Real-Life Decision Making
Radiologic technologists work directly with their patients.
Patients who are in need of services of these health-care professionals are
often sick or injured. Sometimes the procedures that radiologic technologists
perform require that patients take sedatives. Sedatives are a type of medicine
that makes the nervous system calm. This helps patients with the discomfort
of procedures and helps them keep still.
You are a radiologic technologist in a hospital. You just saw a patient
who had a sedative for a procedure. The procedure went according to schedule
and you are satisfied that you have a good image. As part of your scope of
patient care, you have to return the patient to her room.
You wheel her through the hospital on a mobile bed. You arrive at the patient's
room. Normally, you would just slide the patient from one bed to the other,
because patients are usually sleepy as a result of the sedative. It is easier
on them when you transfer them to their hospital bed. But today is different.
Your patient insists that she is not sedated. She tells you she is going
to move on her own -- with no help from you. She wants to walk to her bed.
"Difficult decisions come with any job. People can be difficult," says
Amanda Wyman. She is a radiologic technologist.
You ask the patient a couple of questions about how she is feeling. She
insists that she is fine. You agree to allow the patient to walk, but you
insist that you supervise her to make sure she doesn't fall. On the way to
the bed the patient gets a little unsteady. You gently put your hand under
her arm to support her.
She looks at you with fury and swats your hand away. "Don't touch me --
I will do it myself!" she yells in her loudest voice.
You want to obey the wishes of your patient, but it's your responsibility
to make sure that she doesn't fall.
What do you do?