Patient Care and Education
Core concepts
Patient care questions usually test process discipline, not obscure trivia. Every encounter begins with two independent identifiers - name plus date of birth or medical record number - stated by the patient, not read off the requisition. Room number, position, and the wristband alone are never sufficient. Confirm pregnancy status per policy, verify allergies before any contrast medium, and remember that informed consent is the physician's responsibility; the technologist may witness a signature but does not explain risks or benefits.
Communication must be age-appropriate and documented. Explain what will happen, how long it takes, and what the patient must do. Use teach-back for breathing instructions. For pediatric patients, use the least restraint necessary and allow a parent present when policy permits.
Know standard precautions: hand hygiene before and after every patient, gloves for contact with blood or body fluids, and additional isolation precautions per the posted signage. Sterile technique requires that sterile surfaces touch only sterile surfaces and that the field remain above waist level and in view.
Prepare for emergencies: recognize anaphylactoid contrast reactions (urticaria, wheezing, hypotension), know where the crash cart, oxygen, and suction are, and call for help before beginning treatment. A baseline set of vital signs matters for patients prone to hypotension.
Traps
- Selecting the wrong patient because two people share a name - always ask, never offer.
- Explaining risks to obtain "consent" yourself.
- Discussing findings or a diagnosis with the patient.
- Skipping hand hygiene because gloves are worn.
- Transferring a patient alone when a second person is available.
Rule of thumb
Two-identifier rule: if you cannot confirm two identifiers from a source independent of the requisition, stop the exam.
Example: A patient in a wheelchair says, "I'm here for my knee." Confirm name and date of birth against the armband and have the patient state them.