Promote Radiation Safety for Nurses: A Policy Perspective

Abstract

Radiologic and imaging nurses (RINs) continue to be exposed to radiation at the workplace. However, many studies identified that most health care systems do not have policies on radiation safety training for RINs; the less educated they are on radiation safety, the more fear they have with radiation and the less comfortable they are with assisting patients while receiving medical imaging procedures. This policy perspective will identify gaps in radiation protection training, and development of education training, and suggest strategies for compliance with annual radiation training. We recommend that radiology or nursing departments should develop and enforce a policy mandating annual radiation safety training for RINs and that The Joint Commission should evaluate the institutional adherence to that policy.