Interventional nurses perform a variety of nursing duties to help the patient.
Interventional radiology involves the use of "image guidance" to perform minimally invasive surgery or for the diagnosis of disease. Techniques used by interventional radiologists include things like the insertion of catheters, the use of ultrasound scans and x-rays. Nurses in the field of interventional radiology have specialized training in the field and perform a variety of duties that help ease the patient through the treatment process.
Pre-Operative Duties
During the pre-operative stage of treatment, interventional nurses need to exhibit a wide variety of care skills and perform a number of essential functions in order to ease the patient into the operation. Johns Hopkins University's Department of Radiology website notes that the interventional nurse must be able to assess a patient's condition and readiness for the operation procedure. This can include making sure the patient is properly hydrated and in the right frame of mind to undergo surgery. Patients often receive medications prior to interventional surgery and nurses must be able to administer those medications properly as well. Nurses must be able to effectively communicate with patients in order to inform them of the basic aspects of the surgical process.
Duties During Operations
During the surgery process, interventional radiology nurses continue to play an ongoing role in providing care for the patient. The Royal College of Radiologists in the United Kingdom notes that during surgery there may be two or more nurses present. One may work with the radiologist directly as complex procedures are being carried out while the other may be responsible for monitoring the patient. This monitoring can include talking to the patient to make sure that they are not in too much pain and administering pain medicine as needed. Nurses need to also be cognizant of the tools used during the surgical process and must make sure they are readily available at all times.
Post-Operative Duties
Once surgery has been completed, nurses must be prepared to continue providing ongoing support to the patient. Nurses may need to continue to administer pain medications as necessary and provide patients with the greatest level of comfort possible. One of the most important duties for interventional radiology nurses is that of ongoing education of the patients and their families. Patients and families must be made aware of the possible complications that may arise in the post-operative contexts. They must also be educated regarding any medications or post-operative procedures that the patients should engage in so as to facilitate the healing process.
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