Apprenticeship training course
Sonographer (integrated degree) (level 6)
Conducting diagnostic and screening ultrasound examinations.
- Qualification level
-
6
Equivalent to degree. - Typical duration
- 36 months
- Apprenticeship category
- Health and science
- Maximum funding
-
£24,000
Maximum amount government will fund
for apprenticeship training. - Skills
-
Skills an apprentice will learn
- Interpret, apply and reflect on professional codes of practice and legislation in order to deliver ultrasound examinations and take responsibility for own actions, exercising a professional duty of care.
- Receive and justify appropriateness of referrals, and advise other healthcare professionals about the relevance and application of ultrasound examinations to the service user’s needs.
- Use independent methods to establish and confirm service user identity and confirm patient consent prior to undertaking ultrasound procedures.
- Assess patients clinical condition prior to, during and after ultrasound examinations, recognising changing signs, symptoms and progression of disease, and make appropriate decisions relating to ultrasound appearances and the immediate management of the patient
- Use effective communication with the patient to determine their suitability for the procedure before and during their examination,.
- Assess potential communication barriers and modify communication to ensure inclusivity and form relationships and rapport with all patients.
- Acquire, interpret and report on the range of ultrasound examinations within their scope of practice with a high level of skill and accuracy.
- Optimise the ultrasound machine and controls to perform a high quality scan.
- Use spatial awareness and psychomotor skills when manipulating the patient’s body to produce accurate ultrasound images.
- Distinguish between normal and abnormal appearances evident during the ultrasound examination and on resultant ultrasound images, and document findings in a written report.
- Critically evaluate the quality of ultrasound images for clinical manifestations and technical accuracy in relation to their diagnostic value.
- Work both independently and in a multi-professional team.
- Use physical, graphical, verbal and electronic methods to collect and analyse information from a range of sources including service user’s clinical history, diagnostic images and reports, pathological tests and results.
- Operate ultrasound equipment and related accessory equipment safely and accurately, and take appropriate action in the case of faulty functioning and operation.
- Apply the risk-benefit philosophy to ultrasound safety considerations to protect both individual service users and the population.
- Select and explain the rationale for examination and treatment techniques and immobilisation procedures appropriate to the service user’s physical and disease management requirements.
- Take responsibility for reasoned decisions when performing a broad range of clinical, technical, managerial or scientific procedures and record appropriately.
- Recognise verbal and non-verbal cues that indicate the patient may require emotional and psychological support.
- Seek clinical supervision to ensure support whilst dealing with possibly distressing and difficult circumstances.
- Seek advice from or refer to another professional when findings are outside your scope of practice.
- Initiate resolutions to ultrasound problems using a comprehensive range of cognitive and practical skills associated with ultrasound.
- Manage risk and report concerns about safety, and be open when things go wrong.
- Keep accurate records of own work and promote and protect the interests of patients, staff, and public.
- Maintain and respect patient confidentiality while following local safeguarding policy and national guidelines.
- Recognise and respond appropriately to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard ultrasound patients or the wider public.
- Provide patients or their advocates with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions, with regular reappraisal of their information needs, as appropriate.
- Manage own workload and resources effectively and be able to practice accordingly.
- Integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in order to solve problems.
- Work within the limits of own knowledge and skills, delegate appropriately. Lead and manage in accordance with your level of responsibility.
- Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge
- Ability to support and facilitate learning for others.
- Contribute to the development, design, and implementation of clinical audit and service improvement initiatives and use evidence-based research and clinical trials outcomes to explore and develop own clinical practice.
- Work in partnership with service users, other professionals, support staff and others, and contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Reflect critically on practice and contemporary evidence that underpins ultrasound practice, and apply critical thinking and problem solving to professional decision making.
- Apply findings from patient feedback audit and clinical trials to practice.
- Apply conflict resolution strategies appropriately.
- Keep accurate, comprehensive and comprehensible records and other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
- Reflect on and learn from clinical incidences and complaints, and share learning with peers.
- Signpost patients and their families to the patient complaint process, support them and colleagues during incidences and the reporting process.
- Use information and communication technologies appropriate to their practice.
- Remove and re-apply dressings and supports appropriately and in a safe, effective and considerate manner.
- Use basic life support techniques and be able to deal safely with clinical emergencies
Full information on Sonographer (integrated degree) (level 6) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.