Prerequisite Requirements to Admission:

1. The applicant must be a high school graduate or the equivalent.

2. The applicant must have attained the age of 18 years prior to the start of the Program.

3. The applicant must have a minimum of 35 hours of college credit. Credit hours may be taken at any college or university. Regional West School of Radiologic Technology has established the following as prerequisites of college credit prior to entering the Program:

English Composition	6 hours
College Algebra or higher math class	3 hours
Statistics	3 hours
Anatomy & Physiology	3-4 hours
Chemistry with a lab	3-4 hours
Physics	3-4 hours
Communications	3 hours
Humanities/Social Sciences	6 hours
Medical Terminology	2 hours
Elective (suggest A&P II, computer science or Advanced mathematics, science course)	3 hours
	Total: 35-38 hours

 

The student must demonstrate at least a grade of "C" for each prerequisite course to be accepted by the Program.

4. The applicant must complete and return the application form to the Program by the first business day of February.

5. There is no application fee. Other items that must be submitted are:

• Official high school transcripts

• College transcripts (The student must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 to be considered for a position)

• Observation form including questions

• Reference forms are used in the selection process to identify areas of concern or in the occasion of a tie. Since the reference forms are confidential, they will be destroyed after the selection of students.

• Electronic reference forms will be sent to references by the Program. The applicant must provide the reference’s email address at the time of submitting the application. The link to the reference form will be sent to the exact email address submitted on the application form

All submissions necessary for application to the Program must be postmarked no later than February 20th and sent to:

                                 Regional West Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology
                                 4021 Ave B
                                 Scottsbluff NE 69361

6. In order to participate in this Program and to be an effective radiographer, students must be able to meet specific technical standards. These standards include certain communication, physical, sensory, mental and behavioral requirements to ensure the safe performance of radiologic procedures.

Sensory Requirements:

Perception of the patient and surrounding environment is necessary to perform competent health assessments and interventions. Operation of equipment requires functional use of vision, hearing, tactile and olfactory senses. Examples of these requirements include but not limited to, are:

• Sufficient vision and hearing to monitor condition of the patient during the radiographic procedure; ability to distinguish typical from non-typical sounds created by the operating radiographic equipment. 
• Vision sufficient to allow accommodation between brightly lit and dimly lit environments.
• Sufficient vision to discriminate between gray-scale tones and image brightness associated with the radiographic image and video display monitors.
• Sufficient sight to read printed and computer text; observe the patient's condition from a distance; and manipulate equipment and accessories.
• Ability to detect changes in environmental odors and temperatures.

Communication Requirements:

The applicant must have the ability to use multiple communication techniques (verbal, written, nonverbal, group processes, and information technology) that enable effective communication with others. Examples of these requirements include but not limited to, are:

• Speech sufficient to be understood by others; ability to understand the communication of others; understand and assess non-verbal communications.
• Ability to communicate proficiently in the English language (read, write, and speak) in order to relate with patients, patients’ families, and staff.
• Ability to accurately collect and document appropriate information and to report this information to members of the health care team.
• Able to communicate with sensitivity as well as teach, explain, direct and counsel patients.

Psychomotor Requirements:

The applicant must possess gross and fine motor functions necessary to perform patient assessment and diagnostic interventions. Such interventions require coordination of the gross and fine muscular movements, stamina, and equilibrium. Examples of these requirements include but not limited to, are:

• Ability to maintain physical demands that require a full range of body motion including walking, raising arms above head, and hand-eye coordination; sufficient gross and fine motor skills necessary to perform patient care and equipment adjustment.
• The ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time, up to eight hours per day.
• Possess sufficient muscle strength, low back and knee stability to lift and carry grids, image receptor, positioning devices; wear lead aprons and other shielding devices needed in performing a radiographic procedure.
• Ability to assist patients including transport via wheelchair, gurney, or bed, and transfers to and from wheelchair, gurney, or patient bed to a procedure table and back.
• Ability to hold and use a writing instrument and operate a computer keyboard for recording patient history or pertinent information.
• Ability to move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of x-ray equipment (including the physical transportation of mobile x-ray machines) in order to arrange and align the equipment with respect to the patient and the image receptor according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy.
• Ability to physically place patients in proper positions for the examination according to established procedures and standards for speed and accuracy.

Intellectual- Conceptual, Integrative and Qualitative Requirements:

The applicant has sufficient psychological stability to be able to respond appropriately and efficiently in emergent situations. Examples of these requirements include but are not limited to:

• Ability to calculate and select proper technical exposure factors according to the individual needs of the patients and the requirements of the procedure's standard for speed and accuracy and to ensure care and safety to the patient.
• Ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, problem solve and use critical thinking skills to find practical solutions for didactic or clinical situations.
• The ability to comprehend three-dimensional structures and understand the spatial relationships of these structures.
• Ability to understand complex problems and to collaborate and explore alternative solutions.

Behavioral and Social Attributes:

The applicant must possess the emotional health required for the full use of one's intellectual ability, the demonstration of good judgment, the prompt and sage completion of all responsibilities; and the development of mature and effective relationships in interacting with patients. Examples of these requirements include but not limited to, are:

• Exhibit social skills necessary to interact effectively with those of the same or a different culture with respect, politeness, and discretion.
• Possesses the emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual abilities and support of the patient during radiographic procedures.
• Able to tolerate physical and mental workloads, function effectively under stress,adapt to changing environments and conditions, display flexibility and function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical setting and with patients.
• Possess moral reasoning and ethical behavior appropriate for a health care professional.

The applicant will need to be able to perform each of these tasks in a reasonably independent manner with or without accommodation. The applicant must acknowledge that he or she is capable of meeting the technical standards listed or that the applicant needs an accommodation. If an accommodation is necessary because of a disability, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide documentation of the medical need and to request the specific accommodation in writing from a licensed independent practitioner.

The program will endeavor to satisfy requests for reasonable accommodations however, the program cannot guarantee an accommodation. The program director will consult with hospital administration to determine whether the Medical Center can meet the applicant’s need. Determination of a reasonable accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and is an interactive collaboration with the Medical Center, the applicant, the Educational Advisory Committee, and the program director when indicated. Students with disabilities will adhere to the same admission, progression, dismissal and readmission policies as all students.

8. Applicants must tour Regional West’s Imaging Services department. It is necessary to complete Regional West’s Confidentiality Agreement form prior to that tour. Contact a program official to complete the form. This tour may be done in conjunction with the interview for applicants.

9. All applicants are required to observe radiographic procedures for at least four hours within a radiology department and submit a completed observation form. Applicants completing observation at Regional West must complete Regional West’s Confidentiality Agreement form.

10. It is required that those accepted into the program be in good physical and mental health. Candidates accepted into the program must complete an enrollment assessment. Regional West's Occupational Health department will provide this assessment free of charge to the student. The assessment will include:

• A drug and alcohol test.
• Assessment of blood pressure, weight and height.
• Blood draw for required tests (cholesterol, glucose, Rubeola, Rubella, Mumps, Varicella, Hepatitis B antibody) and PPD or chest x-ray.
• General health history.
• Latex exposure history.

11. Candidates accepted into the program must complete all pre-requisite coursework with at least a C grade and pre-admission paperwork prior to the beginning of classes.

12. To be accepted into the program a student must pass the pre-enrollment drug and alcohol testing and background checks for Regional West Medical Center and Banner Health.

Students accepted in the program shall be responsible for tuition payments, professional membership fees, their own room and board, the purchase of books, uniforms and their own health care.

A radiologic technologist may be exposed to electrical and radiant energy hazards. A radiologic technologist may be exposed to infectious diseases when imaging infectious patients. Students shall be instructed in proper procedures to reduce the chance of being affected by these hazards.

Advanced placement of a student may occur when the student is transferring from another radiographer program. The Educational Advisory Committee will determine whether a student qualifies for advanced placement.