PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Through this page you can see how my time at South Piedmont Community College was deemed successful and the small seed that was planted 5 years ago has now bloomed into a large and beautiful flower. Here I will share a couple of artifacts that prove I achieved the goals I had set out before me.
During my class time I was assigned a series of assignments to help me achieve success at becoming a sonographer such as case studies, oral presentations, PowerPoints, article reviews, clinical internships, test, quizzes, and hands on performance to prove I was ready for graduation. These assignments were intense and required a lot of time and dedication to complete. This journey has been hard work and was not completed in a day, but through completion of these assignments I am truly able to say I have "bloomed".
It was through each step of the process that I was able to study, prepare, and learn so that I could become a successful sonographer. I am very thankful for each of my teachers, classmates, and tasks that I had to complete in order to make this dream a reality. Similar to a blooming flower without first being a seed the opportunity to become a flower is never a possibility, each step in the process was detrimental to my learning and I would not be where I am today without every bump, learning opportunity, and the help of the faculty at SPCC, as well as encouragement from my classmates.
Upon graduation the learner will be able to accurately create diagnostic ultrasound images using a working knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the human body.
1.1
At the beginning of my journey I felt that the program outcome skills was nearly impossible, as I found myself very overwhelmed and discouraged. Thankfully I have always been taught that you must work hard for what you want in life and if your heart says yes than giving up is not an option. With the support of my family I made up my mind that I would and I could, so I set the goal that I would be successful and one day the stress of school would be a thing of the past.
Spring of 2015 came and I found myself under the stress of our Pass/Fail scan test, but I remembered my goal I had set and studied and prepare to assure that I would be able to perform well even through the nerves. We had many classes that helped prepare us for the Pass/Fail scan test, such as: SON130, SON131. Our teachers shared their knowledge, provided us with PowerPoints, and study materials to assure that we were comfortable with the material that would be covered and through much time in the lab we bettered our scanning abilities. I used the critical feedback from my teachers as well as preceptors to better my scanning technique.
I chose to share my Pass/Fail scan test to prove that I have not only set goals for myself, but achieved them. This test was required to prove that we are applying our teaching and ready to work as sonographers. We are required to image certain anatomy asked by our teachers, optimize the image, as well as answer pathology questions that relate to the anatomy being scanned. I feel that this test helped me to see the growth in myself, and not only want to continue improving, but celebrate the victories along the way.
Upon graduation the learner will be able to possess an understanding of physical principles as related to sound interactions with tissue and utilize instrumentation accordingly to provide optimal diagnostic outcomes.
1.2
Without the basic knowledge of physics, and how ultrasound works you would be lost as a Sonographer. It is very detrimental to our career as Sonographers to learn the principles of why and how the images we are taking our created. In the Spring of 2015 I took SON-111AB and over the Summer semester took SON-111BB to learn the necessary information to sit for my (SPI) Sonography Principles and Instrumentation exam, so that I could then move on and sit for my other registries in the Spring of 2016.
The class was definitely a challenge, as all of the material being learned was very new to me, but as I continued to study and learn I found that it was becoming more familiar. A lot of time with physics it is difficult to wrap your head around, but you just have to know the concept and grasp the required formula. Both of these classes helped me to just that and prepared me to sit for my exam.
In the Fall of 2015 after two weeks of dedicated my every minute to my study material, and leaning on my past learning I sat for the exam. I am happy to say I passed in September 2015 with a score of 627 out of 700 the first time. There were moments were I doubted myself, but I trusted in my journey and preparation and am happy to say that the studying paid off and I feel very accomplished and proud to have one more step of the journey behind me. I now understand the importance of physics in ultrasound, and through this knowledge am able to better critique and improve my images to soon work as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
Upon graduation the learner will be able to critically think though and analyze normal anatomy and/or abnormal disease processes as realted to sonography.
1.3
Fall semester of my senior year I was required to build a website presentation to share with my classmates. This assignment required me to write a paper, build an informative website to educate my classmates, as well as present an oral presentation on pathology of a fetus. This information was gathered based on a case study from my OB rotation with my internshuo through Novant Maternal Fetal Medicine. Through this assignment I set the goals of taking diagnostic images to assist in diagnosis, as well as effectively communicate the clinical symptoms and case outcome to my audience through my website and oral presentation.
I felt this presentation was a great assignment that helped me become more familiar with a common pathology that we will be responsible for helping diagnose as a Sonographer, I was required to full grasp the pathology and then educate my classmates accordingly. This project required many different steps and stepping stones to complete, which all required me to be more thorough and broaden my knowledge of the topic. Through my research I found that truncus arteriosus is quite common, but also requires surgery fairly soon following birth. Ultrasound plays a very important role in diagnosis to assure that these babies receive the best care necessary once born, so that they can live a normal life.
Through completion of this project I was able to further my knowledge of common pathology and also allowed me to educate my classmates by the aspect of an oral presentation. I am very thankful for projects like this one that helped shape me into the sonographer I aspire to become. It is becoming more familiar with cases like this that will help me to become the successful MFM sonographer that I plan to be in the future. Through this project I was able to show my teachers as well as classmates that I have what it takes to be a successful sonographer aiding in diagnosis of both common and complicated pathology.
Upon graduation students will possess the knowledge and demonstrate the skills necessary to successfully gain employment, become a credentialed Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and function as a valuable part of a healthcare diagnostic team.
1.4
Throughout the program I found this outcome skill to be exceptionally important starting from day one in the program. During our internships at local hospitals in the Charlotte and surrounding areas, our teachers reminded us to treat each rotation as a job interview. This would help to prepare us for an actual job, as well as possibly gain a career at one of these participating locations, so from my first day in the hospital I kept this in mind. I treated each rotation the same, being friendly, helping out where needed; willingly scanning, restocking rooms, and cleaning rooms. Here is where I was able to apply my classroom knowledge to actual cases and perfect my scanning abilities. Through working hard and proving my skill during my student internship, I hoped to prove myself to my "possible" future employers and in-turn get offered a job.
My first goal was to show my preceptors that I was an asset and would be a hardworking and dependable employee. I was able to do this by performing ultrasounds and showing my knowledge by presenting these cases to both my preceptors as well as Radiologist, as well as helping out in the department wherever needed. Secondly, I plan to become a registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at the time of graduation in May 2016. I plan to sit for and pass my Abdomen registry first, and then OB/GYN, and at a later date pass the Vascular registry.
Preceptors are required to grade us and give constructive feedback through a site called Taskstream, here is where I was able to track my progress each semester. I took this feedback as well as verbal feedback and learned from both the bad and good. With each semester, I was able to see my progression during the journey. I grew in my abilities and confidence, and was able to not only apply my knowledge, but continue to keep the best interest of my patients in mind. This particular taskstream evaluation that I chose to share shows that I indeed proved myself and received positive feedback from my hard work. Being a sonographer is a great blessing to the medical field, each of us play a huge role in aiding in diagnosis that can potentially save the lives of many. I have learned that this journey is a continual learning experience and while I have come a long way, I am nowhere near the end. I look forward to the future and the many lives I will be able to touch.