Module Objective: To enable students to safely and appropriately make referrals for radiological procedures within his/her scope of practice.

 

Module Content: The indicative content of this module will include:
Professional accountability and responsibility and the associated legal and ethical aspects encompassing the Professional responsibilities of the nurse referrer when requesting an x-ray for adults/children; the roles and responsibilities of each of the groups involved in the use of ionising radiation; and legislation, guidelines, codes of practice and local rules.

Ionising radiation and protection; the nature of radiation and its biological effects; the relative dangers of radiation; the three principles of justification, optimisation and diagnostic reference levels.

Principles of the referral process for radiological procedures; the current guidelines on making the best use of the department of clinical radiology and referral guidelines; scope of practice; working in a multi-disciplinary team to refer for radiological procedures; common referral pathways; and justification of x-rays.