Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• explain procedures and investigations clearly to patients, family members, or carers, including reasons for procedures or investigations, possible risks, benefits, burdens, costs, side effects, radiation precautions, and potential alternatives, including the option to have no investigations or procedures
• tailor language according to patients’ age and capacity to understand
• facilitate communication within procedural teams to ensure all members are familiar with each other’s roles
• communicate effectively with team members, patients, family, and carers prior to, during, and after procedures or investigations
• discuss postprocedural care with patients, family, or carers
• complete relevant patients’ documentation, and conduct appropriate clinical handovers
• accurately document procedures and investigations in the clinical notes, including informed consent, procedures or investigations requested and performed, reasons for procedures or investigations, medicines given, aseptic technique, and aftercare
• author clear and comprehensive reports in a timely fashion following completion of procedures, investigations, and therapies which communicate diagnoses and manage recommendations (where appropriate)

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• explain the process of procedures or investigations to patients to help patients, family, or carers choose procedures or investigations in collaboration with treating clinicians
• complete relevant patients’ documentation, and conduct appropriate clinical handovers

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• identify adverse outcomes that may result from proposed investigations and procedures, focusing on patients’ individual situations
• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before undertaking any procedures or investigations
• set up all necessary equipment, and consistently use universal precautions and aseptic technique
• confirm patients’ identification and verify the procedure or investigation, and, where appropriate, the correct site / side / level for the procedure or investigation
• ensure that information on patients’ consent forms match procedures or investigations to be performed
• identify, document, and appropriately notify of any adverse event, radiation maladministration, or equipment malfunction
• engage with department quality assurance meetings, such as case review or mortality and morbidity meetings

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• provide information in a manner so patients, family, or carers are fully informed when consenting to any procedures or investigations
• provide information as to appropriate dose adjustment of radioisotopes for children in line with current recommendations
• seek help with interpretation of test results for less common tests or indications or unexpected results

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• refer to and/or be familiar with relevant published guidelines prior to undertaking procedures or investigations
• organise or participate in in-service training on new technology
• provide specific and constructive feedback and comments to junior colleagues
• initiate and conduct skills training for junior staff

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• participate in continued professional development to maintain currency with investigation guidelines
• help junior colleagues develop new skills
• actively seek feedback on personal technique until competent

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• provide patients with relevant information if a proposed investigation or procedure is part of a research program
• obtain written informed consent from patients if the investigation or procedure is part of a research program

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
• consult current research on investigations and procedures

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• respect religious, cultural, and family values and differences
• consider individual patients’ cultural perceptions of health and illness, and adapt practice accordingly
• seek informed consent for procedures, investigations, and therapies in a culturally and psychologically safe manner

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• respect religious, cultural, linguistic, and family values and differences

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• confidently perform common procedures or investigations
• engage referring and other relevant clinicians when making important clinical decisions
• show respect for knowledge and expertise of colleagues
• maximise patient autonomy in decision making
• respect patients’ decisions to refuse investigations or procedures, even if their decisions may not be appropriate or evidence based
• follow procedural guidelines and protocols to ensure safe practice
• demonstrate an awareness of stochastic and deterministic risks associated with radiation from investigations, procedures, and therapies, and be prepared to discuss this openly and with a strong evidence-based background

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• perform new procedures or investigations with adequate guidance and supervision
• follow procedural guidelines and protocols to ensure safe practice
• demonstrate awareness of stochastic and deterministic risks associated with radiation from investigations, procedures, and therapies

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• outline the role and optimal timing for diagnostic procedures and investigations
• evaluate the costs, benefits, and potential risks of each investigation or procedure in clinical situations
• adapt procedures or investigations in response to assessments of risks to individual patients
• make clinical judgements and decisions based on available evidence
• prioritise which patients receive procedures or investigations first (if there is a waiting list)

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• assist in prioritising which patients receive procedures or investigations first (if there is a waiting list)
• recognise personal limitations, and seek help from supervisors in an appropriate way when required
• use tools and guidelines to support decision making
• engage with clinical radiology colleagues to assist with cross-sectional anatomical imaging evaluation where there is diagnostic uncertainty

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• explain critical steps, anticipated events, and equipment requirements to teams on planned procedures or investigations
• provide staff with clear aftercare instructions, and explain how to recognise possible complications
• identify relevant management options with colleagues according to their level of training and experience to reduce error, prevent complications, and support efficient teamwork
• coordinate efforts, encourage others, and accept responsibility for work performed by staff under supervision
• ensure team members are confident and competent in their assigned roles

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• demonstrate an understanding of what parts of an investigation are provided by different health professionals, including the complementary nature of nuclear medicine and clinical radiology
• ensure all relevant team members are aware that a procedure is occurring
• discuss patients’ management plans for recovery with colleagues

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• discuss serious incidents at appropriate clinical review meetings
• initiate local improvement strategies in response to serious incidents
• use resources efficiently when performing procedures

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• perform procedures and investigations in accordance with the organisational guidelines and policies