Counseling in radiologic technology programs.

Rarely do radiologic technology programs have adequate faculty to provide full-time counselors for the student's personal, professional, and academic problems. The problems of using educational or administrative personnel as part-time couselors are discussed and the utilization of interested staff technologists in the role of student counselor is recommended.     

Increasing diversity in radiologic technology

Diversity is increasingly important in the radiologic technology workplace. For significant changes to occur in work force diversity, educators must first recruit and retain students from a wide variety of backgrounds. This article examines personality, race and gender as factors affecting career choice and how educators can use these factors to increase diversity in their programs. An overview of the ASRT's efforts to improve diversity within the profession is presented, along with suggestions for developing effective recruitment and retention plans to increase diversity.     

Trends in radiologic technology education.

Allied health person-power education has for the past ten years shifted significantly from the hospital to college-based degree programs. Academically strong co-sponsored (college-hospital) programs offer considerable advantage for the health professional. Radiologic technology education generally has not kept pace with this trend. The need in radiologic technology education is not for additional training programs, but for better ones, and for continuing education for in-service personnel. Radiologic technologists should challenge their local institutions of higher education to provide for their needs and aspirations.     

Using qualitative research in radiologic technology.

Qualitative research is an underused methodology in radiologic technology that has valid applications for patient care, professional practice and education. This article discusses uses of qualitative methodology in the health professions and describes specific applications for the radiologic sciences.     

Technical writing in the radiologic technology curriculum

Although courses in technical writing are no longer suggested in the Curriculum Guide for Programs in Radiologic Technology, the writer believes that writing is essential to the growth of the profession and development of the professional. Emphasis is placed on some of the benefits that accrue to students who are exposed to technical writing as part of their technology curriculum.     

Education in radiologic technology: an analysis

One of the most important goals for the radiologic technology profession is to base its educational programs on evaluation of competence, therby assuring the employers, consumers, government agencies and other professionals that the profession is striving for quality performance by its graduates. The profession of radiologic technology is in a period of changes as Virginia A. Milligan so adequately described in her Jerman Memorial Lecture, "The Anatomy of Change". To achieve cohesiveness and accomplishment of goals, this change must be recognized and accepted, otherwise, fragmentation will result and destruction of the profession will occur from within.     

Identification of stressors in radiologic technology.

Much is written about stress in the workplace, but until the causes of stress are identified, little can be done to address the problem. This article reports results of a survey of 198 randomly selected radiologic technologists who were asked to assess the relative stressfulness of 35 stressors. Disrespectful physicians, inadequate pay, unnecessary exams and lack of staff topped the list.     

Professional profile of radiologic technology educators

OBJECTIVE: Full-time radiologic technology educators (n = 565) were surveyed to determine their demographic characteristics and professional profile. RESULTS: Overall, the majority of radiologic technology educators surveyed were women between the ages of 40 and 59, had a bachelor's or master's degree, were certified in radiography and reported annual incomes from 40,001 dollars to 60,000 dollars. Most educators spent between 1 hour and 8 hours per week on classroom instruction/laboratory and in the clinical setting. Additionally, hospital or community college programs employed the majority of educators. Demographic characteristics of radiologic technology educators varied according to the type of institution in which they were employed and by education level. CONCLUSION: Study findings show a potential loss of qualified educators in the near future and the need for increased efforts to prepare and recruit radiologic technologists into the education career path.     

Market-based strategic planning for radiologic technology

Recent efforts by the federal government (eg, the initiation of a prospective payment system for inpatient Medicare patients) suggest a potentially significant change in health care policy. In response, health care institutions are actively engaging in the development of long-range strategic plans that will enable them to survive in a changing environment. This article explains how radiologic technology can use the process of market-based planning to help the profession now and in the future.     

A review of academic tenure in radiologic technology

The concept of academic tenure is reviewed, with special interest to the radiologic technology educator. Both the community college and university tenure systems are discussed. Recommendations for further research and future policy are also presented.     

A look at radiologic technology education.

Radiologic technology education has been progressing for the last 80 years; however, we have seemingly reached a plateau. Educators in the profession believe there is need for a change in direction due to demands of the manpower market and outside agencies. The direction radiologic technology educators should follow has been questioned, but no definite answer has resulted. With these thoughts in mind, a decision was made at the Duke University Medical Center to survey the nation and collect data to aid its particular problem, as well as to lend educational direction.