Overview

This policy has been formulated to be in full accord with the published guidelines of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (N.R.C.) regarding radiation exposure to the developing fetus. In addition, it meets local, state and federal radiation control and anti-discrimination regulations. Pregnancy related issues other than those relating to radiation exposure are addressed in the Student Health and Student Health Disclosure policies.

Policy

Should a student or faculty member become pregnant while employed / enrolled in the Medical Radiography Program, she is under NO requirement to declare her pregnancy status to any individual associated with the program. Should she voluntarily elect to declare her pregnancy status, she may do so by using the “Voluntary Declaration of Pregnancy For Medical Radiography Program Students” form, and submitting it to the Program Director.

Should she elect NOT to declare her pregnancy status, it is understood that the program is under no requirement to afford any measures with regard to radiation safety other than those which are routinely afforded to all medical radiography students and faculty.

Should she declare and submit the declaration form to the Program Director, the following measures will become effective for the duration of her pregnancy, while she is enrolled within / employed by the program:

1. The individual will be expected to continue to carry out all assignments and duties without change or restriction, whether or not there is the potential of the individual receiving an exposure to secondary and/or scatter radiation as a routine condition of practice, during that assignment. This expectation is inclusive of all academic, laboratory and clinical activities.
2. The individual will be issued a second radiation monitoring device. The device is to be worn at waist level at all times within the clinical environment. An electronic monitor will be available for use during scheduled lab sessions where the energized x-ray equipment will be in use. Should the individual be in an area requiring the wearing of a personnel shielding apron, the monitoring device must be at the waist, underneath the apron.
   
3. The Program will provide the individual with a “wrap-around” apron shielding device which is to be worn whenever the individual is directly observing or actively participating in any activity where there is a potential for secondary/scatter radiation exposure (e.g. fluoroscopy, bedside radiography, inter-operative radiologic procedures, cardio-vascular/interventional radiologic procedures, etc)
   
4. The Program will inform the appropriate individuals at the student’s assigned clinical education setting of the declaration

Whether or not the student decides to voluntarily declare her pregnancy status, it is strongly advised that she confer with her own private health care provider(s) about the physical performance requirements and demands which are associated with the practice of Medical Radiography (Essential Functions policy).

Should the individual decide, for personal or medical reasons, to suspend her enrollment in the program, she is to follow the program’s Leave of Absence policy.

* NOTE:

The NRC has established as a guideline, and the relevant state and federal agencies have promulgated regulations stipulating that exposure levels below 0.5 rem (500 millirem) spread equally over the nine month gestation period, pose no measurable increased risk factor to the developing fetus. Furthermore, the Program has established as its annual dose limit for students enrolled in the program, the A.L.A.R.A. level of 0.5 rem (500 millirem) averaged equally over a 12 month monitoring period. Any potential effects to secondary / scatter radiation exposure during the regular practice of a student or faculty member in the Medical Radiography Program are further mitigated by:

• the low energy and low amounts of scatter radiation exposures typically present to a medical radiographer or medical radiography student during their active participation in clinically related functions.
  
• the medical radiography students having been instructed to regularly and assiduously adhere to all appropriate time / distance / shielding practices
  
• the fact that the developing fetus, inside the mother, receives an extremely small fraction of any radiation exposure dose the mother may receive.

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