Online courses help me better understand the multifaceted role of a qualified sonographer, sonographers not only a technical operator but also a healthcare who provide safe and ethical patient centered care. The online course and weekly learning activities help me to realize the importance of critical thinking, the importance of communication, especially with people who come from different culture respect and understand is always the priority. I also realize that to be a qualified sonographer I need to engage in lifelong learning is crucial for maintaining competency and meeting ASAR's standards (ASAR,2023).

Culture Awareness 

The idea of culture safety is important for me to better understand patient care. To provide culture safety care requires awareness, respect and communication properly. Culture respect including modesty or personal space can improve patient comfort. I  will improve my culture competence through learning and feedback (Curtis et al., 2019).

 Ergonomics

I realize that sonography is a physical demanding job, ergonomics plays an important role to prevent  work related injuries such as musculoskeletal injuries. In my placement I start to aware that poor posture may result in short-term and long-term injuries, and now I start to pay attention to improve ergonomics, I always adjust equipment height before and during the scan which help me to have a healthy career (Pietrangelo et al.,2020).

Ongoing learning & professional growth

Through the online learning and clinical placement I realize that  it is a continuous process to become a professional sonographer, I will continuously to develop my communication skills, increase culture awareness and safe ergonomic techniques to provide high quality of patient centered care.

Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. (2023). Code of conduct and professional standards for sonographers. https://www.asar.com.au

Curtis, E., Jones, R., Tipene-Leach, D., Walker, C., Loring, B., Paine, S. J., & Reid, P. (2019). Why cultural safety rather than cultural competency is required to achieve health equity: A literature review and recommended definition. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 174. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1082-3

Pietrangelo, A., Ricci, F., Coccetta, C. A., Donati, D., & Maccauro, G. (2020). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sonographers: A review. Medical Ultrasonography, 22(3), 345–352. https://doi.org/10.11152/mu-2504