Academic Catalogs

DMS A167: DMS Clinical Experience 2

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Top Code 122700 - Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Units 5.5 Total Units 
Hours 297 Total Hours (Lab Hours 297)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

Continuation of clinical experience. Exposure to departmental organization, patient flow, PACs, observation of techniques employed, policies and procedures of clinical cases, beginning hands on experience, and equipment set up. PREREQUISITE: DMS A166. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Perform entry-level sonographic exams on real patients with direct supervision and differentiate between normal and abnormal sonographic findings.

Course Objectives

  • I Student Instructional Objectives: 1. Integrate and analyze knowledge gained from clinical experience in an ultrasound department. 2. Demonstrate critical thinking by applying sonographic theory in a clinical environment. 3. Observe sonographic examinations performed by the staff. 4. Scan before or after the staff sonographer for all types of examsas the patient schedule permits. 5. Perform renal studies independently by the end of the Summer Session. 6. Perform PACs processing after introduction to procedures and demonstration of equipment with moderate supervision of department staff.
  • II Sonography: 1. Observe sonographic examinations performed by the staff after introduction to the exams and procedures by the staff with attention given to the exam procedure and protocol. 2. Perform PACs processing after introduction to procedures and demonstration of equipment with moderate supervision of department staff. 3. Sonographic scanning is a skill and will require the student to practice at every opportunity that is made available to them. Students should scan when given an opportunity to do so. 4. Perform renal studies independently by the end of this clinical rotation. 5. Students should review other sonographic studies during down time at clinical.
  • III Department Procedures: 1. Perform routine office procedures, schedule and process exam requests following department procedure and protocol with minor direction by department staff. 2. Demonstrate professional telephone technique following department procedure and protocol with minor direction by department staff. 3. Demonstrate understanding of work load to department procedure and protocol with minor direction by department staff. 4. Retrieve studies on PACs with little supervision by staff.
  • IV Patient Care: 1. Locate patient rooms, departments and special units in the facility when assigned to transportation and locating these rooms, departments and units without supervision. 2. Practice proper patient moving and lifting techniques with concern for patient safety, comfort and modesty following adequate instruction and demonstration according to facility standards and practices. 3. Strive to alleviate patient fears and apprehensions by verbal communication and physical acts of reassurance within constraints of medical ethics and department policy. 4. Comply with HIPPA at all times. 5. Do not ask questions pertinent to the exam in the presence of the patient; Do not point to the screen during the exam. 6. Limit your conversation with patients. 7. Do not leave the exam room before the scan is completed unless asked to do so by staff. Plan your breaks, including restroom, accordingly. 8. Keep your CPR card and evidence of liability at your clinical site.
  • V Personal Appearance: 1. Adhere to program dress code of navy blue scrubs. 2. Maintain a neat, clean, well-groomed appearance as defined in clinical manual, SAHP manual and by clinical facility policy. 3. Please be aware that strong body odors caused by and not limited to perfume, shampoo, body soap, tobacco and lack of deodorant may be offensive to the patient. You may be required to alter your personal hygiene for patient comfort.
  • VI Attitude and Responsibility: 1. Demonstrates accountability by reporting on time, remaining for assigned time, and notifying sonographer educator of absences. 2. If student is ill, they must follow the facility sick policy. This may be calling in 2 hours before the shift begins or emailing the supervisor. 3. Demonstrates a spirit of cooperation, initiative, and willingness to learn while assigned to a variety of learning experiences. 4. Actively listens and follow directions as assigned by the clinical educator, staff sonographers, physicians and other allied health staff at the facility. 5. Accepts criticism and suggestions gracefully and applies suggestions as recommended. 6. Demonstrate knowledge of professional ethics while training. No more than two conferences or one incident.
  • VII Professional Growth: 1. Maintains on a daily basis, an ongoing record of cases participated in or observed by using the forms provided in the clinical manual. 2. Demonstrate progressive learning by the scaffolding of knowledge and critical thinking. 3. Diminishing need for supervision. 4. Demonstrate aptitude for diagnostic medical sonography by progressive learning and expertise in all sections of the semester evaluation.
  • VII. 1. Other: 1. Students may not contact other clinical sites or hospitals or make arrangements through other health care professionals for training. 2. Students must consult with DMS Program Coordinator or Clinical Coordinator for any changes or rotations 3. Your clinical site assignment is NOT based upon proximity to your personal residence. You may have to drive long distances. 4. If a clinical site dismisses you for ANY reason, a new clinical site assignment will not be provided. You may NOT continue in the Program. 5. A car is necessary for clinical training. The student must make these arrangements. 6. The clinical site will determine the hours that you will train. Therefore, the clinical site is not responsible for your personal life or your outside work schedule. 7. You may not use your cell phone in the patient care areas or in the presence of patients. Please put it away in your backpack while training. 8. Students should be aware that hospitals must first render patient care and that teaching may be secondary if the site becomes busy. 9. All hospitals are “smoke free" facilities. Students must comply with this policy and refrain from smoking while on hospital property. 10. Students should have no more than two counseling sessions and no more than one written documentation during this clinical rotation.

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lab (04)
  • DE Live Online Lab (04S)
  • Work Experience (20)
  • Directed Clinical (DIR)
  • Non-Directed Clinical (NDR)