Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 5 of The Illinois Commitment
National Registry Exam Preparation Helps Students in the Medical Imaging Program to Succeed
College of Lake County
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
The Medical Imaging program at the College of Lake County provides registry review to students assisting them in
passing the national certification exam. College of Lake County research has shown that students who receive these
registry reviews were more likely to pass on their first attempt.
Description of the effective practice:
The Medical Imaging program begins reviewing for the national registry in the last two semesters of the 2-year
associate of applied science program. The review methods used include written tests, computerized mock registries
and one on one mentoring. The program has embedded the registry review within a course titled: Advanced Topics
of Radiography. In this course, students take written tests on each of the five sections on the registry: Equipment
Operation and Maintenance, Radiographic Procedures, Patient Care, Radiation Protection, and Image Production and
Evaluation. After completion of each test, the instructor identifies questions missed by majority of students. A
synopsis is then developed for each of those questions; the synopsis includes explanation of what the question is
asking, what makes the correct answer right, why the other options were wrong, and where the student can read
further for more details. Each student then receives a copy of the synopsis and the instructor walks the class through
it. Once that has been completed and everyone understands, the instructor then encourages each student to go over
their tests independently and to ask questions on other items they had missed and on subjects they do not understand.
Along with the written tests, students also take mock registry exams in the computer lab. At the very beginning, the
program has students take a full mock registry exam to use as their baseline. This is done before any of the written
tests are taken and before studying specifically for the registry. The results of these exams will also show which of
the five categories, (Equipment Operation and Maintenance, Radiographic Procedures, Patient Care, Radiation
Protection, and Image Production and Evaluation), each student is weakest in. We then encourage them to focus on
their weakest section first and to set a goal of a 10% increase in that category for the next mock registry. This
continues until each section, always focusing on the weakest section each time, reaches the pass rate of 75%.
In addition, students will meet with the instructor mid-way through the review process for any questions or concerns
in a one-on-one private setting. If common patterns develop from multiple students, the instructor takes time and
develops handouts to re-emphasize the material and to create a broader understanding of the material. At the end of
the course, the program gives a mock registry for their final exam. The common goal is to see a score higher than the
first one taken on the computer at the beginning of the review process. The Medical Imaging program also requires
that each student pass a mock registry exam in their last clinical course to be eligible for program graduation. Passing
requires a score of 75% or higher; this is the same required score to pass the national certification exam.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
Each year the Medical Imaging program and college strive to continue these practices and constantly improve them
with multiple approaches and methods. The program and college fully support these practices and will continue to
support student’s needs and success.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
In the past two years, the medical imaging program at the College of Lake County has proven success based upon the
statistics of the students who have taken the national certification exam. In 2004, 96% of the students passed on the
first attempt in comparison to the national average of 89%. In 2005, 95% of the students passed on first attempt in
comparison to the national average of 89%. In addition, the program has also surpassed the state and national mean
exam scores. In 2004, the Medical Imaging students earned a mean score of 85.2% in comparison to the state and
national mean scores of 83.5% and 83.9% respectively. In 2005, the Medical Imaging students earned a mean score
of 88% in comparison to the state and national mean scores of 84.4% and 84.8% respectively. Students have
indicated that the registry review has positively impacted their success, pride, and employment opportunities.
Contact Information
Name: Lynn M. Wiechert, M.S., R.T. (R), (CT)
Email: lwiechert@clcillinois.edu
Phone: (847) 543-2880
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