Radiologic Technology Clinical Education

The pre-approval process for clinical education involves multiple requirements. Background check, drug screen, physical exam, immunization record, health insurance documentation and CPR certification. A clinical site may also have specific requirements such as completion of HIPAA video, confidentiality statement, etc. Immunizations/vaccines may include, but are not limited to, Varicella, MMR, Tdap, Hepatitis B, Annual Influenza, COVID, etc. Any student not committing to receiving any required vaccination, may not be able to secure a clinical education site which precludes starting the program. If a student does not meet any new/revised health clearance requirements of the facility assigned the student will not be able to complete the clinical rotation.  The program cannot guarantee that an alternate placement can be arranged. A student not passing a background check or drug screen will not be eligible to begin the program. 

A one-week required orientation occurs the week prior to official fall semester start. Orientation covers a variety of topics related to clinical education: program manual, ethics/medicolegal aspects, infection control, radiation safety, positioning terminology and basics, introduction to lab equipment usage, CPR certification, body mechanics lab, chest imaging lab and orientation at the assigned clinical site.

Clinical education provides the opportunity to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and lab setting, as well as development of the necessary skills to be successful as a radiographer. Entry-level skill is mandatory in the areas of patient care, communication, radiation safety, routine and non-routine procedures, professionalism, equipment usage and proper application of radiation.

Washburn University provides students with professional liability insurance coverage through enrollment in each clinical course.

The majority of patient contact hours occur during weekday hours. Scheduled hours per semester will vary from 16 to 32 weekly. Each semester, classes and clinical meet on alternate days. Optional weekend clinical hours may be requested; however, there is a maximum cap.  Minimal clinical education hours are required on evenings (12-15 shifts of 2:30pm – 10:30pm, Sunday through Saturday), starting with summer session. During University intersession (between semesters), clinical education is also required in order to continue development of entry-level skills and maintain proficiency.

Individuals indicate their preference for clinical placement on the Radiographer Program Application. Accepted students are ranked according to their resulting score from the process of application review and evaluation. Program faculty then make clinical placement assignments, seeking as close a match as possible with the students' preferences. Example: Lawrence Memorial Hospital receives 4 radiology students; however, 6 accepted students listed them as choice number one. The four students with the highest application scores will be assigned to Lawrence.

Faculty assign each student to a primary clinical education setting which are geographically dispersed.  Rotations to a secondary site are scheduled for short-term (2 weeks) or longer term (8 weeks). Secondary clinical assignments may be located up to 85 miles from the primary assignment. These assignments may only be changed upon written request by the individual and review by University faculty and the clinical sites involved.

Students are assigned at two or more radiology facilities in order to develop flexibility and adaptability with exam protocols, equipment, variable patients and different radiology team members. Assignment to a secondary clinical site ranges from 8-16 weeks depending on a variety of factors, i.e. pediatric, fluoroscopy or surgery volume.

Please see the XR Program & Clinical Manual for complete information regarding clinical education.

Current Clinical Education Settings:

Atchison Hospital, Atchison KS

Coffey Health Systems, Burlington KS

Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center, Topeka KS

Geary Community Hospital, Junction City KS

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence KS

• Main campus
• West campus

Leavenworth VAMC, Leavenworth KS

Manhattan Surgical Hospital, Manhattan KS (short-term rotation)

Via Christi at Manhattan, Manhattan KS, 66502

Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca KS

Ottawa Family Physicians, Ottawa KS (short-term rotation)

University of Kansas St. Francis Campus, Topeka KS

Stormont-Vail Health, Topeka, KS

• Main hospital
• Cotton-O'Neil Clinic
• Kanza Orthopedics
• Pain Management

Tallgrass Orthopedics, Topeka KS

Truman Medical Center, Kansas City MO

• Main hospital
• Lakewood Clinic

Revised 3/2021