Patient Care, Safety, and Professional Conduct
Core concepts
Patient care spans informed consent, clear communication, comfort, and privacy. Explain the procedure, warn about electrical stimulation, and allow the patient to ask questions. Ensure proper positioning and skin preparation. Recognize contraindications and precautions such as implanted cardiac devices, open wounds, and bleeding disorders, and modify technique accordingly.
Safety
Electrical stimulation carries small risks; use appropriate intensity and avoid stimulating over the heart or broken skin. Maintain infection control (hand hygiene, clean electrodes). Document findings accurately and objectively. Respect confidentiality and scope of practice; refer when findings exceed your role.
Professional conduct
Be honest about limitations, avoid overstating findings, and communicate respectfully with patients and colleagues. Follow institutional policy and regulatory standards.
Traps
- Skipping informed consent or explanation.
- Ignoring implanted devices or skin integrity.
- Breaching confidentiality or documenting subjective opinions as fact.
- Practicing outside scope.
Rule of thumb
Before every study: explain, consent, position, prepare skin, check devices. If any step is missing, pause-patient safety and valid data both depend on it.