When a patient is getting shifted from the ward for a CT Scan, a nurse should do?

ISRO- 2016

Nursing Foundation

Medium

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

The primary role of a nurse before any procedure is patient education. Explaining the CT scan helps reduce patient anxiety and ensures their cooperation, which is crucial for obtaining high-quality diagnostic images.
Informed patients are more likely to remain still during the procedure, preventing motion artifacts that can obscure the results.
This action respects patient autonomy and is a core component of safe and effective nursing care.
Unlike other options, explaining the procedure is a universally required nursing action for all patients undergoing a CT scan, regardless of the specific type or use of contrast.

Option A: Laxatives are not required for most CT scans. This preparation is specific to imaging of the large bowel, such as a CT colonography.
Option C: CT scans utilize X-rays, not radioisotopes. Radioisotopes are administered for nuclear medicine studies like PET or SPECT scans.
Option D: Giving fluids before the scan is often contraindicated. Patients are typically kept NPO (nothing by mouth) for 4-6 hours if IV contrast is planned.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pre-procedural nursing care for diagnostic imaging to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Patient safety is paramount. A thorough pre-procedure check, including allergy history and renal function assessment, can prevent severe adverse reactions to contrast media.
Effective communication and patient education directly impact the quality of the diagnostic procedure. A calm, cooperative patient allows for a faster scan with clearer images, leading to a more accurate diagnosis.
What if the patient's eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) is low? If the patient has impaired kidney function, the nurse must immediately notify the radiologist and the ordering physician. The risk of contrast-induced nephropathy is high, and the procedure may need to be performed without contrast, postponed, or an alternative imaging modality (like MRI without gadolinium) may be considered.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question: it asks for a standard nursing action for a patient going for a CT scan.
Evaluate each option for its universal applicability. A CT scan is a broad term; the preparation can vary.
Consider Option A (Laxatives): Is this needed for every CT? No, only for specific bowel studies. So, it's not a universal action.
Consider Option C (Radioisotope): Does a CT scan use this? No, that's nuclear medicine. This is factually incorrect for a standard CT.
Consider Option D (Fluids): Is this always done before? No, patients are often NPO. Fluids are given after. So, the timing is wrong.
Consider Option B (Explain procedure): Is this a fundamental nursing role for any procedure? Yes. Patient education is always a priority. Therefore, this is the most appropriate and universally correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pre-procedural nursing care for diagnostic imaging
Stem keywords: patient, CT Scan, nurse
Lead-in keywords: should do
Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.

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