Operating X-Ray

[IsseyM]

Do you operate the C-Arm during cases when the xray tech steps out for a bit or is not available? Our educator told us a while ago that we are prohibited from operating xray. Only a doctor or RT can press the button to take xray. I see a few nurses in our OR who navigate the machine but will give the foot pedal to the surgeon. A small number will actually hit the button. I don't even like touching the machine. I will hook it up, turn it on and put in patient's info but thats about it.

[MamaCheese]

The rules are the same in our OR. The RT's don't even want us moving it around. We usually have plenty of RT staff around so it's typically not an issue.

[Rezidentura]

In my little surgical center I am the Radiology tech. Apparently the Doc's all had some learning annex coorifice or something So we operate the machine under them. Our C-Arms are All digital and work much like a mini carm. The nurses do all the movement of the carm. We can put down the footpedal and during some of my cases I have to. It's no big deal really. We have a good radiation safety protocol. Also we never take but a few shots so it's not a huge dose issue.

[sandiegojames]

I'm sure regulation varies from state to state. Here in california we are absolutely not allowed to activate the c arm or move it after it has been used on the patient ie reposition the c arm. The only thing we can do is move the arm prior to it's use on a patient. The notion of acting under the doctors license at our facility is not allowed.

[ewattsjt]

You need to check state laws. I just learned during an in-service this week that ENTs are not allowed to operate a C-arm for balloon septoplasty in CA. So not even some surgeons are allowed by law to shoot in CA.