Radiology Rotation Week

Learning Report

What were your responsibilities or duties this week?

My duties this week were to observe radiology procedures and shadow nuclear science technicians and ultrasound technicians. I was to learn how the radiology department runs and how each minor department within the area works together. I was to ask questions regarding ultrasounds, tomography, nuclear science and cardiology. I observed an cardio ultrasound called to a patient room and learned how the procedure works. I was to interact with the employees and ask about their careers and their different duties in their career.

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?

This week I learned to distinguish between CT, MRI, nuclear science, tomography and ultrasound. Nuclear science was something I knew nothing about and this week I learned how it is used to diagnose patients and the several steps it takes to find health issues. I saw only heart images in nuclear science but through interacting with the technician I learned many other organs and areas of the body are imaged in nuclear science. I was able to observe a tomography for a patient's kidneys and saw the contrast medium injected through the patients arm and also saw how the medium allows the radiologist to easily see the kidneys. I learned the side effects of the medium such as a metal taste and nausea. I saw the process of collecting several images of different planes and heard vocabulary important to taking images. On the second day I was able to learn about ultrasound and the complexity behind getting the images. The technician showed me how the machine works and scanned her thyroids and bladder. I was able to understand how angles and position are crucial in providing the radiologist with accurate images. She also showed me various pictures of patients ultrasounds including uteri and fetuses, kidneys, hearts and thyroids. I asked various questions to the technician and learned a lot about ultrasound. 
 

What was the best thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?

The best thing that happened this week was finding the ultrasound technician and learning a lot of information from her. She was very nice and informative and showed by how the ultrasound works by scanning herself and allowing me to see the machine's images. She also allowed me to see some of her patients files and images which was very interesting. I saw multiple babies at different ages and also twins. I enjoyed looking at all of the pictures and surprised myself by enjoying the radiology department. 

Ultrasound - Twins

What was the worst thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?

The worst thing that happened this week was when I followed a technician to a patient room and the patient and her daughter did not speak English. The technician was able to communicate with them, however I was not and I could not completely understand what was being said. However I did learn a lot by observing the ultrasound machine and seeing the patients heart. 

This week was: Why?

Good
This week was good because I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the department and the information I learned. I was able to communicate better than last week and made a better effort to ask questions. I was confident and witnessed a lot of procedures and was lucky for what I got to see. Even though some of the employees were busy or quiet and not many patients were in the area, I was still able to learned and see a lot of things because I found really nice employees and was not shy in asking questions. 

Experience Record 

Technology observed:

Stress Test

• Tomography
• X-Ray
• MRI
• Nuclear Medicine
• Ultrasound
• Computed tomography
• Sonogram
• Vital Sign Monitors
• Stress Test   
• SPECT(single-photon emission computed tomography)/CT Cameras
• PET(positron emission tomography)
• Xeleris

The complex images I saw

Diagnostic procedures observed:

• Stress Test
• Nuclear Medicine
• Ultrasound
• Questioning health and past history
• Vital Signs
• Medical chart
• Consultations with other doctors
• Angiography

Therapeutic procedures observed:

• Questioning the patient
• Drugs/medicine
• Upright position

Disease/disorders observed:

• Arrhythmia 
• Palpitations
• Miscarriage
• Diabetes
• Obesity and pregnancy

Medical terminology/abbreviations encountered:

• Superior/inferior/cranial/ventral/dorsal/medial/lateral
• Contrast
• CT(Computed Tomography Scan)/MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), ultrasound, tomography, x-ray
• Pelvic, abdominal, cranial, dorsal body cavity
• Transverse plane, Midsagittal plane, frontal plane
• Radiation
• Planes/slices 
• ER/Cardio
• Rate, rhythm
• Angina - chest pain

Thyroid Ultrasound

Other Observed:

• Language barriers
• Process of sending pictures to radiologists
• Kidney, thyroid, bladder ultrasounds
• Baby ultrasounds
• Radiation precautions

Experience Journal

1. The radiology department is organized and distinctly separated into different areas. Each department within radiology is different and has separate areas. CT and MRI rooms are close to each other and ultrasound has its own area. There are several imaging rooms and X-ray and tomography rooms as well as patient areas. There a many employees in total yet each is for different areas. Radiologists interpret the images given to them by the technicians who take care of the patients. The department has various machines all used to help diagnose a patient. The emergency room is close and if needed the machines are portable and can transport to the ER or the ER patients can be transported to radiology. The majority of the employees were friendly and hardworking. They were caring of their patients and made them feel comfortable. Vital sign monitors are in the majority of the rooms. Each area has the designated machines whether it is a CT or MRI, nuclear science machine or an ultrasound. Computers are very important as they capture the images and highly used by the radiologist. The department is very important and is impressive. 
2. All of the employees worked together despite being in different areas. Nuclear science worked closely with the stress test area which worked closely with the ultrasound. The employees has strong communication skills and worked well together to help the patients. Every employee was utilized in diagnosing a patient. There is a large amount of important vocabulary used daily in this department such as the body cavities and planes. The employees are very technically skilled at their jobs and are heavily dependable on machines and technology. The radiology department employees were intelligent, skilled and hardworking as well as kind and friendly to each other and their patients. 
3. I learned a lot of information from an ultrasound technician who showed me how the machines works and various images it has taken. I learned how complex and important it is to accurately take images in ultrasound to be able for the radiologist to interpret them correctly. I learned that she went to a two year school to specialize in being a ultrasound tech and that experience is key to becoming employed. She has worked a long time as a tech and she it highly skilled and experienced. She enjoys her job and loves where she works. I also observed a nuclear science tech who taught me a lot about her career and job. She helped me understand how to read the images of the patients' heart and to differentiate between MRI, CT and nuclear science and the radiation given and taken in each. She also specialized in school for her job and she seemed happy with her job. I learned that radiology is more interesting to me than I expected and it is very impressive the work the machines can do and how the radiologist interprets the scans. 
4. This week I learned that I was capable of asking questions and engaging with the employees. I feel as though I did better this week than last, yet I still could talk more. I feel as though this week has showed me that radiology is more than I thought and is actually more interesting that I expected it to be. I learned a lot about the difference of the areas within the department and how each serves its own purpose. I think the time I spent in radiology has helped me in many ways. I know how important and technical it can be, how much I enjoyed it and how much information I can learn by interacting with the employees. I learned a lot of information this week that I am sure will help me in my future and in health care. 

LTC

This week at LTC I helped the dining hall set up the tables and put menus on the table for the residents. I also interacted with a resident who was very nice and sweet. We took her outside and talked about her reading and her past. She was very happy that we were with her and she wanted to see us next week, She as well as the other residents are very sweet and caring. They majority of them are happy when we come and enjoy talking to us. The facility is very nice and the employees are all caring and friendly. Family members visit their loved ones and you can tell it makes the residents happy. The residents enjoy fun activities and new things and the company of others. I also enjoyed this week and plan on finding the resident I spent time with this week, next week and talking to her. I think that when our class visits, the residents are excited and happy to have company.