Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• select and employ appropriate communication strategies and modalities, such as email, face-to-face, or phone calls
• obtain patients' perspectives, worries, and preferences to foster rapport
• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding the use of jargon, acronyms, and other complex medical terms
• encourage questions, and answer them thoroughly
• ask patients to share their thoughts or to explain their management plan in their own words, to verify understanding
• document and share written and electronic information about the patient encounter to optimise clinical decision making, patient safety, confidentiality and privacy
• author clear and comprehensive reports on imaging studies conveying relevant findings, clinical opinion, level of certainty and any additional recommendations as appropriate
• communicate with patients thoughtfully and sensitively, seeking clarification when unsure of the best course of action
• convey the concept of relative and absolute risk, as it applies to radiation exposure, in discussion of investigations and treatment
• discuss significant unexpected findings urgently with the referring clinician, and document accordingly with the date / time and person communicated to in a way they can understand before asking for their consent

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• collaborate with patient liaison officers as required
• adapt communication style in response to patients’ cognitive, physical, cultural, socioeconomic, and situational factors

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• consider patients’ capacity for decision making and consent
• recognise and take precautions where patients may be vulnerable, such as issues of self-harm, non-accidental injury, or elder abuse
• respect patient confidentiality
• respond appropriately to complaints from patients, family, and carers, and participate in processes to manage these

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• inform patients of the material risks associated with proposed management plans
• treat information about patients as confidential

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• discuss the aetiology of diseases in a relevant and understandable way
• explain the purpose, nature, and practicalities of nuclear medicine interventions which could be conducted to assess or treat the disease
• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in teaching

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• respond appropriately to information sourced by patients, and to patients’ knowledge regarding their conditions

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in research
• provide information to patients that is based on guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or Health Research Council of NZ
• provide information to patients in an understandable manner before asking for consent to participate in research

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• refer to evidence-based clinical guidelines
• demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of the evidence and the challenges of applying research in daily practice

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• effectively communicate with members of all cultural groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples, by meeting patients’ specific language, cultural, and communication needs
• when necessary, use qualified language interpreters or cultural interpreters to help to meet patients’ communication needs
• provide plain language and culturally appropriate written materials to patients when possible
• use gender inclusive language in verbal and written interactions with patients and colleagues

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• allow enough time for communication across cultural barriers

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual preference, beliefs, contribution to society, illness related behaviours, or the illness itself
• avoid sexual, intimate, and/or financial relationships with patients
• demonstrate a caring attitude towards patients
• encourage and support patients to be well informed about their health, and to use this information wisely when they are making decisions
• encourage and support patients and, when relevant, their families or carers, in caring for themselves and managing their health
• demonstrate respectful professional relationships with patients
• prioritise honesty, patient welfare, and community benefit above self-interest
• develop a high standard of personal conduct, consistent with professional and community expectations
• support patients’ right to seek second opinions
• respect the preferences of patients
• respect patients, including protecting their rights to privacy and confidentiality
• openly disclose harmful patient safety incidents to patients and their families accurately and appropriately
• use social media ethically and according to legal obligations to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• communicate appropriately, consistent with the context, and respect patients’ needs and preferences
• maximise patient autonomy, and support their decision making

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• communicate effectively with health care team members involved in patients’ care, and with patients and families or carers
• discuss medical assessments, treatment plans, and investigations with patients and primary care teams, and work collaboratively with them
• discuss patients’ care needs with health care team members to align them with appropriate resources
• facilitate an environment where all team members feel they can contribute, and their opinions are valued
• communicate accurately and succinctly, and motivate others on the health care team
• engage with multidisciplinary teams to ensure a collaborative approach to patient management

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• address queries from team members
• summarise, clarify, and communicate responsibilities of health care team members
• keep health care team members focused on patient outcomes

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• collaborate with interdepartmental and external services, such as community health centres and consumer organisations, to help patients navigate the healthcare system
• effectively provide appropriate radiation safety advice relevant to the procedure or scan being performed

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• communicate with and involve other health professionals as appropriate