Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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MRI-Specific Handbook

Program Description

See About the Profession and Our Program for complete descriptions of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging program.

Program-Specific Policies & Procedures

All Magnetic Resonance Imaging students will be required to sign the Student Responsibility Statement provided to each student.

Supervision of Students

Clinical Supervision of Students:

All MRI students must have adequate and proper supervision during all clinical assignments as specified by individual institutional, program, and accreditation policies. The following policies and procedures apply to clinical assignments for students, technologists/ therapists, and evaluators.

Supervision of MRI Students:

Students must have adequate and proper supervision during all clinical assignments, which would include direct supervision until specific competency is established, thus allowing the student to perform under indirect supervision. The following policies and procedures apply to clinical assignments for students, technologists, and evaluators:

Clinical Evaluation:

In a general sense, the duties and responsibilities for clinical evaluations in the MRI program are to:

• Evaluate students’ required clinical competencies and affective behavior in the clinical setting.
• Supervise imaging modalities students’ and determine the necessity of repeat procedures
• Provide direct supervision and assistance for all procedures until competency has been evaluated
• Complete appropriate evaluation form and return to the clinical instructor or program director
• Provide documentation of any unusual, positive, and/or negative incidents involving the student’s performance of clinical objectives or competencies that occurred during the assigned clinical rotation to the clinical instructor or program director
• Intervene when a critical error appears imminent and offer corrective instruction or demonstration before proceeding with the procedures.

Supervision of Students:

Students must have adequate and proper supervision during all clinical assignments, which would include direct supervision until specific competency is established, thus allowing the student to perform under indirect supervision. A staff technologist is responsible for determining the degree of student participation in diagnostic MRI procedures.

Direct supervision is defined as:

1. The staff technologist reviews the examination request to determine the capability of the student to perform the examination with reasonable success, and determines if the condition of the patient contraindicates performance of the exam by the student.
2. The staff technologist reviews the patient safety and screening forms with the student before allowing the patient entry to the MRI suite.
3. The staff technologist is physically present during the procedure.
4. The staff technologist checks the exam and approves the exam prior to the dismissal of the patient.

Indirect supervision is defined as:

1. The staff technologist is immediately available to assist students regardless of the level of student achievement.

• “Immediately available” is interpreted as the physical presence of a qualified MRI technologist adjacent to the room or location where an MRI procedure is being performed.

Clinical Performance Evaluations

1. The evaluation will assess the three domains of learning: cognitive (knowledge), affective (professional behaviors), and psychomotor (technical skills).
2. The student will receive a minimum of two evaluations before the midpoint of the clinical component of the program and a minimum of one per semester.
3. Clinical instructor and staff feedback will be used in the evaluation process.

MRI Safety Policy

The UNMC MRI Program is dedicated to providing safe clinical experiences for students. This policy serves to define safe MR practices for students and reflects current American College of Radiology MR Safety guidelines to assure that all students are appropriately screened for magnetic field or radiofrequency hazards.

Policy Statement

There are no known biological risks associated with magnetic field or radiofrequency exposure to students that work in close proximity to MRI systems. The static magnetic field of the MRI machine is always on requiring that Zones III and IV be secured at all times. Ferromagnetic objects carried into Zone IV can become projectiles that may cause severe injury, death, or equipment failure.

MRI machines generate strong magnetic fields and radiofrequencies in the areas within and surrounding the MRI scanner, therefore all individuals must be screened to ensure safety prior to entering Zones III or IV of the MR environment. MR students will be educated to maintain safety in the MR environment prior to beginning clinical rotation assignment.

Procedure

All students will be required to complete an MRI screening form prior to start of the program and again during program orientation. The Clinical Coordinator will review this form privately with each student. These forms are kept in the student’s private program file.

Throughout the duration of the program, if a student has a change in their medical history that would change their MR screening status, they are required to alert the Clinical Coordinator before participating in any clinical rotations. Students are also required to successfully complete MRI Safety Training for Level 1 personnel prior to clinical rotations. Upon successful completion of Level 1 training, students may enter Zone III and Zone IV unaccompanied. However, students may not grant any individual (i.e., patient, visitor, or non-MRI staff) access to Zone IV without a certified MRI Technologist present.

Students must comply with each clinical site’s policies and procedures on MR safety.

Any incident in which a student is responsible for a breach into Zone IV must be reported by completing a Safety Incident Report Form. The student is also responsible for notifying the Clinical Coordinator of the incident the same day the event occurs. Each incident will be reviewed with the student by the Clinical Coordinator. If a student continues to be responsible for unsafe MRI practices, disciplinary action may occur.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Student Pregnancy Policy

Applicable to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Students

The ACR Manual on MR Safety states that health care providers may continue to work in the MR environment throughout all stages of pregnancy. Acceptable activities include, but are not limited to, positioning patients, scanning, archiving, injecting contrast, and entering the MR system room in response to an emergency. Although permitted to work in and around the MR environment, pregnant health care practitioners are requested not to remain within the MR scanner bore or Zone IV during actual data acquisition or scanning. These recommendations are based on the preponderance of data on 3T magnetic fields. There is a scarcity of data available to date regarding human pregnancy exposures to 7T magnetic fields. The MRI student must ensure she follows currently accepted safety practices for health care providers in the MRI environment. (ACR Manual on MR Safety, 2020)

Students may voluntarily report suspected or confirmed pregnancy to the MRI Program Director in writing. The student will be advised that she may continue her educational program without modification. At the time of declaration to the program, the UNMC policies and procedures and the MRI Program specific policies and procedures will be reviewed with the student. Student who fails to disclose a pregnancy should know that the program cannot assist her in offering protection to her or her embryo/fetus.

Any student making a voluntary written declaration of pregnancy may withdraw their declaration of pregnancy at any time. Withdrawal must be done in writing to the MRI Program Director.  

All forms related to the student's voluntary declaration of pregnancy are kept in the secured student files.

Clinical Compliance

Accidents/Incidents:

As general policy, MITS students will comply with the policies and procedures with the clinical site at which they are assigned. It is the policy that there be written reports of all unusual incidents/accidents.

An incident is an unusual occurrence which is not consistent with the routine operation of the institution or clinical rotation which may or did cause harm, involves possible negligence, requires some immediate consideration or action by a supervisor.

A student enrolled in a program in the Division of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Science is expected to provide prompt, complete and accurate written documentation of the details related to any accidents/incidents, thus enabling corrective actions and/or programs for prevention. The program adheres to the Infection Control Policy for University Hospitals and Clinics. Students with signs and symptoms of an infectious process should report immediately to the program director for appropriate referral.

All accidents/incidents must immediately be reported to the technical supervisor or immediate person in charge. Proper report forms must be completed.

Equipment Use and Operation:

MRI departments employ the use of highly specialized equipment. Any equipment failure or equipment that is not in proper working order must be reported immediately to the technical supervisor. Do not place any calls to equipment representatives. Do not attempt to repair.

Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Plan for Students:

UNMC’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure policy will be followed.

Academic Probation

See CAHP academic probation policy.

Student Grievance

Purpose: The MRI program strives to promote an educational environment that values fair and equitable treatment among students, faculty, and staff. Despite this goal, differences among individuals may occasionally lead to conflicting circumstances that require a process for resolution to take place. The purpose of the Student Grievance Policy is to provide a framework to effectively resolve any justified complaint or grievance without retaliation.

Examples or Types of Grievances (but not limited to):

• Acts or threats of intimidation
• Acts or threats of physical aggression
• Acts of bias or unfair treatment by a fellow student, faculty or staff member which adversely effects the learning process
• Violation of student rights and responsibilities

Procedure:

1. Informal Process - Ideally, grievances can be resolved informally among the parties involved. Therefore, before a formal grievance process takes place, the student is encouraged to meet with the individual whose behavior warranted the grievance. If this action is not feasible, the student should contact the program director for possible resolution. A final option for informal resolution is to utilize an Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson identified for students on the UNMC campus is located in the Student Counseling Department. The informal meeting must take place within two weeks of the occurrence that caused the grievance.
2. Formal Process- If the student is not satisfied with the results of the informal process, or an informal resolution is not possible then he/she should initiate the formal process within 30 days of the occurrence.
   1. A formal statement of the grievance must be presented in writing to the Department Chair within the timeframe specified. (If the Chair is the individual involved, then the formal statement should be submitted to the Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions). The formal statement must include the following items: A) Full name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) making the charge; B) Full name of each person being charged, location of employment, and work telephone number; C) A concise and factual description of the specific incident(s) surrounding the grievance violation (the description should include a timeline of events); D) A proposed resolution
   2. The Chair (Dean, if applicable) will review the facts surrounding the grievance. If there is justified evidence that a grievance exists, then the grievance will be forwarded to the Faculty-Student Appeals (Grievance) Committee.
   3. Within two weeks after receiving the alleged grievance, the committee members will review the statement, convene to discuss the issues at hand, hear testimony, and consider all other facts pertaining to the grievance.
   4. Both parties will have the right to present testimony, evidence, and witnesses. Each party shall have the right to seek legal counsel in the preparation of statements concerning the grievance; however, they may not be represented by counsel in discussions with the committee. Each party shall have the right to hear all testimony surrounding the grievance. The hearing will be closed to the public.
   5. In all proceedings where the complaint touches upon questions of policies, rules and regulations, the Faculty-Student Appeals (Grievance) Committee shall be guided by written policies, rules and regulations. The committee will make a decision on the grievance charge after reviewing all facts, testimony, and documentation. The committee’s decision or resolution will be made within two weeks following the hearing. Both parties involved will be notified of the decision in writing. A summary record of the proceedings will be maintained in a confidential file.

The student may appeal the decision of the Faculty-Student Appeals (Grievance) Committee, to the Office of the Dean. The Dean will review all documents surrounding the grievance, and make a decision within two weeks of receiving the appeal. Both parties involved will be notified of the decision in writing. The decision by the Dean will be final.

Dress Code Policy

MRI Dress Code Policy: All students will dress in a professional manner, appropriate for the situation and according to the following guidelines.

Attire

1. All MRI students will wear Bahama Blue scrubs with or without a Bahama Blue lab jacket for both class (online and classroom) and clinic.
2. The uniform top will have the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine logo on upper left chest. All uniforms should be purchased online here.
3. A solid white or gray shirt may be worn under the scrub top and must be tucked into the scrub pant.
4. Pant hemlines should not touch or drag on the ground.

Accessories & Tattoos

1. Proper UNMC photo ID and personnel monitoring devices must be worn at all times. The ID must be visible at all times to identify student status.
2. Simple jewelry may be worn with the uniform, i.e., small earrings, wedding rings, and watches.
   1. Earrings must be small and not touching the neck.
3. Single and/or discreet piercings of the ears, nose, lip, tongue and eyebrow are permitted.
   1. Examples of piercings not permissible may include but are not limited to large or multiple loops in the eyebrows, lip or nose, visible transdermal implants, or piercings on other areas of the face.
   2. Ear gauges must be plugged with flesh colored plugs while in clinic.
4. Bandanas are not permitted.
5. All visible tattoos on the face or neck must be covered (except permanent makeup).
6. All visible tattoo designs that the average person would find offensive, including but not limited to hateful, violent, profane and/or nudity, must be completely covered.

Students are held responsible for their appearance and will be dismissed from clinic if inappropriately attired or groomed, per discretion of their clinical site. Should a clinical site have different policies, the student must adhere to those during the rotation. If a student is sent home from clinic due to a dress code violation, the amount of time missed from clinic will be deducted from the student comp time allotment.

Use of Technology

1. Personal phone calls during clinic hours must be kept to a minimum.
2. Personal technology may not be used during class or clinic unless for educational purposes as approved by class or clinical instructors.
3. Only department computers may be used for documenting clock in and clock out procedures via Trajecsys. Personal technology may not be used for this function.

Student Leave Time

Compensation Time

Students enrolled in the MRI program are given 24 hours of compensation time for personal affairs each semester. It is intended to provide necessary time for planned or unplanned events without jeopardizing the student’s attendance record. Regarding the use of student leave time, the following guidelines must be followed:

1. Students taking more than the allotted number of hours will be required to make up the time according to the discretion of the program director.
2. Unauthorized absenteeism may result in disciplinary actions.
3. A student may be required to furnish satisfactory medical proof of illness, disability or dental work.
4. It is recommended that suspected and confirmed pregnancy be reported to the program director. Time lost due to pregnancy must be made up according to the decision of the program director based on the Radiation Protection and Pregnancy Policies contained in this document.
5. Full time students may request up to 5 days of funeral/bereavement leave in the event of a death of an immediate family member. Documentation may need to be provided upon request.

Provision of compensation time is intended to ensure fair, uniform, and impartial treatment for all students. Students may voluntarily choose to spend additional authorized time participating in clinic procedures over and above their scheduled hours as long as the student continues to perform in the student capacity, including direct supervision and holding only student clinical responsibilities.

The MRI program supports participation in professional organizations relevant to the student’s professional growth and development. Therefore, students may qualify for additional compensation time for documented attendance and involvement in these activities. See program director for more information.

Student Employment Guidelines

1. Students may not take the place of regular staff in the clinical areas to which they are assigned. It is appropriate, however, for students to assume the responsibility for performing defined activities and tasks, with adequate direction and supervision, after demonstration of clinical competencies.
2. Students may be employed in a clinical setting outside regular educational hours; however, students may not obtain any clinical competencies or clinical sign-offs while acting as an employee.

Personal Property

UNMC and all clinical affiliate sites are not responsible for students' valuable possessions. All valuables and money should be monitored closely by each individual.

Inclement Weather Policy

UNMC, as a health sciences center, has a number of activities that must be kept operational regardless of weather conditions. The entire UNMC campus will be considered open and operational, even when other University of Nebraska campuses and area businesses may be closed. See the CAHP Inclement Weather Policy. Detailed information about missed clinical and class time can be found in the MRI Handbook.