Revised 06/2021

DMS 231 - Clinical Education I / Coordinated Internship III (3 CR.)

Course Description

Develops the students’ ultrasonic skills in a diagnostic environment; may include on-campus labs, private office settings, as well as hospital rotations. May include experiences in abdominal, pelvic, obstetrical, and small parts scanning, as well as echocardiography and vascular sonography. Laboratory 15 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to allow the student to continue rotational clinical training in sonography. The student will begin to refine advanced clinical skills and function with indirect supervision in the hospital setting. The student will complete sonography examinations.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

The student must satisfactorily complete all previous sonography courses with a grade of "C" or better.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Utilize oral and written communication.
  • Maintain clinical records.
  • Interact with the interpreting physician with oral or written summary of findings as permitted by clinical affiliate.
  • Recognize significant clinical information and historical facts from the patient and the medical records, which may impact on the diagnostic examination.
  • Comprehend and employ appropriate medical terminology, abbreviations, symbols, terms, and phrases.
  • Provide basic patient care and comfort.
  • Maintain infection control and utilize universal precautions.
  • Anticipate and be able to respond to the needs of the patient.
  • Identify life-threatening situations and implement emergency care as permitted by clinical affiliate.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human gross and sectional anatomy.
  • Evaluate anatomic structures in the region of interest.
  • Recognize the sonographic appearance of normal tissue structures.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology.
  • Obtain and evaluate pertinent patient history and physical findings.
  • Extend standard diagnostic testing protocol as required by patient history or initial findings.
  • Select the appropriate technique(s) for examination(s) being performed.
  • Adjust instrument controls to optimize image quality.
  • Perform linear, area, circumference, and other related measurements from sonographic images or data.
  • Recognize and compensate for acoustical artifacts.
  • Utilize hard-copy devices to obtain pertinent documentation of examination findings.
  • Minimize patient exposure to acoustical energy.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the interaction between ultrasound and tissue and the probability of biological effects in clinical examinations.
  • Employ professional judgment and discretion.
  • Protect the patient's right to privacy.
  • Maintain confidentiality

Major Topics to Be Included

Continued discussion of the following topics as they relate to clinical education:

  • Communication Skills
  • Patient Care Skills
  • Instrumentation
  • Normal Anatomy
  • Abnormal Anatomy
  • Clinical Competency Objectives