Supervision of Students
Policy Scope
This policy applies to all Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) students.
Policy Statement
Clinical Supervision of Students
All DMS 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
Students must perform sonographic procedures under the direct or indirect supervision of a qualified sonographer. Students shall not take the responsibility or the place of qualified staff. A student is never to perform an examination without either direct or indirect supervision of a sonographer.
Direct Supervision: Sonographer is in the exam room observing and/or assisting the student for the entire exam. All sonographic guided procedures and anatomically sensitive exams must be performed under direct supervision, e.g.: biopsy, breast, genitalia, or intracavitary exam.
Indirect Supervision: Sonographer is in the exam room observing and/or assisting the student for some of the exam. The sonographer may enter and exit the exam room periodically and should be available for immediate assistance.
It is expected that a student will progress from direct supervision to indirect supervision over a semester as the student’s confidence, knowledge and scanning skills progress. The level of clinical supervision depends on the exam type, student proficiency, and patient condition.
All exams, regardless of student proficiency, must also be scanned by the supervising sonographer. The sonographer is ultimately responsible for the examination.