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RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022
Medical Surgical Nursing
Easy

Nurse should instruct to patient before MRI-

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Explanation

  • The fundamental principle of MRI is the use of an extremely powerful magnetic field, thousands of times stronger than the Earth's.
  • This magnetic field can turn ferromagnetic objects (like keys, pens, IV poles, oxygen tanks) into high-speed projectiles, creating a lethal risk.
  • Metallic items on or in the body, including jewelry and foil-backed medication patches, can heat up during the scan, causing severe burns.
  • The magnet can also dislodge or cause malfunctions in implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, cochlear implants, and certain types of aneurysm clips.
  • Ensuring a metal-free environment is the single most important safety step before an MRI.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This is a general infection control measure, not a specific safety requirement for MRI. The primary risks of MRI are magnetic, not infectious.
  • Option C: Patients are typically required to change into a hospital-provided gown to ensure no metallic components (zippers, snaps, metallic threads) are present. The type of fabric is not the primary safety concern.
  • Option D: Antihistamines are not a routine instruction. They are only administered as a premedication for patients with a known allergy to MRI contrast agents, like gadolinium.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Patient safety protocols for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
  • The nurse's role in completing the pre-MRI safety checklist is non-negotiable and serves as a critical safety stopgap. Every question must be verbally verified with the patient.
  • Patient safety is paramount. A failure to screen for metal can lead to catastrophic events, including patient death, and is considered a serious medical error.
  • What if the patient is unconscious or unable to communicate? The nurse must perform a physical check for medical alert jewelry, remove all personal items, and inspect the body for tattoos (which can contain metallic ink) or signs of previous trauma that might involve shrapnel. The patient's medical records must be thoroughly reviewed for any mention of implants.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key procedure in the question, which is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • Recall the fundamental scientific principle behind MRI: it uses an extremely powerful magnetic field.
  • Analyze each option to see how it relates to this core principle of magnetism.
  • Option A (hand washing) relates to infection control, not magnetism.
  • Option B (removing metal) directly addresses the primary hazard of a strong magnetic field.
  • Option C (woolen clothes) is about fabric, whereas the real risk is hidden metal in any clothing.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Patient safety protocols for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • Stem keywords: Nurse, instruct, patient, MRI
  • Lead-in keywords: should instruct
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q-XvT2Sir9GgE7g6J04HPc

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 2 p. 81-83

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 2 p. 15-17

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 1218-1220

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