Is X-Ray Exposure ok?

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When we hold babies for X-rays in our unit, we do not wear a lead apron or any type of protection. I know that since the babies are so small, the amount of x-ray exposure is probably also small, but is it safe not to wear any type of protection at all? What about if you are pregnant or trying to conceive? :uhoh3:

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Specializes in NICU.

When we hold for x-rays, we always wear the protective apron. Usually the other nurses who are also in the room at the time will step out while the x-ray is being taken - unless they are super busy with their baby at that moment... When someone is pregnant (or is trying to become pregnant) - they will usually have another nurse in the room hold the baby for the x-ray. Even with the protective apron on, there's still some risk.

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Specializes in NICU.

Where I work, we always wear a lead apron if we are going to be in any proximity of an x-ray being taken. If at all possible, we try to get someone who is not of child-bearing age or who is done having children to assist. But if that's not possible, we just wear an apron. But like the previous post, there is always a risk involved.

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We wear the lead apron, but the xray tech said what we really need is the collar, because you should really worry about your thyroid, not your pelvic area.

It's such a small amount of radiation, I'm sure we're exposed to more on a sunny day.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

we wear the lead apron to hold the baby for the x-ray, and are currently doing a trial, in which we wear a ring which determines the amount of radiation we are exposed to, the radiologist charts our names when its done. mine, I guess will be on that list quite a bit, I've done having my babies, but work with a few girls who are pregnant or trying to be. I always volunteer to do their xrays for them, hey I'm done and past it! Or so I thought, but after reading about the thyroid thing!!:uhoh3:

No, will continue to do the x-ray cover for all the younger girls in the unit!

Oh, and when an x-ray is being done, we empty the room of parents and other staff...but I always think..what about the babe in the next incubator?? Tryin to make myself as wide as possible to shield them too!!:lol2::lol2:

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I think it's very considerate of you who are done having kids to volunteer to assist with the x-rays for the younger nurses. I'm a brand new nurse in the NICU, and I heard some nurses who are no-longer of child-bearing years complaining the other day about a nurse who wouldn't assist with x-rays when she was pregnant. It made me feel a bit uncomfortable because I'm 25 with no kids yet, but will probably start trying pretty soon, and I don't feel comfortable assisting with x-rays when pregnant. It may be a small risk, but it's one that I feel is unnecessary. Hearing them complain about the other nurse makes me feel uncomfortable to ask for their assistance. :o

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eek.

The X-ray techs MAKE us wear the apron if we're assisting, and either set up a shield or place themselves between the machine and the next incubator. They also make sure everyone else- parents, other nurses- are out of the danger zone. I really appreciate their efforts!

If I'm not assisting, I generally run away with my hands over my ovaries muttering that I probably don't need them but *just in case* I better protect them...

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Specializes in NICU.

If we're assisting, then we definitely wear an apron, the x-ray tech just automatically hands you one. Otherwise everyone else in the room clears out.

Our "older" nurses are great too, just like danissa said ...... they are always good about offering to do the x-ray and making sure us younger ones are out of the way. I mean obviously sometimes you can't help it and I usually assist with my own x-rays, with the apron on. But if I were pregnant, I wouldn't, and I wouldn't be expected to .... everyone on the unit is great about making sure all the pregnant nurses are out of the room.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We wore the badges for a year and they barely registered anything. The amount of radiation used on neonates is low, but it can have an accumulative effect. As long as you are 6 feet away, you are protected from the scatter. We wear the aprons when we hold and we hold for our preggies too. Even the docs will hold for them. Basically one isolette length aways is adequete, providing your isolettes are not on top of each other.

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We wore the badges for a year and they barely registered anything. The amount of radiation used on neonates is low, but it can have an accumulative effect. As long as you are 6 feet away, you are protected from the scatter. We wear the aprons when we hold and we hold for our preggies too. Even the docs will hold for them. Basically one isolette length aways is adequete, providing your isolettes are not on top of each other.

We often joke about "bunk isolettes" when the census is high. :lol2:

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Specializes in NICU.

The diversity of posts which have appeared on this subject over the years and which continue to appear reinforces the notion that none of us really know the answer. Practices vary all over the place. Some leave the room, some don't...............

Without advice from an "authoritative" source we are all just comparing practices and experiences which is not an authoritative source of advice or information. The practices which are allowed or followed in some facilities are sometimes totally out of phase with best practice or sound advice. Don't base your vital decisions on gossip.

To say that radiation CAN be cumulative is wrong. Radiation effects ARE cumulative. Very small doses over a career or lifetime can be disastrous. Demand the facts.

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Always protect yourself. Apron, gloves, thyroid collar, dosimeter badge. Why take risks?

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