostic imaging in healthcare for personal and professional success.

Our goals are to develop students who will:

  • administer effective communication skills.
  • utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills in the performance of medical and imaging procedures.
  • demonstrate competency in methods of patient care and radiographic imaging procedures.
  • model professionalism and quality customer service.

Upon completion of our academic and clinical competency curriculum for our profession the student will:

  • practice oral, written, and electronic medical communication.
  • demonstrate the knowledge of human anatomy physiology and pathology.
  • anticipate and provide patient care, comfort and safety.
  • apply the theories of radiologic sciences and techniques.
  • demonstrate the knowledge of medical ethics and legal issues.
  • operate radiographic instrumentation and equipment.
  • perform radiographic procedures modifying each to accommodate for the patient or situation.
  • process and quality assess diagnostic images.
  • practice radiation protection for the patient, self and others.
  • exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of diagnostic imaging procedures.
  • promote lifelong learning to allow for adaptation to an ever-changing environment.
Program Policies
Performance Standards
Clinical Portfolio
Educational Continuum

Radiography Program Policies

General university policies can be found in the NMU Student Handbook.  Policies specific to Radiography and the Clinical Science department can be found below.

Students accepted into the program must agree in writing to abide by all didactic and clinical policies. Failure to comply with program policies may result in dismissal from the program. Clinical attendance and other program policies can be reviewed in the Student Policy Handbook or Clinical Practicum Portfolio located under each titled section.

Students will complete a BLS/AED certification course prior to program entry.  A copy of the student’s certification card must be provided by the first day of orientation.

Students will complete a program orientation in August, at which time they will receive the student handbook, clinical portfolio and all pertinent information pertaining to the program.

Students completing their clinical practicum for semesters three through five will complete an orientation for their affiliate clinical site at that site.

Northern Michigan University may accept transfer credit for previous general education course work according to university policies. Transfer credit for general education courses will not reduce the five (5) semester requirement to graduate the radiography program.

Transfer credit from other radiography programs, which is specific to radiography, will not be accepted.

All students are eligible to use academic services at Northern Michigan University.

Academic calendars, grading, policies and graduation requirements are located on our website, course syllabi or the student policy manual.

Didactic instruction is provided by physical or distance classroom attendance. Students completing their 3-5 semester clinical practicums have the option to attend class by teleconferencing or the assigned classroom.

Continuity of learning to distant students will be provided by:

  • Hard packet copies – handouts, reference material, assignments, quizzes, and tests provided through the health systems courier, U.S. mail or fax
  • Quizzes and tests will be proctored by the affiliate clinical instructor or designated replacement
  • Electronic quizzes, tests or student grades are student selected password-protected
  • Faculty check-ins and tutorials to facilitate one-on-one interaction will be facilitated by telephone, e-mail, blogs, wikis or discussion groups
  • Didactic lecture will be provided by teleconferencing
  • Teleconferencing difficulties will be addressed by using a backup mobile conferencing system or Skype
  • Additional e-learning systems such as the Accordant System, podcasts and DVDs will be used

Students completing a RAD course through distance learning will:

  • Not be charged an additional fee.
  • Be reviewed on the same grading scale as those students present.
  • Be provided a course/instructor evaluation. Course/instructor evaluations are completed electronically.

Distance students have the right to attend didactic lecture at any time they feel appropriate in the program classroom.

Program publications – application packet, website, public relations articles and the student policy manual will advise applicants/students of the availability of distance learning. In addition, university advisors and program faculty will be available to answer student concerns.

Program faculty, by assessing how existing tools may be used to develop effective distance learning strategies will provide students in distance learning the resources to achieve an equitable educational experience.

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Clinical practicum rotation times will vary with the appointed clinical procedure room schedule.  A student will complete 2176 hours in the clinical practicum. Approximately 7.3% of the total clinical hours will be completed on the weekends and/or evening hours (3 -11 pm).

A student’s academic and clinical performance will be evaluated at the end of each semester. To remain in good standing, an 80 percent or higher must be maintained in each academic course and an 83percent or higher must be maintained in the clinical educational component (clinical practicum portfolio).

A student who does not achieve the minimum grade for an academic course or clinical portfolio will be dismissed from the program. Students are provided remediation during the progression of a course. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their course grade status and facilitate remediation when necessary. Course final grades will not be rounded. A final grade of 79.9 will result in course failure and program dismissal.

Students are to behave in a professional manner at all times in order to achieve our goal of providing patient care at the highest standards possible.  Students must review the Standards of Ethics by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology at www.ARRT.org.

Requirements for graduation are as follows:

  • All academic assignments must be complete.
  • All clinical competency requirements must be complete.
  • All clinical education requirements and documentation must be complete.
  • Students must maintain a minimum average of 80% in each academic course.
  • Students must maintain a minimum average of 83% in each clinical practicum.
  • All tuition and fees must be paid in full.
  • Eligibility to write the ARRT examination is subject to review by the program director and clinical education coordinator.

Students must provide their own transportation to didactic and clinical practicum sites.

Northern Michigan University cannot guarantee normal graduation time to a student who becomes pregnant during the course of the radiography program. Specific details related program student pregnancy policy are found in the program Student Policy Manual and available upon request.

Performance Standards

All diagnostic imaging students are required to perform a wide variety of activities as a proficient health care giver. As a student in Imaging, your clinical practicum will require you to actively participate in providing patients with specific health care services while obtaining diagnostic images. The following performance standards (cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor) are provided to assist students in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary for the student to meet program requirements. Students who identify potential difficulties with meeting the performance standards must communicate their concerns to the Student Services department as well as the program director. Determination is made on an individual basis as to whether or not the necessary accommodations or modifications can be made reasonably.

 

Never

Sometimes

1-30%

Frequently

31-75%

Always

76-100%

Job Essential

Yes

No

SPEECH     Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal form.

     Speak English with clarity

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Communicates in English with clarity

 

 

 

X

X

 

HEARING    Auditory ability sufficient to monitor, assess and acquire health needs and information.

     Conversation

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Telephone

 

 

 

X

X

 

SIGHT     Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment in patient care and the evaluation of a diagnostic image.

     Natural or corrected without assistance

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Depth perception

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Color vision

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Working in low light

 

 

 

X

X

 

SMELLING

     Ability to detect odors.

  

X

      

X

MOBILITY    Physical abilities to move from room to room and maneuver equipment; using each extremity (R and L) as applicable.

     Lift, push, or pull 75 pounds

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Shoulder

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Arm

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Neck

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Stand unassisted (no cane or crutch)

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Move about facility

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Bending

 

 

X

 

X

 

     Crawling

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Kneeling

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Twisting body

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Running

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Walk unassisted (no cane or crutch)

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Climbing (stairs)

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

Never

Sometimes

1-30%

Frequently

31-75%

Always

76-100%

Job Essential

Yes

No

REACHING    Using each extremity (R and L) as applicable.

     Overhead

 

 

 

X

X

 

     In front of body

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Down

 

 

 

X

X

 

GRASPING     Using each extremity (R and L) as applicable.

     Overhead

 

 

 

X

X

 

     In front of body

 

 

 

X

X

 
SITTING

    Ability to sit

 

X

 

 

X

 

FINE MOTOR SKILLS

KEYBOARDING

     Hands

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Fingers/tactile sense (ability to feel when    

     touching)

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Wrist

 

 

 

X

X

 

COORDINATION

     Eye/hand/foot with both hands/arms/feet

 

 

 

X

X

 

COGNITIVE/MENTAL FACTORS

REASONING

     Ability to focus, concentrate, memorize

 

 

 

100

X

 

     Deal with abstract and concrete variables,

     define problems, collect data, establish facts

     and draw valid conclusions

 

 

 

100

X

 

     Interpret instructions furnished in oral,

     written, diagrammatic or schedule form

 

 

 

100

X

 

     Deal with problems varying from standard

     situations

 

 

 

100

X

 

     Carry out simple to complex writing and oral

     instructions

 

 

 

100

X

 

     Carry out at least one or two step instructions

 

 

 

100

X

 

MATHEMATICS

     Complex skills – business math, algebra,

     geometry or statistics

 

 

X

 

X

 

     Simple skills – add, subtract, multiply and

     divide whole numbers and fractions

     Calculate time and simple measurements

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

Never

Sometimes

1-30%

Frequently

31-75%

Always

76-100%

Job Essential

Yes

No

READING

     Complex skills – comprehend medical

     records, manuals, journals, instructions in

     use and maintenance of equipment, safety

     rules and procedures and drawings

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Simple skills – comprehend simple

     instructions or notations from a book

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Ability to read data on paper and then input

     to a computer

 

 

 

X

X

 

WRITING

     Complex skills – prepare medical

     documentation, report summaries using

     prescribed format and conforming to all

     rules of punctuation, spelling, grammar,

     diction and style

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Simple skills – English sentences containing

     subject, verb and object; names and

     addresses, complete job application or

     notations in a log book

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

PERCEPTION

     Spatial – ability to comprehend forms in

     space and understand relationships of plane

     and solid objects; frequently described as

     the ability to “visualize” objects of two or

     three dimensions, or to think visually of

     geometric forms

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Form – ability to perceive pertinent detail in

     objects or in pictorial or graphic material; to

     make visual comparisons and discriminations

     and see slight differences in shapes and

     shadings of figures and widths and lengths

     of line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

 

Never

Sometimes

1-30%

Frequently

31-75%

Always

76-100%

Job Essential

Yes

No

CLERICAL

     Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal

     or tabular material; to observe differences

     in copy, to proof-read words and numbers

     and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetic

     computations

 

 

 

X

X

 

DATA

     Synthesize, coordinate, analyze, compile,

     compute, copy and compare

 

 

 

X

X

 

PERSONAL TRAITS

     Ability to comprehend and follow instructions

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to perform simple and repetitive tasks

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to maintain a workplace appropriate

     to a given workload

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to influence people

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to perform complex or varied tasks

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to make generalizations, evaluations,

     or decisions without immediate supervision

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to accept and carry out responsibility

     for direction, control and planning

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Ability to meet requirements of procedural

     standards of speed and accuracy

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Ability to handle stress

 

 

 

 

X

 

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

     Works indoors

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Works outdoors

 

X

 

 

 

X

     Exposure to high/low temperatures/humidity

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Being around moving machinery

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Exposure to dust, fumes, smoke, gases, odors,

     mists or other irritating particles

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Exposure to excessive noises

 

 

X

 

X

 

     Exposure to radiation, electrical or magnetic

     Energy

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Exposure to solvents, grease or oils

 

 

X

 

 

X

 

 

Never

Sometimes

1-30%

Frequently

31-75%

Always

76-100%

Job Essential

Yes

No

     Working in confined spaces

 

X

 

 

X

 

     Using a computer monitor

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Works alone

X

 

 

 

X

 

     Works around others

 

 

 

X

X

 

     Exposure to blood and other potentially

     infectious material

 

 

 

X

X

 

ALLERGIES/SENSITIVITIES

     Tolerance to Latex

 

 

X

 

X

 

     Other allergies to chemicals, etc.

 

X

 

 

 

 

SAFETY EQUIPMENT  - REQUIRED

     Safety glasses

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Face mask/ face shield

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Protective clothing

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Protective gloves

 

 

 

 

X

 

     Radiation protection apparel  

 

 

 

 

X

 

Diagnostic Imaging Student Activities:

Examples of activities expected of a diagnostic imager:

Communication

Explain diagnostic imaging procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret other health care members actions and patient responses

Mobility

Move around diagnostic imaging work spaces and patient rooms; administer BLS and AED

Motor skills

Calibrate and operate diagnostic imaging equipment; position patients; administer contrast media

Hearing

Hear imaging exposure signal, monitor alarms, emergency signals; verbal information from patients, health care givers and phone

Visual

Observe patient responses, recognize physical changes; distinguish shades of gray on a diagnostic image or monitor

Tactile

Perform activities related to patient care: catheter insertion, venipuncture, vital signs, oxygen administration

Intellectual Capacity

Select proper technical exposure factors to the individual needs of the patient; review and evaluate diagnostic images in relation to proper exposure factors and positioning of anatomic parts

Cognitive Abilities

Respond to a patient’s concerns and questions in a timely manner with appropriate responses; respond to emergent situations; Work effectively in a team environment

Clinical Portfolio Overview

Student clinical performance will be documented by completion of a clinical practicum portfolio each semester. A student will demonstrate progress appropriate for each semester clinical practicum and their advancement in the program by a satisfactory clinical portfolio of 83% or higher. The clinical portfolio is a flexible document designed to emphasize active student involvement. A clinical portfolio provides a student with the responsibility and options to play an active role in their clinical performance and grade. A portfolio reflects a student’s strengths and weaknesses and promotes assertiveness for each individual.

The evaluation of each semester portfolio grade will be based upon specific identified criteria. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the Portfolio and submit it to the faculty the last day of each semester. The clinical practicum portfolio grades for each semester will be averaged to provide a final clinical semester grade.

A student clinical practicum portfolio will include:

  • Rotation participation tally entries
  • Attendance record
  • Absence/tardy
  • Affective/professional performance evaluation
  • Student self assessments
  • Radiographic procedure criteria
  • Clinical competencies (masteries)
  • Image analyses
  • Student  repeat analysis          
  • Clinical practicum task inventory
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Radiation monitors
  • Awards/demerits             

A student’s grade will be a combined achievement of the above course objectives. Each objective will first be evaluated separately and then combined for the final grade.

Due to time constraints required in a sequential clinical practicum, clinical portfolios may not be repeated. Therefore, it is imperative that students complete each clinical portfolio with a satisfactory grade to be eligible for advancement to the next semester and program completion.  A student that does not achieve the minimum grade of 83% in a clinical portfolio will be dismissed from the program. Students are provided feedback on less than acceptable evaluations during the progression of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their course grade status and facilitate remediation when necessary.

Revised 7/12

Introduction:

  • What is your occupation and job title?
  • How did you become interested in this type of work?
  • Why did you choose this career?
  • How did you get your job with this institution?

Qualifications:

  • What type of education and/or training was required?
  • What classes did you take in high school that prepared you for your job?
  • What personality traits are important for this job?
  • What kind of technical knowledge is required for this job?
  • How are technical demands increasing or changing?

Duties:

  • What job duties are you required to perform?
  • Do you work a shift?
  • How many hours a week do you typically work?
  • What choices do you have in making your work schedule?
  • Are certain times busier than others?

Salary and Benefits:

  • What are the salary ranges for different levels in this field?
  • What is the opportunity for advancement?
  • How are raises earned?

Personal Satisfaction:

  • What do you like best about your job?
  • What do you like least about your job?
  • What kinds of job opportunities are there?
  • What kind of personal satisfaction do you receive from your job?

Miscellaneous:

  • What advice would you give a student interested in this field?
  • What changes do you see in this field within the next 5-10 years?

The Faculty/Student Educational Continuum

Faculty instruction is a process that changes to meet the needs of the student as they progress and become self-reliant. All students will receive equitable learning opportunities but may not be directed in the same manner. A student will be assessed for knowledge and skill levels with instruction adjusted to fit the needs of the individual. Faculty will provide direction and motivation for student learning, but it is the student’s responsibility to process, apply and retain materials provided, shifting the ownership of the outcome of the educational experience to the student

Direct

Guide

Advise

Facilitate

Support

Faculty Responsibility

Define what, how, when, where, why

Specify what, how, when, where, why

Suggest requirements and resources

Confront Issues

Ask questions

Foster self-discovery

Interpret need is available for help if required

Student Responsibility

Listen

Compile

Follow directions

Study course material and relationships

Ask questions

Retain material

Clarify requirements and  resources

Make decisions

Find own answers

Begin to take ownership

Make own path

Demonstrate self-reliance

Demonstrate self- confidence

Ownership of Outcome

Faculty Owns

Faculty and Student Ownership

Student Owns

Our program description for accreditation purposes can be found on this page.