Radiation Therapy 2-year Degree Program Florida Community College at Jacksonville North Campus

Transcription

1 Radiation Therapy 2-year Degree Program Florida Community College at Jacksonville North Campus GENERAL PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION: Radiation therapy is a fast growing allied health specialty. The radiation therapist assists in the treatment of patients with cancer. Radiation is directed at the tumor site under strictly controlled conditions in an attempt to cure or palliate the disease. The therapist positions the patient for treatment, performs the necessary calculations to determine the proper radiation dosage and, under the supervision of a physician, delivers the required radiation utilizing highly complex equipment. Therapists work closely with patients and coworkers. Graduates of the FCCJ Radiation Therapy Program are eligible to take the nationally recognized American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) examination immediately after graduation. This credential offers the therapist excellent employment opportunities as well as a competitive salary. Students must complete all prerequisites (see enclosed curriculum) to be eligible for this program. Successful students must have a genuine desire to work with people. An aptitude in math and science is helpful, as is a willingness to devote ample time to independent study and homework. For more information concerning the program, call (904) The Program Director can arrange for you to tour the facilities, meet current students, or speak to faculty members or others working in the field. For Further Information... about the profession -contact: American Society of Radiologic Technologists 5000 Central Ave, SE Albuquerque, NM about the college -contact: Registrar's Office, Florida Community College at Jacksonville 50 State Street Jacksonville, FL about the program -contact: Radiation Therapy Program Florida Community College at Jacksonville 450 Capper Rd, Jacksonville, FL 3228 (904) ( tdingus@fccj.edu)

2 APPLICATION AND ADMISSION: Students are accepted into this program every two years; new students will be accepted for the Fall Term of 200and every two years after that. Application is a two-step process. You must first make general application to Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ). This can be done at any FCCJ campus, and there will be a one-time $5 fee. After applying to FCCJ, you may then apply specifically to the Radiation Therapy program (application is included in this document). This limited access program is open to applicants regardless of race, religious affiliation, sex or age. Applicants must meet the Florida Community College at Jacksonville admissions eligibility requirements (See college catalog for information) and completed all prerequisites in order to be considered for admission. All applicants should contact a campus admissions office to see if they need to take the College Placement Test and for other admissions requirements. Application deadline is midnight, May 3 for admission to the program for the following fall term. Applications may be accepted after the deadline should the class not be filled. Applicants will be required to have a drug screen and background check performed prior to entrance into the program. COURSES: All radiation therapy courses must be taken in sequence or with the permission of the Program Director. Students must achieve a "C" average in all the radiation therapy courses prior to graduation from the program. No radiation therapy course may be repeated more than twice. Any withdrawals or reenrollments must be approved by the Program Director. DENIAL OR REQUIRED WITHDRAWAL: The radiation therapy program reserves the right to deny admission or require withdrawal of any student who, in the judgment of the department, gives evidence of being unable to perform the responsibilities and tasks required of the radiation therapy profession. Students must be able to demonstrate ability to communicate, ambulate and perform fine motor coordination; have adequate vision and auditory perception. In accordance with Chapter of the Florida Statutes, the radiation therapy program reserves the right to deny or delay admission, or require withdrawal of any student, who in the judgment of the department, gives evidence of "being unable to practice radiation therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals or any other type of material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition." Helpful Phone Numbers Academic Advising/counseling Admissions/registration Bookstore Financial Aid/veterans Affairs Radiation Therapy Program

3 SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION Complete Radiation Therapy applications must contain the following items. Incomplete applications will not be processed.. Completed Radiation Therapy Application Form 2. Transcript printed from ARTEMIS (go to ARTEMIS link is in the upper right hand corner. Click on student logon under student logon and follow the prompts.) 3. Completed Student Health Certificate 4. Copy of current CPR certification card: The American Heart Associations Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, the American Red Cross's CPR for the Professional Rescuer and FCCJ's HED 0300 Basic Life Support will fulfill this requirement. Students must keep their certification current through the expected date of graduation. NOTE: The radiation therapy program is unable to provide applicants with copies of any documentation in their files. Please make and retain copies for your future use prior to submitting them to the program. Completed PROGRAM applications should be sent to: Radiation Therapy Program FCCJ, North Campus 450 Capper Road Jacksonville, FL 3228 Candidates will be notified by mail of their status after all completed applications have been reviewed. Information concerning a student's status will not be given over the telephone. NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to keep the Radiation Therapy program informed of any changes in mailing address. Incorrect addresses may delay a candidate's notification, or cause the candidate to lose his/her seat. ESTIMATED EXPENSE: (These Figures Are Approximate and Subject to Change) TUITION Florida resident: $74.20 per credit hour (77 credit hours = $5,73.40) Georgia Resident $43.65 per credit hour ($,06.05) Non-Florida/Georgia resident: $ per credit hour ($2,77.85) OTHER EXPENSES Application fees for ARRT exam... $25.00 Background check... $40.00 College application fee... $5.00 Drug screen... $40.00 FCCJ name tag... $6.00 Graduation fees Physical exam (est. cost)... $25.00 Textbooks (est. cost)... $ Uniforms and shoes (est. costs)... $25.00 (Fees and other expenses are subject to change without notice.)

4 STUDENTS WHO ARE ACCEPTED TO THE RADIATION THERAPY PROGRAM: Priority will be given to qualified applicants (Florida Residents) living in the program service district, which includes Duval and Nassau counties. Students are notified of their acceptance into the program by mail. Accepted students will receive an acceptance letter, and the necessary form(s) for a background check. Students must confirm acceptance of their seat in writing (mail or ) by the deadline specified in the acceptance letter. For this reason, if you are going to be on vacation in the summer, have someone monitor your mail! When confirming acceptance, the student must also supply the date the information was submitted for the background check. If the student does not accept the seat by the deadline, the seat will be offered to another candidate. Students must submit a current Student Health Certificate (completed by a physician), Student Health Form (completed by the student) and Hepatitis B Vaccine Statement. Official forms will be sent to the student. Students are notified of their acceptance into the program by mail. Students who receive letters of acceptance are given a specified period of time to formally accept the seat. A time line and guidelines for accepting the seat are included with the acceptance letter. If the student does not accept the seat by the deadline, the seat may be offered to another candidate. Students are required to attend a radiation therapy program orientation session to be held on FCCJ's North campus prior to the program's start date. The time, date and location of the session will be provided to the student. Students must submit a current Student Health Certificate (completed by a physician), Student Health Form (completed by the student) and Hepatitis B Vaccine Statement. Official forms will be sent to the student. FCCJ's tuition costs for the radiation therapy program include limited insurance to cover medical expenses resulting form accidental injuries incurred while participating in designated student activities only. FCCJ and the radiation therapy program do not require, but strongly encourage students to obtain more comprehensive medical insurance if they are not presently covered under an existing plan. Information on low cost student plans can be obtained from the Student Activities Office of any FCCJ campus. Questions about any information contained in this package should be addressed to the program director of Radiation Therapy (904)

5 Prerequisites: Radiation Therapy Program Associate Degree Anatomy &Physiology (BCS 2085C)... 4 credits College Algebra... 3 credits Introduction to Information Technology (CGS 060)... 3 credits 0 credits General Education Requirements: Medical Terminology (HSC 53)... 3 credits Life Skills... 2 credits Anatomy & Physiology credits ENC0 (general ed)... 3 credits Humanities (general ed)... 3 credits Social Science (general ed)... 3 credits 8 credits Fall Term: Introduction to Radiation Therapy... 3 credits Radiation Physics... 3 credits Radiation Biology and Safety... 3 credits Oncology I... 3 credits 9 credits Spring Term: Patient Care in Radiation Therapy... 3 credits Oncology credits Clinical... 4 credits Radiation Physics credits 3 credits Summer Term: Clinical B... 4 credits Trends in Radiation Therapy... 2 credits 6 credits Fall Term: Clinical C... 6 credits Dosimetry and Treatment Planning... 3 credits 9 credits Spring Term: Clinical D... 6 credits Seminar: Registry Review... 3 credits 9 credits TOTAL: 77 credit hours Course may be taken PRIOR to enrolling in the therapy program.

6 Year: Radiation Therapy Selection Criteria 2 Year Degree Program Name SS# A=3 B=2 C= QUALITY POINTS BSC 2085C x 5 = MAT 033 x 5 = CGS 060 x 5 = ALL Prerequisites = + 4 points Subtotal HSC 53 BSC 2086C ENC 0 HUM x x x x = = = = (Social / Behavioral Science) x 4 = TOTAL POINTS (max: 5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Health Care Experience (yes / no)

7 Florida Community College at Jacksonville Radiation Therapy 2-year program Program of Study (POS) 263 Mail in Before May 3. PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY Date Name Last First Middle Initial Maiden Social Security # Sex: Date of Birth: (if accepted into the program, this information is needed to order a radiation monitor) Current mailing address: Permanent Address (if different): Phone # (H): (W): Cell phone (optional): address: Emergency Contact: Name: Phone #: Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Yes No (a background check will be required if you are accepted into the program) If you have a record () You will be required to pre-apply to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for them to determine if you will be eligible to sit the certification examination upon completion of the program. Contact them at from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. CST ( 7 EST), or download the pre-application form by going to On the left side of their homepage, point to Ethics, click on Pre-application process, click on Open pre-application. (2) A copy of it will be sent to our clinical affiliates, and they will determine if they will allow you in their facility.

8 Students are not denied admission to this program based on their background results, however, () If the ARRT deems the student ineligible, the student will not be permitted to sit the credentialing examination. (2) If any of our clinical affiliates denies the student clinical space, the student will be unable to complete the requirements of the program, and therefore be ineligible to sit the ARRT credentialing examination. Prerequisites Courses Completed: Please do not send official transcripts with this application. The only transcript accepted with this application is the unofficial one printed from ARTEMIS. The program faculty do not have authority to grant transfer credit. If the credits do not show up on the ARTEMIS unofficial transcript, it will not be counted. Applications received with an official transcript only, will be discarded without notifying the student. Official transcripts are to be sent to the college registrar. Highlight the courses that you are counting. This will ensure that you & the program faculty come up with the same score. Do not include a check for payment of any kind. All fees are to be paid to FCCJ, not this program. Due to poor print quality, Faxes are not accepted. Do not fax anything. Faxes will be immediately discarded. Originals only are accepted. If you have any direct patient-care experience, please include a letter from your employer on letterhead to include the number of years you have been with them, and a brief description of your duties. Signature of Applicant Date Submitted Thank you for your interest in the FCCJ 2-year Radiation Therapy program. If you have questions or any problems with the application process, please call: (904) Return the application to: Tracey Simmons RT(R)(T) CMD FCCJ, North Campus Radiation Therapy Program, Room A Capper Road Jacksonville, FL 3228

9 This form is to be completed after the conditional acceptance into the Radiation Therapy Programs. FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMS STUDENT HEALTH CERTIFICATE (To be completed by Physician) Immunization History Immunization Date Completed Titer (If Applicable) Tetanus MMR Varicella2 Hepatitis B Name: Program: Radiation Therapy Mantoux tuberculin test: Date: Reading: (If the tuberculin test is positive, a chest film report must be attached). This is to certify that I, a licensed medical practitioner, examined and find him/her in good health. I am not aware of any medical, physical or mental condition that may affect his/her ability to function safely as a student in the Radiologic Technology Program. Comments: Physician's Signature Date Printed Name must be current 2 titer must be attached Address

10 This form is to be completed after the conditional acceptance into the Radiation Therapy Programs. STUDENT HEALTH CERTIFICATE (To be completed by student) As a student of the Health Services Programs at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, I understand that I am responsible for any medical expenses incurred as a direct result of my participation in my program of study that exceed the limits of the insurance provided. 2 In order to be aware of conditions for which we may be able to provide reasonable assistance or accommodation, please list any conditions of which you feel we should be aware. Infectious (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, etc.) Mental/Emotional (depression, panic attacks, etc.) Physical (vision, hearing, etc.) Learning (dyslexia, etc.) I choose not to disclose any conditions [ ] I recognize that the course completion requirements dictate that I assume some degree of risk of exposure to infectious diseases such as the HIV (AIDS) virus/tuberculosis/hepatitis, and I will not be allowed to refuse to treat patients because of their diagnosis. I further recognize that I will not be exposed to patients or patient samples before formal training in Universal Precautions and other safety issues. 2 I agree to submit semiannual (every 6 months) Mantoux tuberculin test results to my program chair. I understand that if this test is interpreted as positive, I will be required to submit a current chest radiograph that is interpreted as negative. If I obtain a positive Mantoux skin test and negative chest radiograph, additional skin tests and radiographs will not be required, however I agree to notify my program chair immediately if symptoms consistent with or suggestive of tuberculosis ensue. Signature and Date PRINTED NAME Revised March, 2009