6 Professional Behavior Policies
Practice Standards
Practice standards are authoritative statements established by the profession for judging the quality of practice, service, and education. Students should become familiar with these standards in anticipation of the expectations that they will be required to adhere to once their education is complete and they obtain employment in the field.
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) has developed Diagnostic Ultrasound Clinical Practice Standards for Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals which serves as a concise outline of diagnostic medical sonography skills and responsibilities. This document may be found at: http://www.sdms.org/positions/clinicalpractice.asp
Patient Care Partnership
The Patient Care Partnership (PCP) is a voluntary, cooperative agreement between patients and providers that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each party. The PCP is based on the premise that patients are equal partners in their own health care and that they have a right to be involved in decisions about their care. Students must readily identify and understand the PCP expectations, rights and responsibilities and adhere to the principles of the PCP.
Download the Full Patient Care Partnership Brochure
Professional and Ethical Standards
The primary rationale for expecting professional behavior in the clinic is to promote patient safety and effective collaboration. The program has established a set of expected professional behavior(s), which will aid students in their ability to develop necessary skills for an entry-level position in healthcare.
- Students are expected to adhere to all program policies and procedures outlined in the Radiologic & Imaging Sciences and Clinical Handbooks.
- Students are expected to adhere to all policies and procedures of the assigned clinical site.
- Students are expected to arrive at their assigned clinical sites on time, demonstrating punctual behavior demonstrates professional behavior.
- Students are expected to demonstrate effective communication, interaction, and behavior toward other students, faculty, clinical staff, and patients.
- Students must give prior notice to their clinical site supervisor when they are to report for classes or other program activities during clinical hours.
- Students are expected to use professional titles in the presence of patients and hospital staff. (Students should address all physicians and residents by Dr. and not by their first name)
- Students are expected to avoid controversial discussions with physicians and other hospital personnel. These matters should be brought to the attention of the program faculty and or RISP Director for a referral to proper departmental personnel.
- Students are expected to refrain from eating, drinking, sleeping, personal reading, personal device use, excessive time to study, surfing the web, and mingling in portions of the hospital department devoted to patient and physician services.
- Personal calls made by students in the clinic must be limited to those that are emergent or absolutely necessary. Students must never make these calls in front of patients. Personal cell phones and devise should be put away in the student’s locker and only used during approved breaks.
Clinical Instructors, Clinical Coordinator, physicians, or department managers have the right to send students home due to the lack of productivity or professional behavior
Failure to act professionally as described above will result in academic penalties according to the severity listed in the chart below. Note: the chart below includes, but is not limited to, the professional behavior policy violations listed. Since every circumstance cannot be accounted for, unique situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Clinical Instructor, Clinical Coordinator, and/or the Program Director.
NOTE: Tier 1 professional behavior violations may be automatically moved to tier 2 violations depending on the severity of the behavior. This is at the discretion of the CC or PD. Tier 2 violations may be automatically accelerated to a recommendation for clinical probation and/or clinical dismissal depending on the severity of the violation. This is at the discretion of the CC or PD.
| Tier 1 Professional Behavior Violations
4% Clinical Grade Reduction for Each Violation |
Tier 2 Professional Behavior Violations
Full Letter Grade Reduction for Each Violation |
| Inappropriate use of time while in the clinic.
Includes but not limited to, eating or drinking in non-designated break areas, sleeping, reading or studying while there are other clinic responsibilities that should be performed, web surfing, etc. |
Academic Misconduct or Academic Dishonesty
Includes but not limited to fraudulent clinical documentation in eValue |
| Unauthorized personal device use while in the clinic.
Includes but not limited to, use of cell phone, computer or laptop, iPad or other tablet, smart watch. |
Immediate dismissal or removal from a clinical site or clinical rotation. |
| Excessive tardiness identified by the Clinical Site Supervisor or the Clinical Coordinator | Performing the wrong exam on the wrong patient. |
| Inappropriate communication, interaction, and/or behavior toward students, faculty, clinical staff, or patients. | Performing exams with inappropriate supervision from the technologist. |
| Inappropriate clinical appearance as in dress or personal hygiene | Serious violation of program policy as outlined in any program handbook. |
| Unsafe practices in the clinical setting.
Includes but not limited to, attending clinic under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to consult CC prior to changing clinical assignment, refuses assignment based on patient’s diagnosis, race, culture, sexual identity, or religious preference. |
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| Failure to maintain patient privacy or confidentiality (HIPAA Violation). | |
| Any unethical behavior that violates the medical specialty Practice Standards or Ethical Code of Conduct. | |
| Negligence that damages or may lead to damaging clinical site equipment. |