Which instructions would the nurse provide to the patient in preparation for a chest xray?

Q: Which instruction would the nurse provide to the patient in preparation for a chest xray?

A chest x-ray requires no special preparation. You may need to remove some clothing and/or change into a gown for the exam.

Q: Which action would the nurse perform when preparing a patient for a thoracentesis?

Rationale: During a thoracentesis a needle is inserted into the intercostal space, so the nurse should assist the client to sit at the edge of the bed while leaning forward with their arms supported on a bedside table and a pillow or folded towel.

Q: Which radiology study would be most beneficial for evaluating the patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism?

CT is the overwhelmingly preferred technique for the diagnosis of pul- monary embolism. The role of ventilation–perfusion scintigraphy increases when the use of iodinated contrast material is contraindicated. MRI does not seem to have an important role in practice.

Q: Which nursing interventions are appropriate for patient scheduled for a biopsy through bronchoscopy?

The following are the nursing interventions during bronchoscopy:.

What is a chest X-ray?

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Which instruction would the nurse provide to the patient in preparation for a chest xray?
Which action would the nurse perform when preparing a patient for a thoracentesis?
Which radiology study would be most beneficial for evaluating the patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism?
Which nursing interventions are appropriate for patient scheduled for a biopsy through bronchoscopy?

An X-ray is an imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body. When focused on the chest, it can help spot abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, bones, heart, and lungs. Chest X-rays can also determine if you have fluid in your lungs, or fluid or air surrounding your lungs.

Your doctor could order a chest X-ray for a variety of reasons, including to assess injuries resulting from an accident or to monitor the progression of a disease, such as cystic fibrosis. You might also need a chest X-ray if you go to the emergency room with chest pain or if you’ve been involved in an accident that included force to your chest area.

A chest X-ray is an easy, quick, and effective test that has been useful for decades to help doctors view some of your most vital organs.

Your doctor may order a chest X-ray if they suspect that your symptoms have a connection to problems in your chest. Suspicious symptoms may include:

chest pain
fever
persistent cough
shortness of breath

These symptoms could be the result of the following conditions, which a chest X-ray can detect:

broken ribs
emphysema (a long-term, progressive lung condition that causes breathing difficulties)
heart failure
lung cancer
pneumonia
pneumothorax (a collection of air in the space between your lungs and your chest wall)

Another use for a chest X-ray is to see the size and shape of your heart. Abnormalities in the size and shape of your heart can indicate issues with heart function.

Doctors sometimes use chest X-rays to monitor your progress after surgery to the chest area. Doctors can check to see that any implanted materials are in the right place, and they can make sure you’re not experiencing any air leaks or fluid buildup.

Callout: How do X-rays help diagnose COPD? »

Chest X-rays require very little preparation on the part of the person getting it.

You will need to remove any jewelry, eyeglasses, body piercings, or other metal on your person. Tell your doctor if you have a surgically implanted device, such as a heart valve or pacemaker. Your doctor may opt for a chest X-ray if you have metal implants. Other scans, such as MRIs, can be risky for people who have metal in their bodies.

Before the X-ray, you’ll undress from the waist up and change into a hospital gown.

The X-ray occurs in a special room with a movable X-ray camera attached to a large metal arm. You will stand next to a “plate.” This plate may contain X-ray film or a special sensor that records the images on a computer. You’ll wear a lead apron to cover your genitals. This is because your sperm (men) and eggs (women) could be damaged from the radiation.

The X-ray technician will tell you how to stand and will record both front and side views of your chest. While the images are taken, you’ll need to hold your breath so that your chest stays completely still. If you move, the images might turn out blurry. As the radiation passes through your body and onto the plate, denser materials, such as bone and the muscles of your heart, will appear white.

After the images have been captured — which should take 20 minutes or so — your part is complete. You can change back into your clothes and go about your day.

Doctors agree that exposure to the small amount of radiation produced during an X-ray is well worth it because of the diagnostic benefits the test provides.

However, doctors don’t recommend X-rays if you are pregnant. This is because radiation can harm your unborn baby. If you believe you are pregnant, make sure you tell your doctor.

A lab usually develops the images from a chest X-ray on large sheets of film. When viewed against a lit background, your doctor can look for an array of problems, from tumors to broken bones.

A radiologist also goes over the images and gives your doctor their interpretation. Your doctor will discuss the results of your X-ray with you at a follow-up appointment.

General Instructions

Little preparation is needed for a CT scan. Patients, who do not have congestive heart failure or are not on dialysis, are asked to drink 64 ounces of water before the exam, especially if the exam is performed with oral or intravenous contrast. If possible, they should start drinking 12 hours before their scheduled appointment time.

If patient is receiving IV or contrast, they should not eat or drink 4 hours prior to exam.

Patients will be asked to remove jewelry and other metallic objects that might interfere with the scan. We ask patients to leave jewelry at home when possible.

Patients who are breastfeeding should be given an opportunity to make an informed decision about whether to continue breastfeeding after receiving intravascularly administered iodinated contrast media or to temporarily abstain. A very small percentage of iodinated contrast medium can be excreted into the breast milk and absorbed by the infant’s gut. We believe that the available data suggests that is safe for the mother and infant to continue breastfeeding after receiving such an agent.

The patient can choose to temporarily abstain from breastfeeding for 24 hours with the active expression and discarding of breast milk from both breast during that period. If so, the patient may wish to use a breast pump to obtain milk beforehand to use during the 24 hour period following the administration of contrast media. Please inform the patient of this option when the exam is scheduled.

Patient Screening Prior to Administration of Iodinated Contrast

Prior to the administration of iodinated contrast, patients are screened for the following:

Previous reactions to iodinated contrast media
All severe allergies and reactions (both medications and food)
History of diabetes, kidney disease, pheochromocytoma, solitary kidney, kidney or other transplant, or myeloma
Pregnant or breast-feeding (in women of child-bearing age).

Premedication Instructions for Patients with Contrast Allergies

Prednisone 50mg po at 13 hours, 7 hours and 1 hour prior to planned administration of intravenous contrast plus diphenhydramine 50mg po, iv or im at 1 hour prior to planned administration of intravenous contrast

Methylprednisolone 32mg po at 12 hours and 2 hours prior to planned administration of contrast plus diphenhydramine 50 mg po, iv or im at 1 hour prior to the planned administration of contrast

Hydrocortisone 200mg iv at 5 hours and 1 hour prior to planned administration of intravenous contrast if patient is unable to take po medications plus diphenhydramine 50 mg po, iv or im at 1 hour prior to the planned administration of contrast

Creatinine Testing Prior to Contrast Administration

Routine creatinine testing prior to contrast administration is not necessary in all patients. The test should be obtained within 30 days of contrast administration for patients with renal disease, HIV+, diabetic, hypertensive, over 60 years or on chemotherapy.

Contrast Administration in Patients with Elevated Creatinine

Estimated glomerular filtration rate is a better predicator of renal dysfunction than creatinine alone. The decision to proceed with contrast administration in patients with an estimated GFR < 30 ml/min/1.732 is a matter of clinical judgment, based on the individual circumstances of the patient and following consultation between the radiologist and requesting physician. Strategies to prevent nephropathy in patients with renal impairment include hydration, reduction of contrast dose, and discontinuation of nephrotoxic drugs. A critical diagnostic study should not be delayed because of excessive concern regarding possible contrast nephropathy.

Contrast Administration in Patients with Renal Failure

Patients on dialysis can receive IV contrast, and early post-procedural dialysis is not routinely required. However, the fact that a patient is on dialysis should not be regarded as automatically allowing the administration IV contrast. The administration of contrast may jeopardize the return of renal function in patients who are receiving dialysis for acute renal failure and may further worsen renal function in patients who still make some urine but receive dialysis intermittently. The volume of IV contrast should also be considered in patients on dialysis who are at risk for volume overload.

Contrast Administration in Pregnant Patients

The iodine content of contrast media has the potential to cause hypothyroidism in the neonate. Pregnant women who receive an intravenous iodinated contrast agent are counseled that neonatal thyroid function should be checked in the first week of life. Informed consent is obtained prior to the administration of contrast in pregnant patients.

You may provide your patients with the following education documents:

Cardiac Calcium Scoring Only Scan
Computed Tomography (CT)
Computed Tomography Angiography
Computed Tomography (CT) Cardiac

They may also visit VanderbiltHealth.com/radiology.

Which instruction would the nurse provide to the patient in preparation for a chest xray?

A chest x-ray requires no special preparation. You may need to remove some clothing and/or change into a gown for the exam.

Which action would the nurse perform when preparing a patient for a thoracentesis?

Rationale: During a thoracentesis a needle is inserted into the intercostal space, so the nurse should assist the client to sit at the edge of the bed while leaning forward with their arms supported on a bedside table and a pillow or folded towel.

Which radiology study would be most beneficial for evaluating the patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism?

CT is the overwhelmingly preferred technique for the diagnosis of pul- monary embolism. The role of ventilation–perfusion scintigraphy increases when the use of iodinated contrast material is contraindicated. MRI does not seem to have an important role in practice.