Patient Care in Radiography - Essay Example

"Patient Care in Radiography" is an engrossing example of a paper on care.
As Billie Cross requires a mobile chest x-ray, I will follow a standard procedure to complete his exam. I will also wear the required attire before entering his room. Let me now explain the procedure, which I will follow to do the x-ray of Mr. Cross. At first, I will arrange for another radiographer to accompany me. Ehrlich and Daly (2008) state that the radiography of the isolation patient usually requires two radiographers (p. 164). I will be concerned only with operating the x-ray machine. My companion will accomplish the tasks of positioning the patient on the bed and touching anything related to the patient. Both my companion and I will put smooth-fitting plastic bags around us. We will also wear disposable gloves and masks to avoid any bacterial intake.

This will be the time to start the actual x-ray procedure. I will introduce my companion and me to the patient. Explaining the x-ray procedure to the patient is also a part of a radiographer’s job (Thomas, 2010). Next, I will ask my companion to place the IR properly so that the patients’ exposure side becomes visible to the x-ray tube. My role will be to position the machine and to make the exposures. After doing the x-ray and storing the IR in the machine compartment, I will ask my companion to move the isolation attire. Next, both of us will remove our attires. In the end, I will clean the mobile x-ray unit properly in order to take it back to the department of radiology. This was the complete procedure, which I will follow to complete the mobile x-ray of my patient.

Before entering the room of the patient, I will use droplet precautions and will wear a surgical mask to reduce bacterial intake. Droplet precautions will help me prevent the transmission of pneumonic germs from the patient into my mouth. Along with a surgical mask, I will also wear gloves and an apron before going into the room of the patient. Radiologists should use gloves and aprons to minimize exposure risks for themselves and for the patients (Thomas 2010).

Now I will begin the process of transporting the patient to the radiographic department for an x-ray. As the first step, I will identify and analyze the isolation category to prepare myself for the cause. Ehrlich and Daly (2008) state, “The first step is to identify the isolation category involved and prepare for the examination accordingly” (p. 165). Next, I will put a mask on the mouth of the patient to prevent the spread of bacteria. Then I will cover the wheelchair of the patient with a plastic sheet and then with a cotton blanket. The next step will be to shift the patient from the bed to the wheelchair. I will fold the inner and outer covers around the patient after shifting him to the wheelchair. Then I will take the patient to the x-ray room where my assistant will shift him onto the table. There I will take the x-rays of the patient with the help of my assistant who will position the patient in front of the x-ray tube.

After making all exposures and storing them, I will ask my companion to move the patient back to the wheelchair in order to shift him to his room. In the end, I will put the sheet of the table, disposable gloves, and mask into the container and will wash everything to ensure proper hygiene of the radiology department.