How dangerous is it to take care of radiation patients??

[NurseCard, ADN]

There is a thread on another board, started by a pregnant nurse who has a radiation patient at the end of her hallway. She avoided that room (understandably) but wanted to know if she would be legally expected to respond if there were a code in that room. The majority of opinions was, of course not... there are plenty of people in the hospital who could respond to that code. She would just need to help see after the other patients.

My question is, so how dangerous is it to take care of patients who have had radiation very recently, for different members of the population. How about women of childbearing age? How about women like me, who will not have any more children but have young children at home? How about... well, everyone else?

What about patients with radiation implants? I have been caring for a patient for about the past three weeks who has these.

I work on a Med/Surge floor that has a "cancer center", and I have young children. Thus.. my concerns. =) Thanks!