Well last week clinicals were very exciting for me. I finally got to train with the main MRI tech and she let me scan all day long (with her help). We did an MRA of the head and neck which was very interesting. We had a few sedated patients and I had not seen that done yet either. I am starting to feel like I am getting the hang of this now all though I know it will be quite some time before I am really comfortable. The MRA of the head and neck was really interesting and I seemed to follow along with everything we were doing. I especially enjoyed the Mipping part at the end. Those images are really cool to look at and it is amazing the information that can be diagnosed out of these images. We did find a stricture in one of the left carotids and the head seemed to be ok, although he had a tumor that had been there for 3 yrs.
We also had a few inpatients come over from the hospital due to their scanner being down for one day. Dealing with these patients was totally different then the outpatients we do regularly. I guess a hospital setting is going to be a whole different ballgame from the outpatient center environment. Most of these patients were the sedated patients I was talking about previously and they had a nurse with them for the exam. I remember seeing the inpatients come down at IU Hospital when I was a secretary in MRI but didn't realize how difficult some of the patients are to work with and how it really can effect the success of the exam. I remember listening to the techs talk but did not realize how important and hard it is to make the patients comfortable when they are so sick. IU is a beast of its own when it comes to very very sick patients. Now I understand what they were saying in regards to the success of the exam and quality of images you will get. My tech and I were discussing this the other day and she stated she really believes that comfort of the patient is key to MRI.
Well until next time hope you are all enjoying your clinicals as much as I am.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Finally Hands On Time
Hello again,
I finally got to do some scanning, I was able to scan a couple of knees, and a lumbar and also a few shoulders. I really liked being in control and setting up the different plans. I always learn better by doing hands on. I was able to understand why I was increasing the slice thickness as well as number of slices. I played with the field of view as well as just simply looking through the different sequences and finding the one I wanted to set up the next sequence off of. I am starting to figure out the filming and their process of what and when to print and when to send to Proscan as well as PACS. I am very comfortable with the learning environment and really like being able to experience the different style each tech has to offer.
We did an MRCP scan on Monday and it was really interesting as well as confusing to me. I had never seen and abdomen done and then doing the MRCP on top of it was pretty confusing for me. My tech said they don't do these very much. There was allot of breath hold and I found that kind of confusing as to when to do each. The whole exam reminded me of the ERCPs we do at work except less invasive, the pictures looked very similar and there was a stenosis that my tech pointed out. Hopefully I will get to see another one.
I also got to see a brain for vertigo and the patient had already been diagnosed with a brain tumor in the ventricles. It was very interesting, the tech nor I could find the existing tumor and the Radiologist that we have came out and basically gave a short read to us of the scan. He found it right away, it's amazing how his eyes are so well trained to pick up things like that instantly. He is great and really willing to go over the scans with us and point out different things we don't understand or can't pick up with our eyes. They really have a great team work ethic.
I am anxious to go back next week and do some scanning again, I really think I am going to enjoy MRI, all though I do realize I still have allot to learn.
Until next time. Have a Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally got to do some scanning, I was able to scan a couple of knees, and a lumbar and also a few shoulders. I really liked being in control and setting up the different plans. I always learn better by doing hands on. I was able to understand why I was increasing the slice thickness as well as number of slices. I played with the field of view as well as just simply looking through the different sequences and finding the one I wanted to set up the next sequence off of. I am starting to figure out the filming and their process of what and when to print and when to send to Proscan as well as PACS. I am very comfortable with the learning environment and really like being able to experience the different style each tech has to offer.
We did an MRCP scan on Monday and it was really interesting as well as confusing to me. I had never seen and abdomen done and then doing the MRCP on top of it was pretty confusing for me. My tech said they don't do these very much. There was allot of breath hold and I found that kind of confusing as to when to do each. The whole exam reminded me of the ERCPs we do at work except less invasive, the pictures looked very similar and there was a stenosis that my tech pointed out. Hopefully I will get to see another one.
I also got to see a brain for vertigo and the patient had already been diagnosed with a brain tumor in the ventricles. It was very interesting, the tech nor I could find the existing tumor and the Radiologist that we have came out and basically gave a short read to us of the scan. He found it right away, it's amazing how his eyes are so well trained to pick up things like that instantly. He is great and really willing to go over the scans with us and point out different things we don't understand or can't pick up with our eyes. They really have a great team work ethic.
I am anxious to go back next week and do some scanning again, I really think I am going to enjoy MRI, all though I do realize I still have allot to learn.
Until next time. Have a Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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