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Supervision of Students

Policy Scope

This policy applies to all Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) students.

Policy Statement

Clinical Supervision of Students: All Diagnostic Medical Sonography students must have adequate and proper supervision during all clinical assignments as specified by individual institutional, programmatic, and accreditation policies. The following conditions constitute adequate and appropriate supervision.

Procedure

All exams, regardless of student proficiency, must also be scanned by the supervising sonographer.

The sonography student’s level of clinical supervision and exam participation/completion will vary throughout the semester and program and is based upon exam type, student proficiency, and the patient.

For a student beginning a new clinical rotation and/or specialty, most exam participation will be observation with direct supervision. By mid-rotation, the student should progress to completing most exams with direct and/or indirect supervision and partial exam completion. Near the end of the rotation, the student should complete entire exams with direct and/or indirect supervision.

Direct Supervision: Sonographer is in the exam room observing and/or assisting student for entire exam. All sonographic guided procedures and anatomically sensitive exams must be performed under direct supervision, e.g.: biopsy, breast, genitalia, or intracavitary exam. All students in the Fall Semester will complete clinical rotations with direct supervision.

Indirect Supervision: Sonographer is in the exam room observing and/or assisting student for some of the exam. The sonographer may enter and exit exam room periodically and should be available for immediate assistance.

Levels of Student Involvement

  1. Observation: Student does not scan the patient and only observes the sonographer.
  2. Partial: Student scans a portion of the exam; sonographer scans remaining, or complete, exam.
  3. Entire: Student scans the entire exam.

Laboratory Supervision of Students: The DMS Program uses scheduled educational scanning labs as a component of the program. These labs are performed under the direct supervision of an appropriately credentialed sonographer. All scan lab models, including DMS students, are required to review and sign the Scan Model Consent and the Ultrasound Scan Lab Policy Form.