Dealimg with radiology

FloridaMurse1 · Feb 8, 2013

Just tell them No. What you are doing as a nurse trumps what they are doing. Especially if it is something that they cannot use a portable x-ray to do (i.e. ankle fx). But try to maintain a good working relationship with them. If it is gonna take you 15 minutes to finish up, tell them to come back in 15. Don't tell them 5minutes and then they come back and have to leave again. If they are doing a portable chest, just work around them. You can continue to ask questions while they get setup or get all your IV stuff setup etc. Also remember that everything they do is timed as well, so try to work as a team. But speak up when you really need to. Good luck

Christy1019, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2013

I've worked at two facilities using completely different EMRs (emstat and epic), but both had a way to acknowledge on the chart when a pt was ready for xray after the order for one was placed, that way xray doesn't come until they see the note in the chart.

BeLLaRN

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2013

How does everyone deal with radiology when they try and take a patient while you are trying to start a work up or do an assessment? I find myself basically getting pushed out of the room and them I get behind since I have to wait for my patient to get back. Any advice?

Hey most of the time we end on escort waiting for the other to have their scan waiting for porters to push the pt back to the sward.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using allnurses.com

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2013

Tell them to come back. Be nice though.

Beth385 · Feb 9, 2013

This happens a lot. Radiology has metrics they are tring to met like order study time etc. I always think of care priority & care delays, like if it is a cardiac or other type of patient that I want to get the IV & the labs down to lab or the pt. really needs some pain medication etc. I just tell them why the pt. can't leave yet, "I have to get lab, meds, whatever & then you can take them." I also try to set a time frame. It will take 15 min & then they will be done. You can also offerto call the rad when the pt. ready. Yes, be nice. of course if your pt, is altered mental status or rule out stroke or something, the head CT may be what the doc needs more than lab. So think about what needs doing first & use youepr nursing judgement :)

thelema13 · Feb 9, 2013

Tell them no. Rad can wait, line and labs usually should not. It really depends on the acuity of your patient. I have stayed in a room during a scan because the pt was so critical, of course with protection. Do it all the time in trauma.

Use your nursing judgment, and decide which is more important- xray or whatever you are doing? Suspected pneumo, get that chest xray. Abdominal pain, get that line and labs. It goes on and on.....

915Chief · Feb 18, 2013

This is where your assertiveness training kicks in. Most of the radiology techs get that IV start and blood draw comes first and will work with you. As mentioned above, be professional and give them a realistic time estimate of when to come back...chances are they're calculating if they have time to x-ray another patient and come back to yours when you're finished.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2013

Ours do portable x-ray for just about everything. And they are fast, so I usually bob out of the room for the few minutes it takes to get the x-ray when they show-up. Unless I'm in the middle of giving meds or putting in a line, then they are pretty understanding and will wait for me to finish.