About The Course

The Assistant Practitioner is a non-registered practitioner, who has received sufficient training to acquire diagnostic images, in order to provide additional capacity to the workforce. The Assistant Practitioner performs protocol-limited clinical tasks under the direction and supervision of the registered Radiographer who has overall responsibility for the "episode of care" (SOR, 2012). Assistant Practitioners will differ from the general support workforce in that, as part of their duties, they will perform limited clinical imaging examinations or treatment procedures in conjunction with, and under the supervision of, registered Radiographers. These examinations are confined to standard examinations or treatments carried out on adult patients who are conscious, co-operative and communicative, and conducted in accordance with locally agreed protocols (SOR, 2012). Due to the changing dynamics of the radiology workforce, and the necessary increased skill mix, the Assistant Practitioners (CT) have become a skilled and integral part of the running of the CT service and the CT team.

Purpose

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been written to:  Identify and clearly define the Scope of Practice of Assistant Practitioners in the CT department.  Identify the Role and Responsibilities of the Assistant Practitioners carrying out diagnostic imaging procedures using ionising radiation at the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust.  Identify the Roles and Responsibilities of the Registered Radiographers who are supervising Assistant Practitioners.

 Scope

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) relates to the following staff groups:  

Assistant Practitioners (CT)

Registered Radiographers

Radiologists

Registered Radiology Nurses

• Duration / Eligibility
• 01 Year / 10th with Sci