The Role of the Medical Imaging Nurse (MIN)

Clinical setting will determine the specific role of each medical imaging nurse (MIN). In one setting the medical imaging nurse may be required to correlate patients on various floors of a hospital based upon medical need and emergency situations, while in another a medical imaging nurse may simply support routine diagnostic exams such as medical imaging without emergency services. No matter what setting the medical imaging nurse is practicing in, he or she is always expected to provide the same services for patients and medical imaging staff.

The Patient Comes First

As is the case with all nursing careers, the care of the patient is the number one priority. Medical imaging often requires the use of an IV for delivery of dyes and sedation or medication as needed. Patients are prepped for a scan by the medical imaging nurse and cared for throughout the duration of the scan. Nurses needs to have the ability to focus on a patient, sort through natural stress reactions and emergency situations and act as needed to maintain the integrity of patient health.

Supporting the Department - Routine Medical Imaging Nursing

In addition to caring for the patient in a clinical setting, the medical imaging nurse may also find they are asked to perform various duties throughout the imaging department. These may include retrieving a patient from emergency for immediate CT scan or MRI or transporting X-rays from one department to the next. These may seem like menial tasks for a registered nurse, but if files are lost or patient transfer is delayed, life can hang in the balance.

Learning Medical Imaging to be Effective MIN

It is important for all medical imaging nurses to continue education in the field of nursing and imaging as needed. Technology changes as does protocol for treatment of patients in all given situations. The medical imaging nurse needs to be on the forefront of various medical treatment boundaries because they offer a service far more than just treating patients, they help prepare, calm, diagnose, treat and cure.