DIGITAL LIBRARY
NURSE’S ABILITIES IN SCENARIOS REQUIRING CLINICAL SAFETY: TRAUMA RADIOGRAPHY IN EMERGENCY UNITS
1 Universitat Barcelona (SPAIN)
2 Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Department of Radiology (SPAIN)
3 Hospital Germans Trias y Pujol, Department of Radiology (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: INTED2013 Proceedings
Publication year: 2013
Pages: 1856-1859
ISBN: 978-84-616-2661-8
ISSN: 2340-1079
Conference name: 7th International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Dates: 4-5 March, 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Abstract:
Introduction:
Trauma radiography is present every day in emergency units. In conjunction with physical examination, laboratory tests and electrocardiography, it is used as a tool for assessing patient's clinical condition.
Trauma radiography uses ionizing radiation. Nurses must have enough knowledge and skills to manage an effective diagnostic procedure. This involves training on radiation protection measures to ensure their safety and patient. Nurse also performs radiological images, as a necessary element of patient’s assessment. In emergency settings, making decisions with as much information as possible is one of the most important elements in order to ensure patients’ integrity.
In emergency units nurses often don’t have enough knowledge of radiology, radiation dose and safety. Moreover, they frequently don't have sufficient knowledge to interpret X-Ray images. Therefore, nurse should be trained to be able to identify nursing interventions in relation to the trauma radiography to specify the activities and to incorporate protocols to ensure clinical safety of the patients in emergency settings.

Study:
The study was carried out to identify the importance of nursing actions to ensure patient safety in relation to the trauma radiography in the emergency settings.
First of all, we conducted a literature review to study nursing activities in relation to the chest radiography in emergency settings, and after that we were trying to figure out what the risks and shortcomings identified in relation to this procedure. Subsequently, we have identified nursing interventions related with the procedure.
The results of the search and analysis of literature show that there are knowledge gaps that can lead to situations where we are increasing the risk of over exposure to radiation for both the patient and the professional himself.
The management of radiological tests in general and especially in trauma radiography in the emergency patient setting, identifies various aspects of training related to nursing interventions to consider:

• Preparing the patient for testing, this also includes providing the same information to a conscious patient or family.
• Environmental management: comfort.
• Environmental management: safety and worker safety measures to ensure radiation protection measures for the nurse and the patient to avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation or repeat radiographs.
• Basic assessment of the image obtained: allows quick action with medical diagnostic abnormality.
Keywords:
Education, training, nursing, security, X-Ray, emergency units.