Patient Assessment and Management
Core concepts
Patient assessment for the radiologic technologist centers on gathering data before, during, and after a procedure and acting on it. Know the normal adult vital-sign ranges: respiratory rate 12–20 breaths/min, pulse 60–100 beats/min, blood pressure roughly 120/80 mmHg, oral temperature near 37°C (98.6°F), and oxygen saturation 95–100%. Understand the difference between baseline and trending values-one abnormal reading matters less than a change over time. Review the patient's history for allergies (especially iodinated contrast), medications (anticoagulants, metformin, beta blockers), pregnancy status, and prior reactions.
Traps in questions
Distinguish informed consent elements (procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, right to refuse) from simple permission. Remember that the technologist typically does not obtain informed consent but verifies it and answers scope-appropriate questions. Separate orthostatic hypotension from vasovagal syncope and from anaphylaxis-itching, urticaria, and airway swelling point to allergy, not anxiety. Do not confuse sedation monitoring with general anesthesia. Know that a declining level of consciousness, chest pain, or new dyspnea warrants stopping the exam and escalating.
Infection control and safety
Apply standard precautions to all patients; add transmission-based precautions per isolation signage. Sequence donning and doffing PPE correctly, and perform hand hygiene at each transition. Recognize contrast extravasation (pain, swelling) and the immediate response: stop injection, remove the line, elevate, and monitor.
Worked rule of thumb
If a patient reports new chest pain or difficulty breathing during a study, treat it as an emergency: stop, assess ABCs, call for help, and document. Symptom change outranks image completion.