Activity Summary
Provided by the Association for Radiologic & Imaging Nursing (ARIN) and designed for the non-radiology nurse, this video offers an overview of how radioactive isotopes are used in nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat disease. It explains how radioisotopes are administered and decay, allowing imaging of body function. Common nuclear medicine studies and their purposes are reviewed, including white blood cell scans, cardiac studies, gastrointestinal and genitourinary studies, brain and thyroid scans, and ventilation-perfusion scans. Patient preparation guidelines and standard safety precautions are also discussed.
To learn more, visit the Association for Radiologic & Imaging Nursing website.
Objectives
- Discuss how radioactive isotopes allow imaging of body function and support diagnosis or treatment.
- Describe safety requirements when caring for a patient undergoing a diagnostic nuclear medicine study.
- State preparation requirements for at least three nuclear medicine studies and explain how they support accurate results.
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Providing access to an educational activity does not imply endorsement by AACN of the content or any products mentioned.
Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) are recognized by the AACN Certification Corporation to fulfill educational requirements for certification.
Some state boards of nursing and other certification organizations may recognize CERPs as meeting educational requirements. Nurses should consult with their state board or credentialing organization before submitting CERPs to fulfill educational requirements.