RADIATION THERAPY STUDENT HANDBOOK NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1
MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM The Radiation Therapy Program is a component of the Allied Health Sciences department at Nassau Community College. It is dedicated to providing low cost, high quality education to prepare graduates for positions as entry level radiation therapists who possess the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver prescribed treatments safely and competently. In fulfillment of this mission, the program strives: To provide an environment which facilitates academic and clinical excellence To provide educational activities which support optimal technical, communication and patient care skills To enhance students problem solving and critical thinking abilities To integrate into the program general education and professional courses so as to provide a basis for life-long learning To provide an ethical framework for practice within the discipline PROGRAM GOALS 1. To maintain an average course completion rate of 75% over five years. 2. To insure that graduates earn their Associates in Applied Science Degree with three years of entry into the program. 3. To insure that the average pass rate on the Registry is 75% or better over five years. 4. To maintain a job placement rate of 75% within six months of graduation averaged over five years. 2
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS I. ATTENDANCE A. Attendance policy is set by individual instructors in the Radiation Therapy program. B. Punctuality is essential so as not to inconvenience instructors and classmates. II. GRADES A. Grading policy will be explained at the beginning of each course. B. Failure to obtain a minimum "C" grade in any Radiation Therapy course or AHS 101 will result in dismissal from the program. C. Failure to obtain a minimum "C" grade in Anatomy and Physiology (AHS 131 & 132) will necessitate repeating the course. If a passing grade is not obtained in both courses before the commencement of the Fall semester of the second year, the student will be dismissed. D. Unless otherwise stated by individual instructors of Radiation Therapy courses make-up examinations will be given for missed major examinations and 10 points will be deducted from the grade obtained. III. READMISSION A. Students dismissed from the Radiation Therapy program who feel the dismissal was unwarranted, have access to the normal grievance procedure as outlined in the Nassau Community College Catalogue. B. First year students who are dismissed due to failure in one didactic course may apply to the program following the procedure for new candidates. It is expected that appropriate remedial work will have been done in the intervening year. C. Second year students who are dismissed due to failure in one didactic course may petition the Advisory Committee for readmission in the following academic year. It is expected that appropriate remedial work will have been done in the intervening year. 3
D. Students who fail more than one didactic course, or who fail a clinical course, will not be considered for readmission. E. No student may be readmitted more than once. IV. CLINICAL EDUCATIONAL HOURS Students enrolled in the Radiation Therapy Program complete approximately 2200 hours of supervised clinical education before graduation. A. Assignment to Affiliating Hospitals NO STUDENT WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE CLINICAL SETTING WITHOUT A COMPLETED HEALTH FORM. (Copies must be kept by the student). 1. Each student will be assigned to four clinical affiliates during the twenty-four month program. a. The student will be assigned to at least two clinical facilities for the first year (fall, spring and summer sessions). b. The student will be assigned to at least two clinical facilities in the second year (fall, spring and summer sessions). c. Assignments are based on educational objectives and will not be revised for reasons of geographic proximity, or personal convenience. B. Assignment of First Year Students 1. First-year students are required to attend Clinical Orientation on campus and to meet specifically stated objectives before they are allowed to enter the clinical area. Failure to meet objectives will result in dismissal. 2. Upon successful completion of the ORIENTATION, the students will be assigned to their clinical facility on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the remainder of the first and second semesters. 3. The students will be assigned to their clinical facility for a period of no longer than three weeks during intersession. 4. The students will be assigned to their clinical facility for the thirteen weeks, five days a week, during the summer session. 4
5. The students will be allowed a one week vacation during the summer session if no time is owed. 6. Vacation time must be taken in a one week block, not as individual days. C. Assignment of Second Year Students 1. Second-Year students are assigned to a clinical facility on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the Fall and Spring semesters. 2. Students will be assigned to the clinical facility for a period no longer than two weeks during intersession. 3. Students will be assigned to the clinical facility for thirteen weeks, five days a week, during the summer session. 4. Students will be allowed a two week vacation during the summer session provided that no time is owed. Vacation time must be taken in a one week block, not as individual days. 5. Students will be allowed one day for job hunting during the summer session. 6. Students will be assigned to one clinical facility from September to February and another clinical facility from March to August. V. CLINICAL ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY The presence of students in the clinical facility must in no way alter the routine work schedule of the department or inconvenience the patients or staff. Therefore, dependability and punctuality are essential. A. Attendance 1. Students will receive a calendar indicating their clinical schedule. Students can be present in the clinic only on assigned days and hours. 2. Students are responsible for signing in at the time of arrival at the clinic. Failure to do so may result in students' not being credited with the time spent in the department. 3. Students are responsible for signing out at the end of the day, and must have time verified by the Student Supervisor. 4. No student will be allowed to have clinical assignments on hospital holidays, weekends, evenings or nights. 5
5. Students are not allowed to earn more than forty hours of clinical time in one week. 6. Only full eight-hour days are given credit - no partial days are allowed. B. Absence 1. In case of absence due to illness, students must notify the Clinical Supervisor by phone within the first half hour of the clinic's working day. 2. Clinic absence must be reported to program faculty the following day on campus. 3. An excess of three days' absence in any one semester will be sufficient reason to have students' participation in the therapy program reviewed for possible probation. 4. No student will absent himself/herself from his/her clinical schedule for the purposes of studying for examinations. 5. Time missed due to inclement weather must be made up. 6. Days out must be logged on the appropriate form. C. Punctuality 1. Each student is required to enter the clinical area at the assigned time. 2. Each student is required to report immediately to his/ her assigned area. 3. Students who enter the clinic late may be sent home at the discretion of the Clinical Supervisor. 4. Students may not work through lunch hours in order to leave clinic early, except in extraordinary circumstances. This must be approved by Student Supervisor and Program Faculty. 5. A student who fails to return on time from break or lunch hour may be sent home at the discretion of the Clinical Supervisor and not be credited with time for that day. 6
VI. MAKE-UP TIME The fulfillment of clinical hours is the student's responsibility. Failure to complete the required hours within a twenty-four month period may result in failure to graduate. Therefore, the student is required to make up promptly any days missed in the clinic. A. Make-Up Days at First Available Time 1. Any necessary absence from the clinic will be made up at the first available time with the approval of the Clinical Supervisor. 2. Any time owed at the end of the first semester must be made up during intersession before the start of the Spring Semester. 3. Any time owed prior to the spring vacation must be made up during that vacation. 4. Any time owed at the end of the Second Semester must be made up before starting the Summer Session in June. 5. Any time owed during the Summer Session must be made up during the one week allotted for summer vacation. B. Time Owed at End of Summer 1. Any time owed by a second-year student at the end of the Summer Session will necessitate the extension of his/her training and may result in a delay in the date of graduation. C. Scheduling of Make-Up Time 1. Each student must schedule make-up days in advance with the Clinical Supervisor. 2. Make-up days cannot be scheduled on hospital holidays, weekends, evenings or nights. 3. The student is required to honor his/her commitment to appear on the scheduled make-up day. 4. Make-up days will be no more or no less than eight hours. D. Accruing Extra Time 1. Students may not accrue more than five (5) days extra time except in extraordinary circumstances approved by the Program Director. 7
VII. DRESS Students are required to wear the prescribed uniform while in the clinical facility and to maintain a professional appearance. A. Prescribed Uniform for Female Students 1. A female student must wear either a white uniform dress of reasonable length or white uniform pants and top. White athletic type shoes or uniform shoes must be worn. No white jeans are permitted. A white or blue 3 button knit shirt with a collar is acceptable. B. Prescribed Uniform for Male Students 1. A male student must wear a white uniform top. Pants must be a white uniform type. No white jeans. (A white or blue 3 button knit shirt with a collar may be substituted for the uniform top). 2. White shoes and socks are required. C. Required Accessories 1. A name tag that includes the name of the school must be worn. It must contain the word "Student". 2. Radiation badges will be worn at belt level or on the right pocket below the waist. D. Professional Appearance 1. Uniforms and shoes must be clean, and in good repair. 2. Sweaters, if worn, must be white or blue. 3. Long hair must be pulled back in a neat fashion. 4. Beards and mustaches must be neatly trimmed. 5. Excessive jewelry and excessive use of cosmetics and bizarre clothing are inappropriate. 6. Long fingernails pose a health and hygiene hazard and are not permitted in the clinical setting. 7. Careful attention must be paid to personal hygiene when attending clinic. E. Failure to Dress Properly A student who reports to the clinic out of uniform will be sent home by the Clinical Supervisor or program faculty. No clinic hours will be credited. 8
VII. PROBATION Students who violate a policy as stated in the Nassau Community College catalogue or the Student Handbook will be placed on probation. The reason for probationary status and the terms and duration of probation will be given in writing to the student and a copy retained in the student s file. Failure to satisfy the terms of probation will result in appropriate disciplinary action, including the possibility of dismissal from the program. IX. PREGNANCY POLICY It is strongly recommended that all pregnancies or suspected pregnancies be reported to the Program Director. If the student decides voluntarily to declare the pregnancy, she must do so in writing. Only if this is done can program officials assist in limiting the dose to the fetus in the workplace. The student who has declared her pregnancy will be counseled by a Radiation Safety Officer and the appropriate NCRP guidelines for the declared pregnant worker will be reviewed. The student who has declared her pregnancy may continue in the Radiation Therapy program if she chooses. If the student does not wish to continue in the program while pregnant, she may withdraw and be reactivated within two years following the conclusion of the pregnancy. X. INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY A. Students Exposed to infectious Disease: 1. Must report the exposure to the Clinical Supervisor and the program director 2. If disease-specific immunity cannot be demonstrated by laboratory studies, the student must absent himself for the incubation period. 3. If the condition becomes clinically evident, the student may not return to the program until written medical clearance is obtained. B. Students Who have, or Suspect they have, Infectious Disease: 1. Students who suspect they have potentially infectious condition must attend their physician for a diagnosis before returning to the program. 9
2. The absence must be reported to the program director. 3. The student may not return to the program until written medical clearance is obtained. Failure to observe the above policy can result in grave threat to patients, classmates and staff and is grounds for DISMISSAL. XI. GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT AND SAFETY Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. A. Conduct 1. Students are expected to observe the guidelines set forth in the directives issued by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Radiologic Technology. 2. Students must abide by the standard rules and regulations of the hospital and clinical facility. 3. Students will address the staff and patients by their proper title and last name. 4. Use of insulting, threatening or abusive language or gestures to staff, patients or fellow students will be considered grounds for probation or dismissal. 5. Smoking, eating and drinking are permitted in designated areas only. 6. Personal conversation and discussions are inappropriate and should be limited to off duty hours. 7. Personal relationships with staff and patients are not appropriate. 8. Grievances and personal dislikes should be aired in private and with the appropriate persons. 9. The NCC Student Code of Conduct as set forth in the college catalogue applies to the behavior of students in clinical courses. It is the students responsibility to familiarize themselves with these rules and regulations. B. Safety 1. Students are required to acquaint themselves with the routine radiation and electrical safety rules. 10
2. Accidents involving students or patients will be reported immediately to the Program Director. 3. Film badges will be worn at all times while in the clinical facility 4. Gross and willful negligence in the use of radiation of the handling of radioactive substances, which endangers the health of the student or patient, will result in immediate dismissal. C. Direct Supervision of Students According to the directives of the New York State Department of Health, students in Radiation Therapy programs must be under the direct supervision of a licensed therapist until such time as the student graduates and obtains a temporary license. A qualified radiation therapist must review the procedure, evaluate the condition of the patient, be present during the conduct of the procedure and review and approve the procedure. Students may perform any and all aspect of the patient set-up consistent with their level of achievement under such direct supervision. Under no circumstances will students perform unsupervised, patient related tasks. If any condition exists which constrains direct supervision, the student is obligated to report it to the Clinical Supervisor and to program faculty. XII. CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY The Radiation Therapy Technology program at Nassau Community College is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Students who have graduated from the program are eligible to apply for the examination given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology and also to apply for New York State Licensure. Any entering student who was ever convicted of a crime, or who received other than an honorable discharge from the Armed Services is strongly urged to contact the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the New York State Department of Health to determine if he/she is eligible for certification and licensure upon completion of the program. 11
XIII. GRIEVANCE POLICY The procedure for grieving grades in any of the academic or clinical courses in the Radiation Therapy technology program is detailed in the College Catalogue. To grieve decisions regarding status in the program other than grades the procedure is as follows: 1. The student will schedule an appointment with the Program Director within (2) two weeks of the disputed decision. 2. If the issue is not resolved, the student will petition, in writing, for a hearing by the Advisory Committee. This hearing will be held within one month of the receipt of the petition. 3. The decision of the advisory Committee will be considered final and will be communicated to the student within one week of the hearing. 4. Students who feel their rights under Public Health Law of the State of New York have been violated, or who feel that the published Standards of the Joint Review Committee on Education have not been met, should contact the appropriate agency to report the perceived violation and to obtain advice. Failure of a student to observe the regulations in this handbook may result in the lowering of the clinical grade, a letter being placed in the student's file, probation, and/or dismissal from the program. 12
Appendix I I have read and understood the material contained in the Student Clinical Handbook, and agree to abide by the rules of the Radiation Therapy Technology Program. PRINT NAME SIGNATURE 13