Revised 08/2022
RAD 125 - Patient Care Procedures (3 CR.)
Course Description
Presents the care and handling of the sick and injured patient in the Radiology Department. Introduces the fundamentals of nursing procedures, equipment and supplies specific to radiology. Lecture 3 hours per week.
General Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student to perform basic nursing care procedures for patients undergoing radiologic examination. The student is also introduced to the fundamental organization and operation of health care facilities.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Admission into the Radiography Program
Course Objectives
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:
- Identify health care settings in which medical imaging takes place and describe departmental policies and responsibilities within these settings.
- Identify members of the health care team and briefly describe the roles of each.
- Define ethics and discuss medical ethics as applied to medical imaging technology.
- Explain basic legal obligations the radiographer has toward his patients, his peers, and other members of the health care team.
- Define critical thinking and describe its role in patient assessment and the creation of a medical plan.
- Define therapeutic communication and demonstrate its techniques.
- List the practical methods used in the prevention of spreading infection.
- Demonstrate the correct methods of patient handling and transfer.
- Demonstrate the correct methods of obtaining vital signs and discuss the normal rates for a child and the adult male and female.
- Describe the methods for handling patients in acute and emergency situations.
- Describe the methods by which patients are prepared and cared for during various radiographic procedures.
- Recognize the various classifications of drugs and describe the actions, indications and precautions related to various drugs.
- Describe the methods by which drugs and contrast agents are prepared for use in diagnostic and special imaging procedures.
- Discuss the potential complications, patient care considerations, and patient teaching responsibilities involving special imaging procedures.
- Practice the fundamentals of aseptic technique and infection control.
- Identify the uses for and limitations of bedside radiography.
- Describe the methods for working effectively in the surgical environment
Major Topics to Be Included
- Professional roles and behaviors of the radiographer as a member of the health care team
- Professional attitudes and communication in patient care
- Safety, transfer, and positioning of the patient
- Infection control concepts and preventing disease transmission
- Sterile and aseptic technique
- Evaluating and meeting the patient’s physical needs and patient assessment
- Medications and their administration
- Dealing with acute situations
- Preparation and examination of the gastrointestinal tract
- Contrast media and special imaging techniques
- Bedside Radiography: Special conditions and Environments
- Radiography in Surgery