Limited Cardiac Catheterization Radiography Certification Program

The purpose of the cardiac catheterization radiology certification course is to ensure that individuals responsible for the care of the patient and participating in the radiographic portion of the cardiac catheterization have adequate training in radiation protection and principles. Radiographic medical terminology, patient care and management, human anatomy and physiology, image production and evaluation, imaging equipment and radiation production, radiation protection, and radiobiology appropriate for the cardiac catheterization suite will be covered.

This program has been approved by the Indiana State Department of Health and meets curricular requirements for individuals to be eligible for a limited cardiac catheterization radiography certification and license in the State of Indiana.

Who should enroll in this program?
This program is designed for English-speaking health professionals (nurses, advanced practice registered nurses) involved in the management of patients requiring care and treatment in the catheterization lab.  

Individuals taking this course must be licensed in a health care profession under IC 25, licensed under 410-IAC 5.2, or be approved by the ISDH. A copy of the health care provider’s license completing the program needs to be submitted with final course documents to the course instructors.

A textbook is required for this program. Upon registration, you will receive detailed information to purchase the textbook.

Individuals who want to participate in the program must obtain a provisional limited radiography permit (student permit).

• An Application for Provisional or Student Permit form must be completed and sent to ISDH. An individual wishing to obtain a limited radiography license shall not operate a radiation machine before obtaining a provisional permit or after expiration of a provisional permit.
• The permit must be obtained prior to starting the clinical proficiency requirements of the course.
• It is suggested that students apply for the permit as soon as possible.  The cardiac training program may be completed prior to or after being issued a provisional limited radiography permit.
• The permit is only good for 6 months. If a person fails to complete the cardiac training program and exam required for a limited radiography license prior to the expiration of the provisional permit, the permit expires and the person may not operate a radiation machine. 

ISDH will NOT reissue another student permit (not even if the student signs up for a different limited cardiac catheterization program). If a student fails to complete the clinical education requirements (hours and proficiency requirements) in the 6 month permit time frame, the student will not be able to obtain a cardiac catheterization license in the state of Indiana.
In only extremely compelling circumstances and upon completion of the cardiac training program and passing of the required exam, the ISDH may grant the individual an additional thirty days to complete the certification of proficiency requirements if not previously completed. In addition to passing the required exam, a letter from the program director and student detailing the compelling reason for not completing the clinical requirements within 6 months must be sent to the ISDH. ISDH will then review the letters to decide IF a 30 day extension of the permit is warranted.

Program Content 
The content is divided into modules. Each module utilizes instructor outlines, audio/video recordings, reading assignments, articles, web resources, and case studies to augment the learning process. These methods provide the participant with flexibility in completing assignments and interacting with the faculty.  Each module has accompanying study guide(s) with questions (such as multiple choice, essay) for participants to submit to faculty. Interaction with faculty may occur as feedback to study guides, within discussion boards, or via email. 

Certification of Proficiency Requirements

• Students must demonstrate clinical competency with all components of the x-ray equipment (excluding the exposure switch).
• Clinical competency is practiced in the catheterization lab under the supervision of a registered radiologic technologist, RT(R) or physician.
• Prior to the start of clinical training all students must obtain a provisional limited radiography permit (student permit).
• An Application for Provisional or Student Permit form must be completed and sent to ISDH. An individual wishing to obtain a limited radiography license shall not operate a radiation machine before obtaining a provisional permit or after expiration of a provisional permit.
• During or after the completion of the cardiac training program, the student must complete (and document) a minimum of 20 hours of clinical education in the cardiac catheterization lab. The documented 20 hours of education should be turned in to the Program Director. 
• During the clinical education, students should practice the objectives of clinical proficiency. The student should be checked off on the clinical proficiency objectives by the supervising registered radiologic technologist, RT(R) or physician.
• The completed clinical proficiency objectives need to be turned into the Program Director.

Learning Outcome
The learning outcome of this program is to enable the learner to care for the patient participating in the radiographic portion of the cardiac catheterization and have adequate training in radiation protection and principles to maintain current therapeutic guidelines and best practices in managing treatment through interprofessional collaborative practice.

Program Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, the participant will be able to:

1. Define terms associated with radiographic imaging.
2. Identify responsibilities of the health care facility, relationships of the health care team, and the interdependencies of departments within the health care institution.
3. Describe the scope of practice for an individual issued a limited cardiac catheterization radiography certificate.
4. Describe standard positioning terms and terminology of movement and direction.
5. Explain appropriate procedural communications with patients in the cardiology laboratory.
6. Describe vital signs and laboratory values used to assess patient condition that includes sites for assessment and normal values.
7. Identify types and properties of contrast agents.
8. Describe the symptoms and medical interventions for a patient with a contrast agent reaction.
9. Describe the importance of standard precautions and isolation procedures that include sources and modes of transmission of infection and disease and institutional control procedures.
10. Identify the anatomy of the heart and its vasculature.
11. Identify the anatomy of the thoracic aorta.
12. Identify the patient positions for cardiac angiography by description, diagram, or on image.
13. Identify the process of x-ray production and image formation and by what means each of these can be controlled for optimal image production with minimal patient and personnel dose.
14. Describe various x-ray interactions involved in image production and how each relates to dose and image quality.
15. Identify acceptable radiation dose practices including dose limits and cardinal principles of radiation protection.
16. Describe the various biological effects of radiation and the different factors that may influence outcomes of cells.
17. Explain the significance of the ALARA principle and how it is applied in daily practice.
18. Operate equipment (except the exposure switch) within a cardiac imaging lab to obtain cardiac images per facility protocol.

Delivery of the Content
The learner will log into the program via the internet and work independently through the modules. The independent study provides an opportunity to learn while in the comfort of your own home and office.  Program staff are available during business hours by phone or email to assist participants with technical issues or concerns.  Questions regarding content can be directed to the contributors of the content. After the learner works through the content, she/he will complete the case-based comprehensive exam.

The clinical component of the course will be completed during normal working hours. A supervising physician or registered radiologic technologist will need to be available to assist the student with the learning objectives detailed in the clinical proficiency list.  

Note: Many businesses, especially government agencies or health institutions, utilize security firewalls.  Access to web links within program and communication from the instructor, or other students may be blocked. We recommend not using your work email address for this course.

Contact hours
30 contact hours

The University of Southern Indiana designates this activity for 30 contact hours for nurses.

Successful completion of this program does not guarantee expertise in the content. Clinical experience and judgment coupled with an understanding of the content are necessary to attain competency. Achieving certification is a means to demonstrate competency.

Criteria for Successful Completion

• Submit registration and payment.
• Obtain a provisional limited radiography permit (student permit) 
• A certificate for contact hours will be awarded with:
  • completion of final exam
  • submission of program evaluation
  • Return of all necessary documentation to the clinical educator including:
    • Clinical Proficiency Competency Checklist
    • Clinical Education Hours Document
    • Copy of ISDH Limited Radiography permit
• The certificate of completion will be sent once all criteria are met.
  
  

Faculty Name and Credentials

We strive to provide interprofessional education by utilizing a variety of content experts, instructors, contributors, and reviewers.

Joy A. Cook, EdD, RT (R)(CT)(MR) ARRT

Heather Schmuck, EdD, RT(R)

Jennifer Palmer, MSN, RN, CMSRN, Program Director 

Conflict of Interest Statement
No individual in a position to control content has any relevant financial relationships.

The Indiana State Department of Health has approved this program through March 8, 2024. 

Accreditation Statements

In support of improving patient care, the University of Southern Indiana Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

State of Indiana
The University of Southern Indiana is an approved provider of continuing education for several professionals licensed in the state of Indiana, including social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and dental professionals.