TY - JOUR
T1 - Radiography student participation in professional organizations
AU - Michael, Kimberly
AU - Tran, Xuan
AU - Keller, Shelby
AU - Sayles, Harlan
AU - Custer, Tanya
N1 - Funding Information:
Research about how students benefit from mem-bership in a professional organization and membership’s role in professional development is scarce. However, reported benefits include mentoring, networking, peer-support, idea sharing, and career and learning resources—all of which help to improve skills and promote professionalism.1-4 Professionalism is an integral part of radiography standards and ethics.5,6 Maintaining a health care team of knowledgeable professionals promotes health and well-being in the workforce.7 Although definitions of excellent professionalism vary, educators, researchers, and health care professionals have attempted to clarify the term to help guide and prepare students for practice. Qualities that define, guide, and influence professionalism include8: ƒ Clinical and leadership skills. ƒ Adaptability to the changing health care environ-ment. ƒ Professional curiosity. ƒ Cooperation and ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. ƒ Innovation. ƒ Initiative. ƒ Introspection. Ericsson and Mieg define professionalism as professional engagement.9,10 This definition is supported by
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Purpose To gather data on educational program requirements for student membership in a state or national professional society, organization, or association. Methods A 10-question online survey about student involvement in professional societies was emailed to 616 directors of Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)-accredited radiography programs. Results A total of 219 responses were received, for a 36% response rate. Of these, 89 respondents (41%) answered that their programs require students to join a professional organization. The society respondents most often required (70%) was a state radiography society. Sixty respondents (68%) answered that students join a society at the beginning of the radiography program (from matriculation to 3 months in). Of programs requiring student membership in professional societies, 42 (49%) reported that their students attend the state or national society annual conference; however, participation in activities at the conferences and in the society throughout the year is lower than conference attendance. Discussion Some directors stated that although their programs' policies do not allow membership mandates, they encourage students to become members, primarily so that they can access webinars and other educational materials or information related to the profession. Conclusion Survey data showed that most JRCERT-accredited radiography programs support but do not require student membership in professional organizations. The data reveal that more programs have added those requirements in recent years. Increased student participation could be realized if programs mandated membership and supported it financially.
AB - Purpose To gather data on educational program requirements for student membership in a state or national professional society, organization, or association. Methods A 10-question online survey about student involvement in professional societies was emailed to 616 directors of Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)-accredited radiography programs. Results A total of 219 responses were received, for a 36% response rate. Of these, 89 respondents (41%) answered that their programs require students to join a professional organization. The society respondents most often required (70%) was a state radiography society. Sixty respondents (68%) answered that students join a society at the beginning of the radiography program (from matriculation to 3 months in). Of programs requiring student membership in professional societies, 42 (49%) reported that their students attend the state or national society annual conference; however, participation in activities at the conferences and in the society throughout the year is lower than conference attendance. Discussion Some directors stated that although their programs' policies do not allow membership mandates, they encourage students to become members, primarily so that they can access webinars and other educational materials or information related to the profession. Conclusion Survey data showed that most JRCERT-accredited radiography programs support but do not require student membership in professional organizations. The data reveal that more programs have added those requirements in recent years. Increased student participation could be realized if programs mandated membership and supported it financially.
KW - Membership
KW - Professional organization
KW - Professional society
KW - Students
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M3 - Review article
C2 - 28904151
AN - SCOPUS:85029330550
SN - 0033-8397
VL - 89
SP - 20
EP - 26
JO - Radiologic Technology
JF - Radiologic Technology
IS - 1
ER -