Senior MRI/CT Radiographer

at  Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Duties and Responsibilities1. To carry out general and highly specialized radiographic procedures in the areas specified above, ensuring that high professionalstandards of work are achieved and maintained, whilst applying ALARA principles using IR(ME)R guidelines as appropriate. Be awareof and follow current IR (ME) R procedures.2. To participate in the 24-hour on-call and standby services as allocated.3.
To organise, plan and prioritise workload according to clinical need.Interviewer information pack4. To supervise, advise and mentor band 5 and band 6 Radiographers, support staff, students and nursing staff.5. To be familiar with the departmental computer systems and maintain and update patient records.6. To act as an Autonomous practitioner deciding the most appropriate investigation based upon the clinical information provided and onassessment of the patient and then justify the radiation exposure.7.
Ensure patients, carers and hospital staff are adequately protected with lead shielding. Check LMP dates in females of child-bearingage, delaying investigation in cases of possible pregnancy and arranging pregnancy tests if necessary.8. Triage, organise, plan and. protocol individual referrals for scanning from Clinicians prioritising according to clinical need from theclinical information given.
Advising Clinicians, GPs and other Health care professionals of alternative or more appropriateexaminations.9. Communicate with other trusts to obtain accurate operation notes to determine the compatibility of any surgical implants prior to MRIscans.10. To allocate appointment slots ensuring the correct preparation and medication for the investigation is sent to the patient, dispensing themedication according to Radiographers Patient Group Directions.11. Explain to patients, relatives, carers, medical personnel and other members of the multidisciplinary team the nature of highly complexscanning procedures, any contra-indications and complications.12.
Advise, consult and negotiate with senior medical staff on matters of a highly complex and technical nature with regard to specialisedimaging techniques.13. Request x-rays of any areas of the body that may have foreign objects contra-indicating a scan. Evaluate the resultant image beforemaking the decision to proceed or not with the scan.14. Evaluate scans using knowledge of pathology and consult with Radiologist to decide if further investigation is necessary using contrastmedia, plain x-rays or another modality.15.
Prescribe, dispense and administer intravenous contrast media (using Radiographers Patient Group Directions as agreed withpharmacy). Explain to the patient the need for the injection; assess the patients suitability by checking for any contra indication orallergies. Then administer the I.V. injection only when informed patient consent has been obtained.
In paediatric cases alter the dosesaccording to weight.16. Monitor patient conditions to ensure any adverse reactions are recognised and dealt with promptly and appropriately. Administeradrenaline in cases of anaphylactic shock.17. Provide care for the anaesthetised patient and seriously ill ensuring accurate positioning for the scan procedure.
Provide pressure reliefto susceptible areas. Monitor the safety of the patient to avoid any body parts, drips or connections to the anaesthetic machine do notbecome trapped in machinery during biopsy procedures. Maintain patient dignity at all times.18. Contact path lab to ensure they are present at the correct time for specimen collection.
Ensure specimens are correctly labelled and inthe correct medium.Interviewer information pack19. Advise medical staff, nurse practitioners and advanced practitioners on the justification of examinations and give advice on possiblealternatives.20. Research, develop and review protocols using evidence based practice. Then implement improvement to services exercisingprofessional responsibility, including lifelong learning within an open no blame culture.21.
To maintain accurate equipment records and to supervise and advise on the maintenance and repair of equipment, assessing urgencyof repair and re-arranging work load accordingly.22. To perform daily, weekly and monthly QA checks on equipment, monitoring the results for any inconsistencies and taking theappropriate action. Record results on a database.23. To perform appraisals of Radiographers, band 5 and band 6 radiographers and office staff.24.
To be team leader in departmental audit and quality assurance programmes.25. To maintain the principles of patient confidentiality at all times and ensure that all staff uphold this principle.26. To participate in the training of student radiographers on placement at the RJ&AH.27. To be familiar with and train other members of staff in the use of all highly specialised scanning equipment and systems operated withinthe department.28.
To undertake and deliver CPD training and study, as necessary, to ensure that a high level of professional knowledge and expertise isachieved and maintained to both self and peer groups.29. To be competent in all of the highly complex projections undertaken at the RJ & AH and train other members of staff in thesetechniques.30. To empathise, persuade, negotiate with and provide reassurance to patients within the departments particularly those presenting withspinal cord injury, tumour patients and children. Advise on radiation dose and effects31.
Assess the patients fitness and ability to comply before physically manipulating them into the necessary position to obtain diagnosticradiographs and adapt techniques accordingly to accommodate any disabilities or pathologies.32. To evaluate MRI safety questionnaire to maintain the safety of both the patient and or escorts. Acting appropriately on the responsesand if necessary, requesting x-rays evaluating the same before making the decision to scan.33. To recognise and interpret abnormal pathology, red dot abnormal findings and alert appropriate medical staff.34.
Advise other Trusts of protocols and best practice within the specialism of orthopaedics.Interviewer information pack35. Deputise for Superintendents as required.36. Allocate available staff to work areas and monitor workflow.37. Provide advisory responsibility for the order of work when working with multidisciplinary teams i.e.
spinal injury team/ tumour team.38. Handing over areas of responsibility when moving on to another discipline ensuring continuity and smooth running of department.39. Monitor and ensure stock levels are maintained in the immediate work area.40. To participate in ongoing research project

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