Darton State College 2016-2017 Catalog

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Legal Limitations
Individuals who have a criminal record may not be eligible for licensure. Therefore, it is
recommended that he or she contact the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
(ARDMS) to verify eligibility for licensure. All students will be required to complete a national
criminal background check prior to placement in clinical practicums. Clinical facilities also require a
drug screen prior to placement. The clinical affiliate determines whether a student can participate in
the clinical rotation based upon the results of the background check and drug screen. Should the
student be denied clinical placement, he or she cannot progress through the program and will be
dismissed. Careful consideration of any questionable record should be carefully scrutinized prior to
application, as eligibility for licensure is at the discretion of the ARDMS.
ARDMS website
Clinical Obligations and Acceptance
If accepted, students will have a clinical component of the program to complete. Clinical placement
is equally distributed among students. Although the majority of the clinical component is carried out
during day time hours, less than 25% of the total clinical assignments will be during evening and/or
weekend hours. Program clinical locations are mainly located outside the city limits, and all
expenses associated with travel are the student’s responsibility. Additionally, some program clinical
affiliates require drug screens (initial and random), criminal background checks, periodic
tuberculosis skin tests and specific vaccinations. If the student is placed in a facility requiring any/all
of these items, the cost will be the student’s responsibility. Documentation of all immunizations and
vaccinations will be collected prior to the start of clinical observations. Failure to provide this
documentation will prevent the student from being allowed to attend clinical settings. These
absences will be unexcused and may lead to the student’s dismissal from the program.
Pregnancy Policy
Please refer to the program’s handbook on the or the DMS program’s complete
pregnancy policy. Any student that is pregnant or becomes pregnant while in the Diagnostic Medical
Sonography program should consider the following:
1) Exposure to communicable diseases. As a student you may be exposed to many communicable
diseases such as rubella, HIV, and the Hepatitis C virus which may present a serious danger to the
developing fetus. It is the pregnant student’s responsibility to protect themselves from any danger to
themselves and their developing fetus during clinical and lab times.
2) Students are at risk to radiation exposure during certain clinical rotations. Pregnant students must
protect themselves and their baby by using lead aprons and avoiding all radiation during the course
of their pregnancy.
Due to the risks involved with pregnant students, Darton State College does not assume any liability
for any complications with the pregnancy while attending clinical assignments. If a student is or
becomes pregnant while enrolled in the program, she must understand the risks and complications
that may be encountered. The student may make a decision as to whether or not to continue in the
clinical rotation and/or other concurrent courses without modification. If the student’s medical
condition limits her ability to continue in the program, she may choose to take a leave of absence
and continue with the following cohort of DMSP students beginning with the withdrawn course(s)
provided space is available (see leave of absence policy). Excessive absences over the specified
allowed amount (excused or unexcused) may cause the student to be dropped from that/those
course(s).
Leave of Absence Policy
For any number of reasons a student may request a leave of absence from the program when they
hope to return at a future date. This policy is also applicable to students that have incurred an illness,
injury, condition or disability that would temporarily prevent them from performing the essential