Day of a Radiology Nurse

futurenp · May 20, 2005

I would like to know this as well. What kind of experience are they looking for in a rad. nurse?

Editorial Team / Admin · May 21, 2005

Congrats on your interview! That's a VERY good time to ask questions about the Rad RN's duties, as they vary from facility to facility.

Will you be the only Rad RN? Is this a new or an established position (have they ever had an RN in the dept before?)

We always required ACLS and ICU background, although we did hire one RN from PACU and a few from the ED. The Radiologists depended on us to recognize s/sx contrast reaction (whether mild, moderate or severe) and take appropriate action, to think on our feet. We also administered all the moderate sedation and performed the monitoring and documentation for it.

We had several RNs, each assigned an area for the day or week. One helped in Angio, which could mean helping set up/assisting with placement of an Ash split HD catheter, an US-guided abdominal drainage, de-clotting a HD catheter, set-up and assist w/an angiogram or transjugular liver bx, or another type of bx; helping w/vena cava filter deployment ----- basically any interventional or diagnostic Radiology procedure done in the angio room (some of which didn't require fluoroscopy, just the room and an US machine).

One of the nurses was assigned to the Cath Lab, to help w/diagnostic cardiac caths.

One of the nurses was assigned to CT, to start all the out-pt IVs for contrast administration, and she monitored injections (both inpt and out-pt) in two CT rooms, as well as helping with CT-guided biopsies and drainages.

One of the nurses was assigned to help with IVPs (starting IVs and injecting the contrast -- still monitoring for s/sx reactions), place Foley caths for cystograms and assess pts prior to administration of (po) valium for claustrophobic pts scheduled for MRI. Sometimes she helped in Nuc Med (giving IV Morphine for HIDA scans or checking the EKG for the tech prior to pt having cardiac Nuc studies) or US. Then there was the occasional call from the waiting room, pt feels faint, pt is nauseated, we need a nurse, etc (out-pts waiting for exams). Sometimes the techs would call us to "tip" a pt for a BE, when they were unable to advance the BE tip/apparatus.

We worked in a busy dept; there were many more procedures we helped with. Basically we worked with the techs and Rads to perform the procedures (we always reviewed appropriate lab work and pt's H&P pre-procedure) -- did pre- and post-procedure education (we developed several print-outs to send with the pts).

Hope that helps; as I said, though, the duties at your place of interview may vary from what I've listed.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes. -- D

BeccaRN · May 24, 2005

Thank you for the information. I interviewed Friday and yesterday I shadowed a nurse. The manager came in and told me the job was mine if I want it. The recruiter called my house before I even got home and officially offered me the position. I'm so excited. They're going to send me to an EKG class; but, I do not have to have ACLS, PALS or any other certificates. :)

Editorial Team / Admin · May 25, 2005

Congratulations! Let us know how things go. A good reference site is http://www.arna.net, for the American Radiological Nurses Association; there may be a chapter that meets in your area. The website has an area similar to allnurses, where nurses network. It may be helpful to you. As you get to know the techs, the Radiologists and what you are expected to help with in the department, ask about helpful texts or websites the techs and Rads recommend, for resource and learning. Updates and inservices specifically aimed at Rad. nursing are hard to come by; you will probably have to do a lot of self-teaching! Hopefully the techs and Rads are willing to teach a newbie; most of the ones I've worked with appreciate the chance to teach.

Again, good luck! Keep us updated on how things are going! -- D

DARLENEDAVIS · Jul 9, 2005

I'm interviewing for a position as a Radiology Nurse at a local hospital. I like the fact that I will have different patients all the time but I was just wondering what you do in a typical day. The position is days, Monday - Friday with various starting times, on call 1 day a week and a week end every so often. I guess I'm just needing some information on what you do. Any information you can provide me will be appreciated. Thank you. Becca

HI Becca,

I work as a Rad nurse in a growing hospital in the RioGrande Valley,and it was a bit misleading after I was hired originally a NO CALL NO WEEKEND position which turned into full call and leave when the patients are done...since my hire in Jan this year 3 nurses have quit....so if your facility doesn't have enough trained staff nurses in that dept who can give conscious sedation your hours may tend to be very very long...we start our first pediatric sedations at 6 in the morning continue on with first adult at 8 while still doing the peds and end up with add ons all day long... I still really love this facility and wish they would get more RNs in here..then the job would be very satisfying..so check out the average hours of your future co workers and ask them for honest answers.. by the way are you in the valley Texas? we have OPENINGS!!!!! take care and good luck

darlene