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ISRRT_COVID-19_book

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How my professional role has changed (from a student to a<br />

Mohammed Bhana<br />

qualified radiographer) in the face of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong><br />

The transition from being a student to a qualified radiographer is a well-documented, difficult<br />

process. By utilising techniques such as a preceptorship programme can help the process to<br />

flow smoothly at a speed comfortable for each individual. That is, if the situation was the<br />

same as the years prior to the <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic. Although <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> brought about many<br />

changes, it also added insurmountable pressure to the national healthcare system (NHS).<br />

<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> resulted in newly qualified staff working in an ambiguous and intense environment<br />

(more so than it would have been prior to the pandemic) whilst also meeting the demands of<br />

the service – despite its many changes - and provide excellent healthcare for all patients.<br />

Under normal circumstances, the preceptorship programme maps out a systematic, strategic<br />

process which enables the newly qualified radiographer to apply and embed the skills learnt<br />

throughout their 3 years in training to become a competent, confident autonomous<br />

practitioner. In addition to this, the process to support a newly qualified practitioner is built<br />

on the foundation that the new member of staff would be assigned to a designated<br />

experienced radiographer – the preceptor. However, during a global pandemic the<br />

circumstances became anything but what was once considered ‘normal’, which immediately<br />

affected the workflow and workload in NHS Trusts across the UK. This changed suddenly and<br />

it would be very difficult to find someone dedicated to mentor the same person, hence<br />

working effectively as a team with anyone experienced would enable a newly qualified<br />

radiographer to develop and apply their skills. Where once a preceptor would support a newly<br />

qualified radiographer, the support network evolved to what it had become as a two-way<br />

pattern; the preceptor would support the newly qualified radiographer to develop their skills<br />

and the newly qualified radiographer would support the team by working with anyone to help<br />

support the workload and carry out tasks in areas they were confident in. What was<br />

considered routine examinations had been superseded by an immense number of patients<br />

who were either suspected or confirmed <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>, this was anything but routine.<br />

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