Abstract
Article: A Retrospective Analysis of Abdominal Competency Scores to Improve Clinical Education in a Sonography Program
Authors: Kim Michael, MA, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, Kathryn Wampler, BS, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, Valerie K. Shostrom, MS, Marilee Boals, BS, RT(R), RDMS, and Joseph C. Anderson, MD
Category: Energizing Education
Credit: 1.0 SDMS CME Credit
Objectives: After studying the article entitled “A Retrospective Analysis of Abdominal Competency Scores to Improve Clinical Education in a Sonography Program,” you will be able to:
Determine the components that go into defining clinical competence
Determine the abdominal competencies likely to be easiest to learn
Explain the characteristics of abdominal competencies difficult to learn
In a global sense, clinical competency could best be thought of as Acquiring a good image Consistently performing at a professionally acceptable level Establishing good rapport with patients Acquiring national board certification
National board certification Ensures clinical competence Ensures that a sonographer can perform a complete normal examination Represents the standard of practice Ensures pathology will be recognized
An evaluation tool to assess the clinical competence of students Should be able to be self-administered Should be able to be administered within a 15-minute time frame Must be administered by the clinical coordinator Should incorporate nationally recognized guidelines and recommendations
According to the study results reported, the most difficult organs to learn to scan were the Liver and common bile duct Liver and pancreas Pancreas and common bile duct Kidney and spleen
According to the study results reported, the easiest organs to learn to scan were the Liver and common bile duct Liver and spleen Kidney and gallbladder Kidney and spleen
Possible causes for the difficulties in performing a complete scan of the liver include all of the following The size of the organ The need for multiple adjustments of instrument settings The lack of significant attenuation of the ultrasound beam The need to use multiple scan windows
According to the study results reported, the organs with the most frequently identified pathology were the Kidney and liver Kidney and gallbladder Spleen and kidney Spleen and liver
According to the study results reported, the organs with the least frequently identified pathology were the Spleen and liver Spleen and kidney Pancreas and liver Pancreas and common bile duct
Splenic pathology that was identified by all students during their competency evaluations was Perisplenic fluid Splenomegaly Hilar varices Splenules
In addition to student evaluation, competency evaluation scores might also serve useful in all of the following except Documenting students’ clinical caseload Providing data to improve educational effectiveness Identifying a program’s strengths and weaknesses Providing an additional programmatic self-analysis tool
Footnotes