Ordering CT & MRI help!

[ENTFNP]

Hi everyone,

So I just became a new NP and took a job with a very experienced ENT. He always has had fellows in the past and currently has them now. So i'm taking every opportunity to learn from them. However, we saw patients in the clinic yesterday and was like, hey! Order a CT of the sinus with navigation for biopsy mapping for nasopharyngeal cancer. I'm thinking okay. Not a problem. I'll just write it in my orders just like that... now of course the panic has set in because NO ONE from NP school has ever taught me how to order specific scans whether that be MRI or CT. I just want to make sure i'm ordering these types of things correctly.

Anyone have any advice how to order such intense and specific tests?

[Tegridy]

I’d ask the fellows. For the really specific scans not commonly used except for the super sub specialists no one learns those but them and radiology usually so don’t feel bad

[ENTFNP]

Thank you for the thoughts, I can ask them next week just to make certain, I just feel like during school someone probably should have went over how to order even the basics and then a prep "peer to peer" so you have a better understanding kind of thing. ?

[Tegridy]

When it doubt if you put something like CT for XYZ reason the tech will call the radiologist if they aren’t sure what that means and clarify. Or they might call you. Most don’t have fancy names just certain sequences or cut thickness they use for whatever reason

sorta of like shunt scans for VP drains