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Are reporting radiographers fulfilling the role of advanced practitioner?

No / Advanced practice roles are emerging in all disciplines at a rapid pace and reporting
radiographers are ideally placed to work at such level. Advanced practitioners should demonstrate expert
practice and show progression into three other areas of higher level practice. Most existing literature has
focussed on the image interpretation aspect of the role, however there is little evidence that plain film
reporting radiographers are undertaking activities beyond image interpretation and fulfilling the role of
advanced practitioner.
Letters were posted to every acute NHS trust in the UK, inviting reporting radiographers to
complete an online survey. Both quantitative and qualitative information was sought regarding demographics
and roles supplementary to reporting.
A total of 205 responses were analysed; 83.3% of reporting radiographers describe themselves as
advanced practitioner, however significantly less are showing progression into the four core functions of
higher level practice. A total of 97.0% undertake expert practice, 54.7% have a leadership role, 19.8%
provide expert lectures and 71.1% have roles encompassing service development or research, though
most of these fall into the service development category. 34.5% felt that they were aware of the differences
between extended and advanced practice though much less (9.3%) could correctly articulate the
difference.
Few individuals are aware of the difference between extended and advanced practice.
Though the majority of plain film reporting radiographers identify themselves as advanced practitioners,
significantly less evidence all four core functions of higher level practice. The number of individuals
undertaking research and providing expert-level education is low.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/15687
Date28 September 2016
CreatorsMilner, R.C., Snaith, Beverly
Source SetsBradford Scholars
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle, No full-text in the repository

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