Program Details

The Radiography Program consists of on-campus classes and labs, online instruction, and clinical education in area hospitals. Once enrolled, you will learn:

• Patient Care
• Safety
• Image Production
• Procedures

Prerequisite (Application Criteria Courses) and general education courses (Admission Selection Criteria Courses) may be taken at any Broward College campus or online if available.

Radiography lecture and lab courses are taught in building 8 on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie, scheduled from one to three hours. Lecture courses contain 30-45 students; labs meet with groups of 6-10 students. Clinical courses are located in hospitals throughout Broward County, meeting twice or three times per week for eight hours. You may have to drive up to one hour from your home to attend such courses, depending on where you live. Radiography students rotate through three different hospitals during the 22-month program.

The Radiography Program is a full-time commitment and cannot be taken part-time. It is primarily a daytime program with hours between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some Radiography Program courses are delivered in a blended or online format and therefore do not meet every week on a regular basis.

A typical semester during the first year of the program involves two days of clinic attendance with the other three days reserved for lecture classes and labs. During year two, students attend clinic three days a week and have classes and labs on the remaining two days. There are some required evening clinical rotations from 2 to 10 p.m. in year two. There are no scheduled weekend courses or clinical rotations.

The demand for radiographers in the United States is expected to grow, fueled by an increase in natural population growth, a greater life span for individuals, and an increasing demand for radiographic procedures resulting from technological advances aimed at early diagnosis and prevention of disease.

Radiographers primarily practice in:

• Hospitals
• Imaging centers
• Research laboratories
• Governmental facilities
• Private physician offices

Radiographer Career Paths

Computed Tomography (CT) Theory & Clinical

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Theory & Clinical

The Radiography Program at Broward College accepts approximately 40 students each year, with about 30 students (75 percent) graduating with an Associate of Science (AS) Degree in Radiography.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Certification Exam. Individuals who successfully pass their examination receive a certificate that confers upon its holder the right to use the title Registered Technologist and its abbreviation RT(R).

Graduates of the program will also be eligible to apply for a license from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control.

The Program does not provide job placement services for graduates.

See jobs for radiographers now

To discover more about the profession, visit the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

To discover more about the future demand for Radiographers to include salaries, visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Being a radiographer presents many challenges, so be sure the program fits your ambitions before you apply. If you are considering entering the field of radiography, you should:

• Be able to think critically and independently
• Show compassion and caring towards others
• Have the ability to apply technical knowledge
• Possess good communication and interpersonal skills
• Be adaptable to various situations, environments, and personalities
• Be able to work well under pressure in the presence of illness and trauma

Upon graduating from the program and finding work as a radiographer, you will be required to:

• Maintain patients' trust through confidentiality
• Manipulate complex radiographic equipment safely
• Perform more than one task at a time under stress
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity to patients and their families
• Recognize physiological changes in patients and respond accordingly
• Have sufficient stamina to move patients, stand for long periods of time and lift medical equipment (60 lbs. maximum)

Liza M Terron, MHA, BSRS, R.T. (R) (M) - Program Manager
Ms. Terron joined Broward College in 2019 as a clinical instructor/coordinator. She is registered in radiography and mammography. Ms. Terron has over 20 years of clinical experience in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Michael Giovanniello, Ph.D., R.T. (R) - Senior Professor
Dr. Giovanniello joined Broward College in 1990 as an adjunct and in 2001 as a full-time faculty member. For the Radiography Program, he has held the positions of Clinical Instructor, Clinical Coordinator, Professor, and Program Manager. He is also an eLearning Associate for the Department of Instructional Technology/BC Online. Dr. Giovanniello has over 25 years of clinical experience in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Clinical Instructors

• Christopher Perez, B.S, R.T. (R)
• Vanessa Eusebio, BSRS, R.T. (R)
• Barbara Genader, R.T.(R)
• Angela Hugley, BS, R.T.(R)
• Anne Pasetti, AS, R.T.(R)
• Daniela Boursiquot, AS. R.T.(R)

To earn your Associate of Science (AS) degree in Radiography you will need to complete 34 courses totaling 77 credits. The length of the program is 22 months (six semesters), which does not include prerequisite and general education courses. Such courses usually take two (or more) semesters to complete. A grade of "C" or better is required in all radiography courses.

All RTE courses in the Radiography Program are sequential. Each course must be successfully completed in order to progress to the next scheduled course/term. If you do not successfully complete any of the RTE courses, you will be withdrawn from the program and will have to repeat and successfully pass such courses before progressing.

Radiography Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements Follow the chart below for an idea of the sequence of the RadiographyProgramand for specific times to take each course. This curriculum will take effect in Fall 2017.

Application Criteria Courses

When to Take: Must be completed (or transferred in from another school) prior to submitting an application to the program.

Admission Selection Criteria Courses

When to Take: This can be taken during the 22-month program. However, these courses are used for admission criteria and are typically completed (or transferred in) before submitting an application. The more of these courses completed before application, the better your chances of admission for that particular year.

Certificate Courses

When to Take: CPR must be current at the time of program admission. If taking for the first time, do so in June/July just prior to starting the program in August.

*Students who already have CPR certification can use it for program entry and will simply renew it during the program by re-taking the appropriate course. CPR from other approved institutions will be accepted as long as they meet the following criteria:

• CPR courses must be approved by the American Heart Association.
• All courses submitted must be equal in the number of hours earned as compared to equivalent BC courses.

The Radiography Program is competency-based and uses as a guideline the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Curriculum Guide and the ARRT Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements.

Program Effectiveness Data

The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), defines and publishes this information.

Mission Statement:
The Radiography Program at Broward College seeks to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to practice as entry-level radiographers and to pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination. The program and faculty endeavor to prepare competent, genuine, compassionate, ethical, and culturally sensitive practitioners who possess soft skills and who are committed to professional development through life-long learning. Radiography exists as a technical education program to provide a vital human resource that can meet the health care needs of our community.

Program Philosophy:
The Radiographer is an accepted and valued member of the health care team who practices in a multicultural medical environment. The development of competent and compassionate radiographers requires a quality education founded on a well-rounded professional curriculum that includes cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning outcomes. In the development of radiography instruction, the varied nature of the student dictates that a multitude of learning styles will be present. We recognize that there will be such differences among learners.

Program Goals & Learning Outcomes

1. Students shall competently perform radiological procedures.
   • Students will apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, positioning, and radiographic techniques to accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on image receptors.
   • Evaluate radiographic images for appropriate positioning and image quality.
   • Apply the principles of radiation protection for the patient, self, and others in the clinical setting.
2. Students shall demonstrate critical thinking skills in the practice of radiography.
   • Demonstrate proper operation of radiographic equipment and accessories for different patient populations.
   • Recognize and respond to emergency situations.
3. Students shall demonstrate appropriate communication skills in the practice of radiography.
   • Students will demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills.
   • Students will demonstrate appropriate written communication skills.
4. Students shall demonstrate professionalism as active members of the healthcare team.
   • Students will demonstrate professional conduct in the clinical setting.
   • Students will demonstrate appropriate culturally sensitive care in the clinical setting
   • Students will demonstrate compassionate and genuine care in the clinical setting

Students entering the Radiography Program must meet certain standards of performance in order to progress in their course work and ultimately graduate. These standards include meeting cognitive, affective, and psychomotor demands associated with the profession. Students enrolled in the program should carefully review all of the performance standards as follows:

Data Collection Standards

• Tactile ability is sufficient for the collection and input of data such as the utilization of radiographic equipment and computer workstations.
• Auditory ability is sufficient to monitor and assess health care needs such as hearing monitor alarms, emergency signals, and verbal communication as to when a patient calls for assistance.
• Visual ability is sufficient for assessing and observing the patient and environment including near and far acuity, depth perception, visual fields, and color vision.

Communication Standards:

• Possess communication skills to interact effectively with others verbally, non-verbally, and in written form.
• Ability to express self verbally in a language that will be understood by a majority of patients with sensitivity to individual and cultural differences.
• Possess the ability to recognize, interpret, and respond to non-verbal cues from patients and clients.

Sensorimotor Standards:

• Gross and fine motor skills for adjustment of settings on equipment and to assist with positioning of patients safely.
• Standing and walking for extended periods of time and the physical ability to maneuver equipment.
• The motor skills of stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, and handling.
• Ability to perform medium work (defined as lifting 60 pounds maximum with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 30 pounds) as required to manually move medical equipment.
• Ability to walk with good balance, resist challenge while walking, and support a patient who may have poor balance/weakened musculature during gait.
• Independent mobility including transportation to/from campus and clinical education sites.
• Stamina to participate in physical activity over prolonged periods of time while positioning a patient and operating equipment.

Intellectual and Conceptual Standards:

• Ability to assimilate within a reasonable amount of time, large amounts of technical and detailed information from a variety of sources.
• Ability to identify cause-effect relationships in order to make judgments and set priorities in clinical situations.
• Recognize physiological changes in patient status and act appropriately.
• Ability to function during stressful situations, prioritize tasks, integrate information, and make decisions promptly.

Behavioral and Social Standards:

• Possess sufficient interpersonal skills to establish meaningful and effective rapport with patients, families, and colleagues from a variety of different social, economic, cultural, religious, and intellectual backgrounds.
• Ability to cope with a heavy workload and patient demands.
• Display adaptability and the ability to function effectively during periods of high stress.
• Accept responsibility for own behavior and engage in self-assessment activities to identify learning needs.

Ethical Standards:

• Exhibit respect for truth and a commitment to honesty in all didactic and clinical pursuits.
• Adhere to ethical and legal guidelines established by applicable national organizations and governmental agencies.
• Abide by all programs and institutional rules and regulations.
• Appreciate and respect patient/family confidentiality.

Clinical education is part of the Radiography Program, where students gain hands-on experience working with patients in a hospital setting. The Radiography Program affiliates with clinical sites located throughout Broward County. Clinical sites are hospitals with imaging departments staffed by Radiographers, also called Radiologic (or x-ray) Technologists. Students will practice on patients under the supervision of radiographers and radiologists, who are the physicians responsible for interpreting medical images.

Students are required to attend 3 different clinical sites during the course of their 22-month education. Each rotation will be for 2 consecutive terms. The first rotation is August-May, the second is May-December, and the final rotation is January-June. The Clinical Coordinator will assign students a clinical site at the onset of each rotation. Over the course of the program, students are required to spend at least one full rotation at a trauma site and one at a hospital with pediatrics. Some hospitals have both trauma and pediatrics, so such a rotation would satisfy the requirements for both.

Methods of Instruction and Clinical Sites

Methods of Instruction:

Clinical courses involve face-to-face activities designed to provide instruction and foster learning in the cognitive (i.e., mind-based), affective (i.e., value-based), and psychomotor (i.e., physical) domains. Activities primarily include demonstration, practice, and return demonstration on patients.

Clinical Sites:

Assignment of clinical sites will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to the number of students in the program, the number of available slots at each facility as approved by JRCERT, hospital affiliation agreements between the clinic and BC, and the type of sites that students have already been to. Students may not return to a clinical site for which they have completed 2 consecutive terms. The 3 clinical sites attended during the program cannot be within the same organization (i.e., you cannot exclusively do all of your rotations at hospitals within the Memorial Healthcare System or Broward Health or HCA). The Clinical Coordinator has the final authority to place students at clinical sites.

To help facilitate the assignment of clinical sites, students must choose a first, second, and third preference for each rotation using the Clinical Preference form. The Clinical Coordinator will attempt to place each student at one of their 3 preferences. However, the criteria above will dictate which sites the student must attend and there is no guarantee that a student can be placed at any particular site.

Note:

• Students cannot attend a clinical site as Radiography students if the facility in any capacity actively employs them.
• Students who re-enter the program may or may not be placed at a clinical site they attended previously. Students who re-enter will be placed at a site where there is a vacancy at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator.

Health Science Admissions
healthscience@broward.edu                                                                         

Health Science Advisor
Aaron Dean
adean1@broward.edu      

Program Manager
Liza Terron
lterron@broward.edu

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