Vascular Technology Degree Completion Program
Program Purpose
The Vascular Technology bachelor's degree completion program enables registered professionals in vascular technology to further their knowledge and skills necessary for career advancement, to become effective communicators, problem solvers, critical thinkers, responsible managers and leaders, and to value life long learning.
Educational Objectives
The program prepares students to utilize diagnostic techniques, sound judgment and good decision making to provide patient services.
The program develops leaders in the field of vascular technology who contribute to the field on a local, regional or national level.
The program prepares students who think critically, communicate effectively and exemplify professional ethics.
The program conveys the importance of becoming life-long learners and responsible citizens.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes
The student will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and visual forms.
The student will demonstrate the ability to work effectively in teams.
The student will demonstrate an ability to provide basic patient care and comfort.
The student will employ professional judgment and discretion.
The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human gross anatomy, sectional anatomy, and normal and abnormal vascular anatomy.
The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of vascular physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology.
The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of vascular physical principles and instrumentation.
The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of clinical vascular diagnostic procedures and testing.
The student will demonstrate an understanding of diverse cultural and humanistic traditions in the global society.
The student will be able to perform scholarly research and to contribute that knowledge to the field of vascular technology.
Curriculum Map
The curriculum map for the Vascular Technology degree completion program can be found on the program's Distance Ed web page on the OIT web site.
Summary of Student Learning Outcomes
During 2007-08 academic year, the program faculty formally assessed the student learning outcomes summarized below. Additional details can be found in the attached assessment report and in department assessment records.
Student Learning Outcome #4: The student will employ professional judgment and discretion.
Strengths: Students were able to perform the tasks and roles required within the scope of practice in the field of echocardiography. The students were also able to integrate the data and see the whole picture. All students met the benchmark.
Areas needing improvement: None at this time.
Student Learning Outcome #5: The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human gross anatomy, sectional anatomy, and normal and abnormal vascular anatomy.
Strengths: All the students surveyed reported that they knew their anatomy. The students who performed scanning final exams demonstrated that they met their benchmark in the identification of the anatomy. Some minor weaknesses were noted in identification of the superior mesenteric artery and the flank. After taking some simple actions even these minor weaknesses disappeared upon reassessment.
Areas needing improvement: None at this time
Student Learning Outcome #8: The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of clinical vascular diagnostic procedures and testing.
Strengths: The areas of observed strengths included an ability to demonstrate good vascular scanning protocols, vascular interpretation, the importance or relevancy of the case, the ability to write good introductions, discussions and references. There were minor weaknesses noted in three areas of the written case study: 1) abstract, 2) methods and procedures, and 3) conclusions and with providing scholarly research. All students met the benchmark of 80%. Actions were taken to improve the minor weaknesses and reassessment was done to confirm that improvements were made.
Areas needing improvement: None at this time.
Additional Assessment on Critical Thinking
Strengths: Students demonstrated proficiency on all performance criteria, including identifying the problem/question issue; recognizing stakeholders and contexts; framing personal responses and/or acknowledging other's perspectives; evaluating assumptions; evaluating evidence; and evaluating implications, conclusions and consequences.
Areas needing improvement: None at this time.
Changes Resulting from Assessment
Student Learning Outcome #5: The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human gross anatomy, sectional anatomy, and normal and abnormal vascular anatomy.
Although students met the benchmark for all performance criteria, there were minor weaknesses noted in identification of the superior mesenteric artery and the flank kidney views. Students were given additional instructions on how to scan the kidney and the superior mesenteric artery. Upon re-assessment, students demonstrated proficiency in this area.
Student Learning Outcome #8: The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of clinical vascular diagnostic procedures and testing.
Although students met benchmarks for all performance criteria, there were minor weaknesses identified in the written case studies. The instructor provided more student examples and discussed earlier in the term how to effectively write each area of the case study to include necessary components. Students were given an introductory exercise to require them to use the library databases. Upon re-assessment students demonstrated proficiency on the written portion of the case study.