This document outlines key aspects of patient assessment for radiographers. It defines patient assessment as the evaluation of a patient using selected skills to meet their needs and provide information to radiologists. The document describes assessing a patient's personal concerns, physiological needs, medical history, current physical status including vital signs, common laboratory tests, and electronic monitoring of patients. The goal of patient assessment is to understand a patient's state of health, identify needs, and ensure their safety during radiological procedures.

1. Ya Min Zaw
Final year
B . Med .Tech (MIT)
10.6.2020
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2. Outline
 Patient assessment definition
 Assessing personal concerns
 Assessing physiological needs
 Patient’s History
 Assessing current physical status
 Laboratory tests
 Electronic monitoring
 Conclusion
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3. Definition
 Patient assessment; evaluation of the patient using selected
skills
 Is important when setting priorities
 To meet needs of patients and more sensitive to conditions of
patient
 For relaying information to radiologist
 Help avoid life threatening emergencies
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4. Assessing personal concerns of patient
 Uncertainty about upcoming procedure, fear of possible diagnosis, or
concern about effect of illness on family members cause various reactions
in patients.
 Personal concerns are expressed as;
 anger
 Anxiety ( when enema, catheterization, urinary procedure)
 inappropriate speech,
 rude behavior
** Radiographers need to be alert to patient’s needs.
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5. Assessing physiological needs
1) Water (except NPO patients)
-due to medication/anxiety
-record the amount taken in the chart
2) Elimination
-in incontinence patients
-provide proper container/ bathroom
-check whether urine specimen , I and O measurement is
needed or not
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6. 3) Urinary catheters and collection bags
- must be care when transfers to radiographic table
- urine collection bag below the level of patient’s bladder
to prevent from being siphoned back.
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7. 4) Colostomy care
- Patient wears an external bag and may be extremely
sensitive.
- remind to bring their own supplies
- provide bath room, sealable bag and sanitary supplies
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8. Assessing Current Physical Status
1) Checking the chart
- review the requisition ( if not have specific information, history taking
will help you).
- in-patient chart includes notations such as
‘unable to stand to void’ ‘emesis x 3’ allergenic individual
patient transfer barium swallow contrast media
*report the radiologist*
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9. 2) Physical assessment
These are called ‘eye balling the patient’.
- Actions & appearance of current patient VS other similar patient
-Appearance of patient now VS how appeared earlier
-Then try to respond to subliminal changed in overall appearance of patient .
3) Skin color
- pale skin becomes cyanotic ( bluish coloration in skin& indicates a lack of
sufficient oxygen in tissues)
-easily seen on mucous membrane (e.g., lips, mouth) and nail beds.
-in heart or lung condition, cyanotic is chronic or usual.
*provide oxygen and immediate medical attention*
* do not leave the patient*
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10. Oral route
-hand hygiene
-Cover the probe
-under patient’s
tongue and lips
closed
-about 1 minute
-remove the probe
cover
Axillary route
-hand hygiene
-cover the probe
-in the axilla so that
skin folds are in direct
contact with the probe
-instruct patient to
hold upper arm firmly
against chest wall
-about 1 minute
-remove the probe
cover
Rectal route
-hand hygiene
-cover the probe
-slowly insert the
probe past the anal
sphincter
-about 1 minute,
remove probe slowly
-remove the probe
cover
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Taking a patient’s Temperature4)

11. Infrared Thermometer
*Measures thermal radiation
(infrared) emitted from ear and
forehead to infer body
temperature .
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12. 4) Skin and body temperature
- hot/dry skin fever
- warm/moist skin is a response to weather/room temperature
- vary from person to person, lowest in morning, highest in evening.
- normal temperature 96.8-99.8F (36-38C)
5) Breathing and consciousness
- normal breathing is quiet and calm.
- audible breathing ; wheezing, gasping or coughing and increase in
depth and rate of respiration is a sign of respiratory distress, emphysema,
cardiac insufficiency.
- position to breath with upper body elevated to prevent orthopnea.
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13. 6) Vital sign
- Involves measurement of these.
- Radiographers do not take vital signs but all should be aware
of for potential emergencies.
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14. Measuring blood pressure
 Patient may be sitting or lying down.
 Wrap the cuff either arm at level of heart, with bottom
edge above the antecubital space.
 Palpate brachial artery pulse in antecubital space.
 Ear tips and diaphragm
 Close the valve, inflate the cuff ~180mmHg
 Open valve, release pressure slowly, listen for pulse
beat.
 Note at pulse is first heard (systolic reading)
 Sound intensity increases and suddenly, becomes
softer (diastolic reading)
 Release remaining pressure.
 Record the results as systolic over diastolic (e.g.,
120/78)
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15. 7) Pulse
- normal pulse rates in adult vary 60-100 BPM.
- tachycardia (>100 BPM) ; may be due to damaged heart, from
interference with oxygen supply
- bradycardia (<60 BPM) ; common in athletes
**When patient develops irregular pulse, complaint of faint, weak or
nauseated , or has a sudden onset of pain in the chest, shoulder, jaw,
notify a physician immediately regarding the onset of heart attack.**
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16. common pulse points;
- radial pulse
-carotid artery
-pedal pulse
-apical pulse
-temporal and
femoral
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17. 8) Respirations
- respiratory rate shows evidence of respiratory distress
(normal adult; 12-20 breaths per minute)
- tachypnea; >20 breaths per minute
- bradypnea; <12 breaths per minute
- If a patient complains of dyspnea or exhibits an abnormal
respiratory rate,
inform radiologist and prepare equipment for immediate use.
-Rate is measured when a person is at rest and simply counting the
number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the
chest rises.
NOTE; Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and other
medical conditions.
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18. Common laboratory test for patient assessment
Radiographers should have general knowledge of such value and
significance of abnormal values when anticipating contrast media for
special examination.
1) Complete blood count
-low RBC , Hgb and Hct values are associated with anemia, blood
loss and abnormal hydration.
- Elevated values are seen with polycythemia and dehydration (
undesirable condition for CM injection & predisposing factor to
contrast nephropathy).
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19. 2) Blood Clotting Assessments
 Platelets involve in blood clots.
 Platelet function test known as Ivy bleeding time.
 Coagulation tests known as prothrombin time(PT) and partial
prothrombin time (PTT).
 Standardized reporting system for PTs, called INR
 Low platelet count/prolonged PT and PTT indicate risks of hemorrhage.
 These test results are used to assess risks of hemorrhage and stroke.
 Contraindication for certain invasive procedures.
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20. 3) BUN and creatinine
- BUN/serum urea nitrogen high levels(azotemia) may indicate impaired
renal function.
-BUN >20mg/dl are seen in cases of acute myocardial infarction,
congestive heart failure , dehydration and excessive protein intake.
- elevated creatinine levels (>1.5mg/dl) are rarely seen in compromised
kidney function than in increased muscle mass.
-creatinine levels is considered as more specific indication in screening
patient for whom CM may have toxic effect.
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21. 4) Serum Bilirubin
- Serum bilirubin measures the amount of waste products
from breakdown of hemoglobin.
- biliary system studies rely upon liver uptake of CM.
- in adults over 18,up to 1.2 mg/dl is normal.
- under 18, 1mg/dl is normal.
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22. Electronic patient monitoring
1) Pulse oximeter
-monitors both pulse rate& blood
oxygen levels (especially, who
received sedatives that may suppress
respirations .
-displays the current oxygen perfusion
percent.
- normal value; 95-100%.
- below 95% may indicate inadequate
oxygen perfusion.
-if below 95%, check the equipment first
, verify oxygen flow is not pinched.
***Inform and get physician check.
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23. -The catheter is attached to a fluid-filled pressure transducer system
-attached transducer senses arterial pressure and converts the
pressure signal to a waveform on the bedside monitor.
-The monitor also displays numerical pressure values and heart rate.
2) Arterial catheter
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24. 3) Electrocardiograph monitors
- measures electrical activity of
heart
- Displays as form of waves on
paper, called
electrocardiogram
- Deviations from normal may
activate an auditory alarm
- May be used in special
imaging procedures or
treatments to closely watch
patient’s cardiac function.
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25. 25

26. Basic ECG rhythm recognition
Sinus bradycardia
Normal sinus rhythm
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27. 4) Electroencephalography
-used in patients with convulsive disorders
- can display cessation of electrical activity in brain
- similar to ECG in function and unit *16-25 electrodes connected to scalp*
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28. Radiographer must be able to determine that person's state of
health or illness and
must understand that the fulfillment of the patient's most basic
needs
may have been compromised by the stress of illness or trauma.
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Thank
you