FULL-TIME | WINNIPEG LOCATIONS ULTDF-DP Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Ultrasound

Overview

This version of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will no longer be accepting new students effective Fall 2021.

Please visit the new Diagnostic Medical Sonography program webpage for the revised program.

Admission Requirements

Before applying:

• Carefully review the admission requirements 
• Successfully complete admission requirements 1 through 5 to ensure you can submit proof of completion within 30 days of applying.

• Your application will be cancelled without a refund of the non-refundable/non-transferable application fee if you cannot submit proof within 30 days of applying.
• We require verification of your complete academic history including any public or private high school, college, university, or technical institutions you have attended.
• Post-secondary transcripts must have been issued within 6 months prior to your application date, and submitted in a sealed envelope directly from the post-secondary institution.
• If you are required to complete an English language assessment, do not submit your transcripts until requested to do so.  See Regular Admission Requirement 4 for more information.

• After completing admission requirements 1 to 5, submit an RRC application

• Submit proof of meeting admission requirements 1 to 5
• Submit an Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form (admission requirement 6)
• Complete the mandatory CASPer Test (admission requirement 7)
• Complete the mandatory CASPer Snapshot (admission requirement 7). Snapshot should be completed within 10 days of completing the CASPer Test. 

Annual application deadline: April 15

Admission Requirements

1. Post-Secondary Education
• Submit proof of having successfully completed 18 or more credits of degree-level (1000 level or higher) post-secondary education including:
• 12 or more credits of Science
• A maximum of 6 credits of Arts and Humanities may be applied towards the required 18 credits
• A minimum grade of 65% or 'C+' is required in each course. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• Degree-level (1000 level or higher) courses approved by the degree granting institution as meeting Science or Arts and Humanities requirements will be accepted.  However, Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-credits) and Medical Terminology (3-credits) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement
  and
2. Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-credits)
• Submit proof of successful completion of 6-credits of acceptable Human Anatomy and Physiology courses.  For a list of recommended courses, click here
• Courses must include a lab component
• A minimum grade of 65% or 'C+' is required in each course. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• You must have completed the course(s) within five years of your application date. For example:
• If you apply to RRC on January 15, 2022 your course must have been completed on or after January 15, 2017
  and
3. Medical Terminology (3-credits)
• Submit proof of successful completion of 3-credits of Medical Terminology
• View RRC's list of recommended Medical Terminology courses
• A minimum grade of 65% or 'C+' is required. However, grades of Pass, Complete or Satisfied will be accepted for courses completed in Winter 2020, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 only.
• You must have completed the course(s) within five years of your application date. For example:
• If you apply to RRC on January 15, 2022 your course must have been completed on or after January 15, 2017
  and
4. English Language Assessment or Degrees of Reading Power Assessment
• ALL applicants must complete either an English Language Assessment or the Degrees of Reading Power Assessment
• We strongly advise you complete the assessment before submitting your application to ensure you meet required levels
• Assessment results must be dated no more than two years prior to your application date
• Before applying, determine which assessment is appropriate for your situation by answering this question: 
  Have I successfully completed three years of full-time high school (secondary) education in Canada, the United States, or an English language requirement (ELR) exempt country where English was the language of instruction?
• If YES:
• Before applying, register for and successfully complete the Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) assessment. The minimum DRP level required for this program is 71.
• After applying, submit your transcripts* for review
  or
• If NO:
• Before applying, successfully complete an approved English language assessment (ELA) at the required levels
• After applying, submit your ELA results. Once we confirm you meet this program's English language requirements, we will request submission of your transcripts* for review.
• * If your transcripts are from the USA or an ELR exempt country, we will assess an International Credentials Assessment Fee to be paid before your transcripts will be reviewed.
  and
5. First Aid Course
• Submit proof of current certification in the appropriate First Aid course. To confirm which course you need to complete for this program click here
  and
6. Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• Submit a completed Applicant Declaration for Check Documents form
  and
7. CASPer Test and Snapshot
• Successfully complete each of the following:
• CASPer Test - an online situational judgement test that assesses personal competencies including non-academic attributes and people skills
• CASPer Snapshot - a short video response tool  
• Visit RRC's CASPer webpage for additional information and a list of CASPer assessment dates
• Results will be used to select applicants with the highest potential for success
• You may complete the CASPer assessment once per admission cycle (April to March annually)
• Your results will be valid for all applicable RRC programs applied to during the admissions cycle
• You are responsible for the cost of both the Test and Snapshot
• Your CASPer results will be submitted directly to RRC (you do no need to submit your results)
• Recommended assessment preparation:
• CASPer Test Prep
• CASPer Frequently Asked Questions
• CASPer support team 
• RRC workshop

Program Progression Requirements
Program progression requirements are not due within 30 days of applying and should be submitted after you start classes.

• Criminal Record and Adult and Child Abuse Checks
• This program requires students to submit current original/official versions of one or more of the following checks:
• Criminal Record Check (CRC)
• Provincial Child Abuse Registry Check (CAR)
• Adult Abuse Registry Check (AAR)
  
• If you have a criminal record you may not be able to complete the program
• If you are listed on an Abuse Registry you will not be able to complete the program
• For details on this program's requirements, when to obtain and submit the documents, review the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• These documents have expiration dates and should not be obtained prior to timeline indicated on the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents form
• For general information on why RRC requires these checks and for links to check providers such as the Winnipeg Police, visit our Criminal Record Checks webpage
• Submit your check documents to the RRC program contact listed on the Contact Information section of your program
  and
• Immunizations and Testing
• Review the Healthcare Program Immunizations information
• If you have questions about this requirement contact Health Services
• Submit your completed RRC Healthcare Program Questionnaire to RRC's Health Services

Who Should Enrol?

You may be interested in a career in Ultrasound - Diagnostic Medical Sonography if you:

• Desire to work in a medical environment
• Are compassionate and motivated to help the sick and injured
• Have a strong academic background, especially in science
• Have an aptitude for effective communication
• Are able to cope with constant changes in technology and in your work environment
• Have an eye for detail, excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, and good spatial reasoning
• Have excellent hand eye coordination
• Have excellent people skills
• Understand the responsibility of your role within the diagnostic medical team
• Have good computer skills

When working in the health care profession, there are many physical and emotional demands.  As a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, you must:

• Be in good physical and mental health, and be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time without resting
• Have the ability to lift 50 pounds
• Be able to push and pull, and bend and stoop routinely
• Have full use of both hands, wrists, arms and shoulders
• Have the ability to operate the scanner controls and the transducer simultaneously and effectively
• Be able to distinguish audible sounds
• Have the ability to identify colour distinctions in order to adequately view sonograms
• Demonstrate the use of safe and effective body mechanics while working with patients
• Be able to safely lift, transfer, and position patients, some of whom may be in a state of unconsciousness or who may be large and heavy and have limited or no weight bearing capabilities
• Be able to interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
• Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
• Have the ability to organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence

Additionally, you may:

• Experience repetitive strain injuries
• Be exposed to extreme patient injuries
• Be required to work extended hours
• Be exposed to infectious diseases, blood and bodily fluids, toxic materials, noise, allergens, and physical and emotional stress
• Encounter aggressive and agitated patients, visitors, and staff
• Experience physical and compassion fatigue

CO-OP/Practicum Information

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program arranges clinical placements for each student. Clinical placements are located in a variety of accredited facilities throughout Manitoba. Students are responsible for travel, accommodation arrangements and costs to, during and from their clinical experience. Students continue with their didactic studies thru on-line learning while on their clinical placement and stable internet access is required. 

Note: For clinical site assignment, students input their preferences for clinical placements. However, there is no guarantee that students will receive a clinical assignment from their list of preferred sites.  Students must be prepared to attend their assigned placement at any of the clinical sites in the province. 

The following facilities are potential sites for the clinical education. 

Winnipeg clinical sites: 

• Children's Hospital, Winnipeg
• Grace General Hospital, Winnipeg
• Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg
• Seven Oaks General Hospital
• St. Boniface General Hospital
• Victoria General Hospital
• Concorordia Hospital
• Misericordia Health Centre

Clinical sites outside of Winnipeg: 

• Brandon Regional Health Centre (Brandon)
• Boundary Trails Health Centre (Morden/Winkler)
• Portage District General Hospital (Portage La Prairie)
• Selkirk and District General Hospital (Selkirk)
• Bethesda Regional Health Centre (Steinbach)
• St. Anthony's General Hospital (The Pas)
• Dauphin Regional Health Centre (Dauphin)
• Thompson General Hospital (Thompson) 

Computer/Laptop Requirements

Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College students require, at minimum:

1.  Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam

2.  A high speed internet connection

• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/ for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.

Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which documents and compares an individual's prior learning gained from prior education, work and life experiences and personal study to the learning outcomes in College courses/programs. For more information, please visit www.rrc.ca/rpl.

Employment Potential

Ultrasound is practiced in major urban and rural hospitals. In Manitoba there is also mobile ultrasound, where the sonographer travels with a portable ultrasound machine to service smaller rural communities.  In other provinces there are also private clinics.

Some graduates are working in related teaching, management, and research positions.  Others are employed as application specialists, technical advisors, or representatives for diagnostic imaging equipment and supply manufacturers.

In 2013, an entry level technologist in Manitoba could expect to make approximately $31.56 per hour as a starting wage.

Contact Information