Dosimetry I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

RADT-2407-001 Dosimetry I

Prerequisites

Advanced standing in the program or instructor consent

Course Description

The principles, aims and techniques of applying ionizing radiation to the human body are presented in this course. Topics include discussions of applications of radiotherapy equipment with emphasis on treatment planning and dose calculations. The physical aspects and properties of ionizing radiation are discussed.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 4 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Principles and Practices of Radation Therapy (most recent edition.) Leaver and Washington;

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\ Study Guide (compiled by Tackitt)

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\ Radiation Therapy Study Guide and Exam Review-Levy

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\ TABER'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY or other approved Medical dictionary

Supplies

\ Computer/internet, as per college policy.  Calculator (for Dosimetry II, students will need a scientific calculator.

Student Performance

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\ COURSE DESCRIPTION:

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\ Fundamentals of radiation oncology, malignant conditions, their etiology, treatment, prognosis, psychosocial effect of this disease and specific nursing skills dealing with cancer patients.

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\ COURSE GOALS:

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\ To give the student entry-level knowledge of radiation oncology, radiation nursing and radiation treatment procedures for disease.

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\ 1.         anatomy                                             6.         staging

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\ 2.         epidemiology                                      7.         treatment principles                                   

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\ 3.         pathology                                           8.         prognosis

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\ 4.         clinical evaluation                             9.         nursing aspects

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\ 5.         diagnosis                                            10.       misc.

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\ COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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\ After studying the material presented in this course, the student will be able to do the following with a minimum 80% total accuracy as evaluated by the program faculty:

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\ 1.         Be able to discuss the principles of the normal cell, inflammation and repair mechanisms.

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\ 2.         Be able to discuss the development and definition of malignant and abnormal pathology.

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\ 3.         Be able to describe tumor development, grading and staging systems.

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\ 4.         Be able to describe the biological effects of radiation.

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\ 5.         Be able to identify sites where tumors arise and discuss related anatomy and function.

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\ 6.         Be able to identify etiologic and epidemiologic factors of all tumor sites.

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\ 7.         Be able to identify and discuss methods of cancer detection/diagnosis.

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\ 8.         Be able to identify and describe work-up and staging for all tumor sites.

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\ 9.         Be able to understand treatment of choice for particular tumors and indicate the rationale for treatment.

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\ 10.       Be able to document specific tumor site oncologic factors and specific patient factors via computer generated, written case study reports

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\ 11.        Be able to discuss histology of the tumor sites.

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\ 12.       Be able to distinguish treatment techniques for all tumor sites.

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\ 13.       Be able to discuss prognosis for specific tumor sites.

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\ 14.       Be able to discuss nursing aspects of various tumor sites and treatment side effects

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\ 15.       Writing in the form of regular short answer and essay format homework will be assigned for most sections in the two semester oncology curriculum.

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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ See Attendance policy.

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\ Also see Amarillo Colllege students rights and responsibility document

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\ Also see "Netiquette" policy located in the course orientations.

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\ COURSE ETHICS

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\ Radiation Therapy courses

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\ Each student will be required to prepare written assignments for credit, and take written examinations typically as a routine part of each course. As such, students should be fully aware of the instructor's policies relative to the ethics regarding copying the work of others and any unethical act that may occur during a quiz or examination or other assignment.

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\ PLAGIARISMis the theft of another person's work or thinking. Words, as well as ideas, or intellectual property and can be stolen from another person as easily as money or some other item. As such, plagiarism can be a violation of the law, and is certainly a violation of ethics. Even in those cases where the law may not be violated, plagiarism is unethical and does the wrong thing to do and can carry severe consequences for the perpetrator.

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\ In a college credit course, it is considered plagiarism to copy the work of another student, even with the permission of that student, since the copied work violates course ethics. Under the circumstances associated with a course assignment for credit, a student would also need the permission of the course instructor before it is considered ethical to copy the work of a peer. Obviously, that permission is not likely to be given, for it totally defeats the purpose of the assignment, which is to measure or demonstrate the knowledge and ability of the student -- not the ability of someone else. Stated another way, and these courses, a student WILL NOT COPY ANOTHER STUDENTS WORK on any assignment for credit!

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\ Likewise, unethical conduct during a quiz or examination is also the wrong thing to do. For a student pursuing a career in a health occupation, test dishonesty can be seen as a reliable predictor of unacceptable job performance following graduation. This instructor takes the position that the dishonest student is probably also unethical in other ways and is a threat to the safety of any patient who comes in contact with that student. Employers likely take a similar position. The healthcare industry cannot tolerate such conduct.

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\ At Amarillo college, there are grave academic penalties for any unethical conduct on the part of any student. The policy and penalty for such conduct is provided in the General Catalog as follows:

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\ "A high standard of conduct is expected of all students. It is assumed that obedience to the law, respect for properly constituted authority, personal honor, integrity and common sense will guide the actions of each member of the college community both in and out of the classroom. Any student who fails to perform according to expected standards may be disciplined."

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\ It should be concluded from this statement that unethical course conduct is absolutely prohibited by Amarillo College policy. To be more specific, in radiation therapy courses, plagiarism, dishonesty, or any other unethical course conduct, is reason for a final course grade of "F" regardless of other grades earned in the course.

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\ Students engaging in any form of cheating in any program major class in any manner can be expected to be immediately dismissed from the Radiation Therapy program with a grade of “F” in the class of concern as well as no possibility of future enrollment in the program (as well as the possibility of possible permanent expulsion from Amarillo College and a notation of the expulsion on the student’s permanent transcript)!

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\ Worth noting: if a student becomes aware of cheating on the part of another student, the national certification agency code of ethics compels that student to make the Program Director aware of the cheating. Failure to do so may put the student at risk of the same kinds of punishments as the student that actually did the cheating. Such actions or inactions may also preclude the student from being eligible to become registered as a radiation therapy by the national certification agency, the ARRT.

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\ This ethics policy is STRICTLY enforced, with ZERO tolerance, for ALL RADT courses! A student should not risk their academic future as the result of an unethical act related to a course assignment or examination. If in doubt about a particular assignment or testing practice, contact the course instructor FIRST!

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Grading Criteria

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Attendance

\  This is a "synchronous" online class--meaning it is NOT self-paced.  Pay carefull attention to the course calendar and due dates for activities/exams.  Submitting a graded activity late will result in zero credit unless there has been prior approval.  Proecdures to follow in case of computer malfunction during an exam will be discussed during the podcast review of teh syllabus. In short, the student will need to secure an examination center that has reliable computer/internet access.  A home computer will NOT be acceptable for exams.  Amarillo area students will need to take their exams at the AC computer Center on the West Campus.

Calendar

Additional Information

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\ The following is a list of texts resources available for temporary “checkout” from the Program Director:

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• \ The Physics of Radiation Therapy—3^rd Ed.  Khan
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• \ Principles and Practices of Radiation Therapy—3^rd Ed.  Washington & Leaver
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• \ American Cancer Society Textbook of Clinical Education—various editions
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• \ Fundamentals of Sectional Anatomy—Lazo
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• \ Tabors Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary-- various editions
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• \ Technological Basis of Radiation Therapy—Levitt and Tapley 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Ethical and Legal Issues for Imaging Professionals—Towsley-Cook, Young, 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Medicolegal Issues for Radiographers—Parelli, 3^rd Ed.
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• \ Patient Care in Radiography—Elrich, Daly 7^th Ed.
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• \ Radiation Therapy Planning—Bentel, 2^nd Ed.
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• \ Supportive Care in Radiotherapy—Faithfull, Wells
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\ Also, Make use of the AC online library, at http://www.actx.edu/library/index.php

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\ You’ll need your college ID# and login (this same you use to register each semester)