Postgraduate Medical Imaging Nursing Curriculum: Development and Indications for Nursing Practice

Abstract

Medical Imaging (MI) nurses require advanced education to increase their ability to positively influence patient care, leading to improved patient outcomes. The MI nursing field has been a neglected specialty with regard to postgraduate tertiary education programs, where the eminent skills, knowledge, and expertise of other specialist nursing fields have been recognized and sought after, such as critical care environments. Postgraduate tertiary education incorporates the application of evidence-based theory to clinical practice and can address the theory-practice gap and improve the critical thinking, confidence, and competence of MI nurses. Postgraduate tertiary education can contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduced mortality. A postgraduate tertiary MI nursing program was developed to support the clinical practice and critical thinking of nurses in radiology departments.