Being a Proactive Learner in CT

Hands-on experience is the best teacher.

By Tiffany Dong

As a newcomer to the CT department, you have a lot to take in. Orders continuously print, phones ring off the hook, and you hear a jumble of voices entering the doorway as a trauma patient rolls in. 

Being a student, you say to yourself, "Whoa, I better get out of the way because I do not know what to do." You continue to stand in the corner while patient after patient comes and goes through the scanner, and the technologist doesn't even notice you. 

Being a statue in the room won't help you learn everything you need to know in CT. Here are some tips to gain the most out of your experience in the CT department.

Observe the technologist
Before shutting down your brain because you are overwhelmed by the chaos, just observe the actions of the CT technologist and other members of the health care team. When we are young children, we learn by watching our parents and those around us. This is the same situation; you are a child in the CT world and should watch those educated to handle these circumstances. Observe their actions and understand why they are doing them. This will help you react in a controlled manner when you encounter similar situations.

Take notes
No one expects you to remember everything instantaneously. Take notes so that you can keep the information organized and use it as a reference. Study these notes during your downtime in the department and outside the hospital to recall everything you need to know. Soon enough, you will remember the details and rarely need to open your notebook for reference.

Learn protocols
Every CT department has a protocol book. Most of the important data are already programmed into the software of the computer, but it is important to know how they can be manipulated and why in case of computer malfunction or unusual parameters. Learn the indications for each protocol, such as when a person has abdominal pain or kidney stones, ask yourself, "Are you typically supposed to use contrast?" Find out what lab values your hospital requires before administering contrast. What type of contrast do you use if the creatinine is above or below a certain value? When is contrast contraindicated? All these facts are important to a CT technologist. It determines when the technologist may suggest a change because the exam was ordered incorrectly or when it is necessary do further patient research and seek out a radiologist for confirmation of your findings. Knowing all this information keeps you sharp.

Load the automatic injector
Learning how to load the injector is important because the use of contrast is important in many exams. Watching the technologist prepare the contrast will help you understand all the steps. As a student radiographer, understanding this procedure and learning to prepare the injector so you can assist with this duty will save the technologist time and allow them to tend to other essential tasks. The technologist should oversee your progress at first to ensure all the steps are done correctly. After the student has mastered this competency, just a final check is needed from them before connecting the tubing to the patient. Be sure to have the correct type and quantity of contrast and saline prepared and loaded into the injector properly. There should be no air in the tubing or canister prior to injection. Remember, the patient's well-being is in your hands.

Perform a patient interview
Part of conducting a thorough exam is interviewing the patient for last-minute pertinent information and history. Your ability to communicate the proper questions will help ensure proper exam parameters and give the radiologist information about clinical indications for the study. Listen to technologists conduct an interview; be aware of the questions they ask and later find out why they ask them. For example, some questions may be about what medications the patient is allergic to, applicable symptoms, or patient history. These are all important to know when injecting contrast or for the radiologist to make decisions regarding the exam. Attempt an interview with the patient yourself. Ask any supplemental questions if needed. Have the supervising technologist listen and take notes about improvements you can make. Accept this constructive criticism, learn, and then you will be prepared for your future.

Practice venipuncture
Starting an intravenous (IV) line on patients is important to administering the IV contrast. Hopefully, your program will provide a course in venipuncture. If not, they can easily be found online but may not be available to you until you are an official RT. Even if you are not certified to perform this during your educational time, observe the technologist or nurse to learn the proper procedure. Take notes and be an active participant of this portion of preparation.

Learn safety protocols
As a member of the health care team, you are responsible for the patient. If the patient has a contrast reaction or suffers a code blue, it is important to know your role in this situation. Every second counts. The technologist on duty will need as much help as possible. Prior to your time in the CT scanner, you should already know the protocol for a code blue and how to assess the patient's vital signs: obtain a blood pressure, respiratory rate, etc. This will ensure you are a valuable part of the team and you will be able to help gather necessary information about the patient to assist the professionals involved.

Help with what you can
As a student radiographer, you are not expected to operate the CT scanner all by yourself. However, do not stand in a corner simply because you are a student. Take responsibility for your own education. Simple tasks such as cleaning, changing the linen, or escorting the patient into the room can relieve the technologist of that duty so they can focus on the more complicated aspects of the exam. Working as a team will enhance the learning environment and the technologist may be more willing to share information and tips with you.

Ask questions
Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you do not understand a concept, simply ask. However, be cautious. Talk to the technologists when the pace in the room has slowed and they have time to respond to your inquiry. Try using your own critical-thinking skills with the information you have and only clarify the answer with the technologist. If you employ these skills, you will find that you can answer your own question by observing or listening. The web is also a good source of information; research your inquiries online. This also will help alleviate the volume of questions and prevent the technologist from being overwhelmed. Remember, the technologist's main focus is on the patient and exam, not the student.

Conclusion
By taking a proactive approach to learning and understanding CT, you can gain much more from your experience and time spent in this department. Being a part of each exam will help solidify information in your mind and prepare you for a future as a CT technologist. Learning about CT from a book is good, but hands-on experience is the best teacher.

Check out the ADVANCE blog Days in the Life of a CT Technologist.
 
Tiffany Dong is a second-year student at City College of San Francisco in the diagnostic medical imaging program.

Source: 

http://imaging-radiation-oncology.advanceweb.com/Student-and-New-Grad-Center/Student-Top-Story/Being-a-Proactive-Learner-in-CT.aspx