Practice Placement 1
| Module title | Practice Placement 1 |
|---|---|
| Module code | RAD1004DA |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | Please see note below* | Please see note below* | Please see note below* |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 70 |
|---|
Module description
Please note that Degree Apprenticeship programmes have variable start dates and modules are taught across the whole year.
This module provides practical experience of the safe and effective practice of radiography, including an introduction to modalities. You will develop patient-care skills and learn to identify professional and leadership issues and understand how these are inter-related.
The module commences with an attendance block at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with an emphasis on face-to-face learning. The module then runs over a 12-month period with two further block attendances across the year for further face-to-face learning. In the non-block weeks, there will be protected ‘off the job’ learning supported by e-learning materials provided by the academic team. The full calendar of activities and assessment will be made available via the timetable.?
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will equip you with clinical skills with focus on common medical imaging examinations in non-disabled bodied, compliant patients to deliver compassionate, holistic, patient care.?Through successful completion of this module, you will gain an understanding of technical, legal, ethical and professional aspects as they relate to these areas of medical imaging practice.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Under guidance, practice safely and effectively within the scope of this placement, demonstrating proficiency in equipment handling, infection control, basic positioning, patient immobilisation, manual handling, optimal exposure selection and image acquisition across all patient age groups.
- 2. Under guidance, care for and communicate with patients appropriately, demonstrating a duty of care and awareness of legal and ethical professional boundaries including confidentiality.
- 3. Describe and implement radiation protection and other safety measures (including patient identification, interpreting referral information, and ensuring appropriate use of medical imaging).
- 4. Under guidance, evaluate medical images encountered within the scope of this placement using a recognised methodology, identifying normal, developmental and anatomical variants, assessing image quality and taking corrective action.
- 5. Under guidance, demonstrate the ability to assess, monitor and care for patients, before during and after medical imaging procedures, and be able to recognise the deteriorating patient and have the skills and knowledge to undertake basic life support.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. With guidance, demonstrate ability to further develop skills and knowledge by reflecting on clinical experience and identifying strengths and areas for further learning.
- 7. Maintain accurate records, meeting professional requirements, as well as an individual learning journal.
- 8. Contribute positively to the placement department, working in partnership with service users, work effectively with other professions and professionals, support staff and others, ensure effective management of caseload and resources.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Practice within the limits of one's own scope of practice, seeking advice as appropriate, accepting responsibility for decisions made and having awareness of one's own physical and mental well-being.
- 10. With guidance, solve problems by synthesising theoretical knowledge, and using experience and personal initiative.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows. The amount of time is not prescribed and is at the discretion of the employing department but must be such that the learning outcomes and knowledge, skills, and behaviours are achievable.
As a condition of employment, apprentices must abide by their employers’ policies and procedures and as such this is not stipulated within the syllabus. It is expected that apprentices will undertake basic life support, manual handling, fire safety and other annual employer requirements as part of their employment contract.
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICE
- Standard positioning and patient immobilisation for x-ray imaging in the following areas:
- General and Emergency Department / Minor Injuries,
- Fluoroscopy,
- Mobiles (Portables) and Theatre.
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI)
Optimal exposure selection and imaging acquisition in general radiography and fluoroscopy.
Image assessment and evaluation including escalation of unexpected findings.
Accurate operation of equipment, safe working, hazard and risk management.
Operate equipment accurately in accordance with health and safety legislation.
Principles underpinning infection control and management of waste and spills.
Infection control principles in practice, including use of personal protective equipment.
Differences between aseptic technique and the sterile environment .
Applicable health and safety legislation, and relevant safety policies and procedures including incident reporting.
Where possible gain experience of radionuclide imaging (RNI) and ultrasound (US) in preparation for year 2 studies.
?
COMMUNICATION AND SAFEGUARDING
Identify patients and provide clear and accurate information, within legal boundaries
Obtain Informed consent across a range of clinical and employment setting
Communicate and care for patients appropriately, including paediatrics and individuals with additional needs, while respecting their rights, dignity, and values.
Adapt communication methods to meet individual need considering age, capacity, learning and physical ability, culture, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, and religious beliefs.
Support patients and maintain professionalism in all interactions, including situation of personal incompatibility and use interpreters when required.
Uphold ethical principles such as maintaining confidentiality, recognising its limits and acting in the best interests of service users.
Recognising situations when information sharing is necessary to safeguard individuals or the wider public.
Practice fairly and without discrimination
Demonstrate emotional intelligence, empathy, compassion emotional resilience
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RADIATION PROTECTION and other imaging safety
Use of referral and other information from other healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate and optimal use of medical imaging.
Local justification criteria, clinical priorities based on urgency of clinical conditions
Radiation protection measures, showing awareness of current legislation and local application in the following environments:
- General X-Ray Rooms,
- Fluoroscopy Rooms,
- Theatre,
- Wards
- Other clinical environments
Risk benefit approach to ensure individual patient exposure is appropriate, both to protect individual patients and the population gene pool.
?
IMAGE EVALUATION
Use processing and other software for imaging viewing.
Recognise and describe normal, developmental and anatomical-variant radiographic anatomy and common pathology demonstrated on the range of images encountered within the scope of this placement.
Assess and evaluate images and identify images of poor diagnostic quality and take corrective action.
Assess and evaluate images and identify the need for further projections.
Image assessment (technical) and evaluation including escalation of unexpected findings
Apply artificial intelligence in imaging evaluation and workflow management where available, while being aware of the limitations
PATIENT CARE
Gain experience in the ward setting of basic patient monitoring (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate), and how to record findings, and how and when to escalate.
Gain experience in the ward setting of general patient comfort (bed positioning, management of catheters, drips, drains, minimising risk of pressure sores, nutrition and hydration).
Recognise a deteriorating patient and have the skills and knowledge to undertake basic life support and when to request help.
Assess, monitor and care for the service user before, during and after medical imaging procedures, including removal and reapplication of supports and dressings.
?
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Reflection on clinical experience and identifying personal strengths and areas for further learning.
?
DOCUMENTATION
Information governance and related legislation as it relates to healthcare in practice.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines including exposure factors and dose.
Placement experience documentation
Attend regular progress review meetings with the academic and workplace mentor
Administration of appointments, cancellations and ‘DNA’ processes, and information given to patients.
Administration of PACS management including problem solving.
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PROFESSIONALISM
Relevance and application of general radiography in order to advise other healthcare professionals in relation to the patient's needs.
Partnership with service users, comforters and carers and effective working with other professions and professionals to support patients, staff and others.
Professional relationships, both as an independent practitioner and as part of a team.
Effective practice
Interprofessional team working in different environments including the ward setting, theatres, and within the radiology department.
Personal professional behaviour ( as per HCPC Standards of Proficiency and College of Radiographers Professional Code of Conduct)
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SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Limits of own practice and seek advice as appropriate.
Fitness to practice (physical, mental), seeking advice and guidance, actions to be taken in case of change of circumstance
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PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.
Resolve problems including complex and unpredictable situations, by using knowledge, experience and personal initiative within scope of practice.
Justification decisions taken in relation whether to initiate, continue, modify or cease medical imaging examinations within scope of practice.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 74 | 696 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | 3 x 1 hour lectures and 2 hours assessment preparation and feedback |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour e-tutorials |
| Placement | 696 (indicative) | Indicative: 2 x 7.5 days per week (minus leave, study blocks, assessment windows) as per placement guidance and contract with employer |
| Guided independent study | 74 | Directed reading, private study and revision |
| This module is delivered as part of an integrated degree apprenticeship programme. The total required study hours for the programme have been designed in accordance with the ESFA regulations. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio feedback on practice | N/A | 1-10 | Written |
| Discussions with academic and workplace mentor | N/A | 1-10 | Verbal, recorded on OneFile as Progress Review Meetings (PRM's) |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0 | 50 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) ? ambulatory patients | 50 | 3.5 hours | 1-10 | Written |
| Written Assignment | 50 | 3000 words | 1-5 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) ? ambulatory patients (50%) (3.5 hrs) | Structured Objective Assessment of Practice (SOAP) ? ambulatory patients | 1-10 | During the published assessment period (see ELE) |
| Written Assignment (50%) | Written Assignment (3000 words) | 1-5 | During the published assessment period (see ELE) |
Re-assessment notes
This programme runs to a non-standard timetable; assessment weeks and Assessment, Progression & Awarding Committees (APACs) for both initial and deferred assessments are held as per the programme’s published timetable.??
A pass at 40% in each of these assessment components is necessary to pass the module.
Three attempts are permitted for SOAP assessments. ?If the first attempt is failed, the assessment mark is capped at the pass mark for the second attempt. ?If the second attempt is failed, the module mark will be capped at the pass mark for the final attempt.
Apprentices who are referred / defer the SOAP assessment for this module may be permitted to progress onto the next year of the programme but must achieve the credits for this module within that year. SOAP assessments may not be trailed for more than one year.
Please also refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: ?
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Whitley AS, Jefferson G, Holmes K, Hoadley G, Sloane C, Anderson C. (2016) Clark's Positioning in Radiography (13th edition). CRC Press, London. ISBN 9781444122350
Harvey-Lloyd, J. M., Strudwick, R. M., & Preston, S. (2024). Fundamentals of radiographic positioning and anatomy. Wiley Blackwell.
Lampignano, J. P., & Kendrick, L. E. (2017). Bontrager’s handbook of radiographic positioning and techniques. (Ninth edition / John Lampignamo, Leslie E. Kendrick.). Mosby
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
UK Statutory Instruments (2017), Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017, The Stationary Office, Available from ,??
UK Statutory Instruments (2018), The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, The Stationary Office, Available from ://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/121/contents/made,???
The Health & Safety Executive (2018), Work with Ionising Radiation. Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, HSE Books, ISBN 9780717666621,??
Principles for continuing professional development and lifelong learning in health and social care, Society and College of Radiographers, ?
Obtaining consent: a clinical guideline for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce,?Society and College of Radiographers, ??
Guidance on mental capacity decisions in diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, Society and College of Radiographers ttps://www.sor.org/?
Health and Care Professions Standards of Proficiency for radiographers 2023.
Health and Care Professions Standards of conduct, performance and ethics: 2024:
Society and college of radiographer’s code of professional conduct. 2025.
The Scope of Practice 2025, Society and College of Radiographers, https://www.sor.org/learning-advice/Professional-body-guidance-and-publications/Documents-and-publications/Policy-Guidance-Document-Library/Scope-of-Practice-2025
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Radiographic Imaging Concepts and Principles, Carlton R.R. and Adler A.M. (2013), (5th edition), Delmar, ISBNA 9-781-11131-081-3 electronic version available?
Principles of radiographic imaging: an art and a science (6th ed). Richard Carlton, A. A. (2020).
Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy, Bontrager K.L. (2017), (10th edition), Mosby,
Bones and joints: a guide for students. Gunn C. (2018),(8th edition) Churchill Livingstone,) electronic version also available?
Patient care in radiography: with an introduction to medical imaging. ? Ehrlich R.A. and Coakes, D.M. (2016), (10th edition), Mosby. electronic version also available??
Becoming a Reflective Practitioner, Johns C. (2022), Blackwell,
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module co-requisites | RAD1001DA, RAD1002DA, RAD1003DA |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 06/06/2019 |
| Last revision date | 10/04/2026 |