Radiology Technician Challenges

In the healthcare field there are many obstacles and critical thinking scenarios that each and every one of us will encounter throughout our career. One of the most important parts of our job as a radiology technologist is taking the best diagnostic image possible for the Radiologist. Not every patient that we interact with can cooperate like a walky-talky patient. Some common variations we come across include; age, trauma, mentally handicap, visually impaired, deaf, etc. With different patients, there comes different approaches in how you will conduct the situation. How will I as a technologist overcome these variations? Patient age is the most common factor in determining how you will interact with the patient. For example, if it were a …show more content…
When a patient comes to the hospital for a trauma and can’t move and is in severe pain and discomfort you have to think critical and try and come up with ways you can get the best images possible without causing more pain and discomfort for that patient. Personally, first off I would always ask a tech for help if their is one available for patent transfers and positioning. You also have to be extra cautious of tubing,whether their on O2 or IV, and the extent of their injury. I would explain how the exam will go, what movements we will have to do and try and help them feel more comfortable, because I know the patients are in pain and don’t want to be in the hospital to begin with. I would use as many immobilization tools we have available to help limit voluntary and involuntary movement for my images. We have different size sponges, velcro straps, different kinds of tape, we don’t have sandbags available in the department, but I could use a heavy lead apron to accommodate for that. I often use glove boxes to help lift up a body part so it can reach the IR. The key to limiting motion is precise intructions to the patient and communication. You have to really gain trust within your patient and be understanding and genuine on a personal level. This really helps the patients feel at ease and more comfortable with the exam …show more content…
With motion you don’t get clear, diagnostic images. How can I help control motion in my images? The best way to control motion is to communicate with your patient effectively and in a nice, approachable manner. Giving the patient specific breathing techniques will help in creating the best diagnostic image possible. To do so you have to communicate well with the patient. Some patients aren’t able to cooperate as well as others and that’s when we use those handy dandy immobilization tools to help prevent motion as best as we can. My number one responsibility is to create a diagnostic image for the Radiologist. Limiting motion and using immobilization devices and tools are a great attribute to help me get that quality image I am looking

Show More

Becoming A Radiologist

Essay on Radiology: X-ray and Body

Radiology Career Paper