Technical Standards of Admission

Technical Standards are established to acknowledge the essential functional requirements necessary for enrolled students to acquire the knowledge, skills, competencies and values of an entry level radiologic technologist.  The technical standards of admission are not a complete listing of behaviors required but are a sampling of the types of abilities needed to meet program objectives and requirements.  

The following essential functions must be met by all students after acceptance into the major in order to complete the program.  In the event that a student is unable, or becomes unable to fulfill these technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations, the student cannot enroll or remain enrolled in the program.  For students who believe they can meet these standards with accommodation, the KSU Salem Student Disabilities Coordinator will validate their need for accommodation and will work with the program to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made. This accommodation will take into account whether accommodation would jeopardize technologist/patient safety or undercut an essential element of a course or clinical experience.

Radiologic Technology students must demonstrate:    

1. Sufficient communication skills to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, health care professionals and the public, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds and in stressful and emergency situations.  Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.  Must be able to document patient information legibly & accurately
2. Sufficient sight to read requisitions & charts, observe conditions of the patient in low levels of light; to evaluate medical images on view boxes and on computer screens and to record information clearly and accurately.  
3. Sufficient hearing to interact with and respond to patients as well as to the audible sounds of equipment.
4. Ability to stand and walk while assigned to a clinical education setting so as to perform medical imaging procedures in an appropriate and effective manner.
5. Ability to lift, assist and maneuver patients in wheelchairs, carts and imaging tables without injury to patient, self or other healthcare workers and to respond to medical emergencies in an effective manner.  Have sufficient motor skills to manipulate and reach equipment and to operate small controls. Must be able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds to shoulder height. Perform CPR, first aid & general patient care.
6. Ability to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and timely solve problems found in medical imaging and be able to distinguish deviations from the norm. 
7. Have the intellectual and emotional skills to exercise discretion in handling confidential medical information.     
8.  Have the cognitive ability to properly perceive and deal with environmental threats and stresses and continue to function safely and effectively during high stress periods.
9. Able to protect oneself and others from hazards in the health care environment, such as infectious disease, contaminated equipment, sharp instruments, chemical fumes, magnetic fields and radiation.