Reference no: EM133394849

There are many emergency situations within the hospital that a radiographer is asked to respond to. Consider the 3 examples below and choose 2 to address in your initial post.

Scenario 1:

A 50-year-old male was transported via ambulance to the hospital Emergency Department due to severe smoke inhalation from a fire at the restaurant where he works. During transport to the hospital he complained of being nauseous with pain in his chest. At the ER, he was examined, and laboratory tests and x-rays were ordered. A portable x-ray of his abdomen and chest were performed. Later on, when the ER doctor felt the patient was stabilized, the patient was transported to the x-ray department for further testing. While standing near the upright x-ray unit the patient complained of feeling dizzy and lightheaded. A few seconds later the patient passed out.

Scenario 2:

There is a STAT call to the x-ray department to perform a portable chest x-ray on a patient who has just suffered a cardiac arrest. As you are pushing the portable machine down the corridor on the patient's unit you notice an elderly person lying on the floor near an exit door. All the nurses in the unit have gone into the patient's room who is having the cardiac arrest and no-one else is around.

Scenario 3:

A 42-year-old female is seen in the Emergency Department with an ankle injury suffered from a fall. She is then transported to the x-ray department in a stretcher for ankle radiographs. She is alert, sitting up in the stretcher and very pleasant as the two of you begin a conversation. You bring the stretcher into the x-ray room but forget the imaging receptors. You tell her you will be right back and run out of the room to get them. As you re-enter the room you notice the patient is shaking and foaming at the mouth.

1. What do you believe would be the Radiographer's Role in the scenario you selected?

2. How should the radiographer respond?

3. What could be the initial cause for the patient's emergency situation?