To meet federal, state and programmatic accreditation requirements, personal dosimeters are distributed to students quarterly and must be always worn by students while rotating in the clinic or in the laboratory setting where ionizing radiation is used. A radiation dosimeter is worn clipped to the collar of the uniform, lab coat or shirt and should be outside any lead apron to accurately record whole body exposure.
Since nuclear medicine students prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, they are also issued a ring dosimeter. Students are required to wear the ring dosimeter on a finger of their dominant hand with the label facing the palm of the hand. This ensures accurate hand exposure measurements.
New dosimeters will be distributed to students just prior to the beginning of a quarter. Students must exchange their dosimeters by the first clinic day of each new quarter in January, April, July and October. In addition, at the end of the fall semester, students will turn in their dosimeters to the department prior to the completion of the last final exam of the semester. Students who have not picked up their new dosimeter by the first clinic-day of each quarter will receive a Zerograde or any dosimeters not turned in on the pickup day will be considered ‘late’ and will receive a Zerograde.
Lost dosimeters must be reported immediately to a student’s Clinical Coordinator and the Radiation Safety Office so a replacement can be issued. There may be a fee for any lost badges. Under no circumstances may a student continue activities involving ionizing radiation until a replacement dosimeter has been issued. Clinic time missed due to lost badges will have to be made up. Any student who goes to clinic without a dosimeter at any time will receive a Zerograde.
All student dosimeters must be returned to the Department prior to graduation.
