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Original Article
Vol.6 No.1 pp.3-11
The expected role of nurses by perspectives of radiologists and radiologic technologists
Tokyo Health Care University
Keywords: nurses, radiological nursing education, radiation protection, radiologists, radiological technologists
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to clarify the expected role of nurses by conducting a questionnaire survey that evaluated the situation perspectives of radiologists (MDs) and radiologic technologists (RTs) regarding the role of nurses.
Method: We mailed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire to MDs and RTs at 331 medical institutes.
Results: A total of 1,267 questionnaires were collected. Overall, we found that nurses were involved in activities related to diagnosis (e.g., X-ray examinations, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, nuclear medicine, Interventional Radiology (IVR) and radiotherapy (e.g., external irradiation, stereotactic radiation irradiation, brachytherapy), and medical care (e.g., care of patients with adverse medical reactions). Nurses were mostly involved with CT examinations. For radiotherapy, the expected role for nurses was to “provide support for emergency conditions during radiotherapy” (MDs=85.4%, RTs=91.0%), “provide comfort to anxious patients receiving radiotherapy” (MDs=67.4%, RTs=66.7%). Regarding medical care, most MDs and RTs (MDs=78.1%, RTs=81.0%) reported that nurses appropriately provided support for the patient’s emergency condition during radiotherapy. However, half (45.5%) of the RTs reported that the radiation protection methods of nurses were inappropriate.
Conclusion: Nurses are expected to have roles in radiology, and to provide medical care involving diagnostics, and radiotherapy. More education and training is needed for nurses to acquire knowledge and skills for radiological protection.
Method: We mailed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire to MDs and RTs at 331 medical institutes.
Results: A total of 1,267 questionnaires were collected. Overall, we found that nurses were involved in activities related to diagnosis (e.g., X-ray examinations, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, nuclear medicine, Interventional Radiology (IVR) and radiotherapy (e.g., external irradiation, stereotactic radiation irradiation, brachytherapy), and medical care (e.g., care of patients with adverse medical reactions). Nurses were mostly involved with CT examinations. For radiotherapy, the expected role for nurses was to “provide support for emergency conditions during radiotherapy” (MDs=85.4%, RTs=91.0%), “provide comfort to anxious patients receiving radiotherapy” (MDs=67.4%, RTs=66.7%). Regarding medical care, most MDs and RTs (MDs=78.1%, RTs=81.0%) reported that nurses appropriately provided support for the patient’s emergency condition during radiotherapy. However, half (45.5%) of the RTs reported that the radiation protection methods of nurses were inappropriate.
Conclusion: Nurses are expected to have roles in radiology, and to provide medical care involving diagnostics, and radiotherapy. More education and training is needed for nurses to acquire knowledge and skills for radiological protection.