What Nurses should know about MRI
Radiology Nurse
The staff nurse in the Radiology department is a very important part of the clinical team. Usually the staff nurse is on rotational posting in various sections of Radiology. These are general X-Rays, Special procedure rooms like IVU, Fluoroscopy, CT scan, Angio suite, MRI etc. In various sections the role and responsibilities varies according to the procedures.
Radiology Nurse in MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) equipment is a powerful diagnostic Imaging tool. An MRI image is often superior to a plain film x-ray for viewing and understanding soft tissue structure. An MRI image is formed by a large magnet which polarizes hydrogen atoms in the tissues, provides a summation of the spinning energies within the tissues' cells and produces an image representation of this process.
Precautions while sending a patient for MRI form Emergency department,ICU or ward
From an emergency department MRI scan is usually requested for spinal cord injury or acute stroke patients. Patients past medical history may not be known at the time of admission to the emergency department. Patient may be on immobilisers and with monitoring devices and life lines attached and it may not be MR compatible. Patient screening is the primary step before sending for an MRI scan. Make sure there is no cardiac pacemaker and implanted devices on the patient body.If patient had any previous history of surgery then get necessary details of the operation such as date and type of surgery and is there any metallic implants or devices in the patient body. Patient should be transferred to MR compatible monitoring devices and infusion pump before entering into the scan room. The attending Doctors and Nurses should screen by themselves and remove all metallic items from their body before entering into the scan room for patient management.Portable oxygen cylinders should not bring into the MR environment which carries a potential risk of injury to the patient and also damage to the equipment. Oxygen supply should be provided through a wall socket inside the MR room or through a long tubing connected to the oxygen tank placed outside the MR room. If the patient is on ventilator then transfer the patient to MR compatible ventilator before moving into the scan room.
Examples of items that may create a health hazard or image artifacts during an MRI exam include:
Radiology Nurse
The staff nurse in the Radiology department is a very important part of the clinical team. Usually the staff nurse is on rotational posting in various sections of Radiology. These are general X-Rays, Special procedure rooms like IVU, Fluoroscopy, CT scan, Angio suite, MRI etc. In various sections the role and responsibilities varies according to the procedures.
Radiology Nurse in MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) equipment is a powerful diagnostic Imaging tool. An MRI image is often superior to a plain film x-ray for viewing and understanding soft tissue structure. An MRI image is formed by a large magnet which polarizes hydrogen atoms in the tissues, provides a summation of the spinning energies within the tissues' cells and produces an image representation of this process.
Precautions while sending a patient for MRI form Emergency department,ICU or ward
From an emergency department MRI scan is usually requested for spinal cord injury or acute stroke patients. Patients past medical history may not be known at the time of admission to the emergency department. Patient may be on immobilisers and with monitoring devices and life lines attached and it may not be MR compatible. Patient screening is the primary step before sending for an MRI scan. Make sure there is no cardiac pacemaker and implanted devices on the patient body.If patient had any previous history of surgery then get necessary details of the operation such as date and type of surgery and is there any metallic implants or devices in the patient body. Patient should be transferred to MR compatible monitoring devices and infusion pump before entering into the scan room. The attending Doctors and Nurses should screen by themselves and remove all metallic items from their body before entering into the scan room for patient management.Portable oxygen cylinders should not bring into the MR environment which carries a potential risk of injury to the patient and also damage to the equipment. Oxygen supply should be provided through a wall socket inside the MR room or through a long tubing connected to the oxygen tank placed outside the MR room. If the patient is on ventilator then transfer the patient to MR compatible ventilator before moving into the scan room.
Examples of items that may create a health hazard or image artifacts during an MRI exam include:
- Neurostimulator
- Aneurysm clip
- Cochlear implants
- Cardiac Pacemaker
- Implantable devices - eg. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Implanted drug infusion device
- Intravascular filters
- Metal implants such as orthopedic devices
- Metal objects, especially if in or near the eye
- Shrapnel or bullet wounds
- Dentures and bridges
- Any implants that involve materials sensitive to magnetic field
- Medication patch that contains metal(eg.transdermal patch)
Before sending the patient for MRI scan check with the MRI technologist or Radiologist if you have any questions about implanted object or condition that could impact the MRI procedure and patient safety.
Please note: This information is provided for the educational purpose only.You should contact the referring physician, Radiologist or MRI technologist for specific information on MRI safety to patients.
Reference Manual for Magnetic Resonance Safety,Implants and Devices can be available from Biomedical Research publishing group Los Angels,CA, by Frank G.Shellock Ph.D
- Aneurysm clip
- Cochlear implants
- Cardiac Pacemaker
- Implantable devices - eg. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Implanted drug infusion device
- Intravascular filters
- Metal implants such as orthopedic devices
- Metal objects, especially if in or near the eye
- Shrapnel or bullet wounds
- Dentures and bridges
- Any implants that involve materials sensitive to magnetic field
- Medication patch that contains metal(eg.transdermal patch)
Before sending the patient for MRI scan check with the MRI technologist or Radiologist if you have any questions about implanted object or condition that could impact the MRI procedure and patient safety.
Please note: This information is provided for the educational purpose only.You should contact the referring physician, Radiologist or MRI technologist for specific information on MRI safety to patients.
Reference Manual for Magnetic Resonance Safety,Implants and Devices can be available from Biomedical Research publishing group Los Angels,CA, by Frank G.Shellock Ph.D
