Competencies Radiationsafety Personnel(2)

[Insert Facility Name]

Competency Verification Tool—Perioperative Services

Practice: Radiation Safety(Minimizing Personnel Exposure) – RN or Team Member

Competency Statements/Performance Criteria / Verification Method
[Select applicablecode from legend at bottom of page] / Not Met
(Explain why)
DEM/
DO/DA / KAT / S/SBT/
CS / V / RWM/
P&P / O

Name: Date:

Competency Statement: The perioperative RN or team member has completed facility- or health care organization-required education and competency verification activities related to minimizing personnelinjury from ionizing radiationexposure during therapeutic, diagnostic, or interventional procedures performed in the perioperative environment.1

Guideline for radiation safety. In: Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc.

Outcome Statement:Personnel are free from signs and symptoms of radiation injury.

Identifies the need for reducing the time of radiation exposure,increasing distance from the radiation source, and usingshielding to minimize exposure to radiation.

Wears radiation monitors as required by regulatory agencies.

Verbalizes that
radiation monitors are reported at least annually;

personnel with a known or suspected pregnancy should declare this condition to [facility-specific personnel]; and

only individuals who are qualified in accordance with state regulatory requirements are permitted to operate radiologic devices.

Maintains the greatest distance possible from the radiation source and limits the amount of time spent close to the radiation source.

Stands on the image intensifier side of the fluoroscopy unit when procedural considerations allow.

Uses slings, traction devices, and sandbags to maintain the patient’s position and cassette holders to secure films during radiation exposure.

Uses equipment-mounted and mobile shields in addition to personal shields when required to remain near the patient or the sterile field.

Wears a protective apron that covers the body from the area below the thyroid collar to the knee.

Wears a wraparound apron when the potential for radiation exposure to the back exists.

Wears a thyroid collar during procedures in which fluoroscopy is used.

Wears a protective cap to reduce radiation exposure to the head.

Wears leaded eye protection (eg, leaded eyeglasses with wraparound side shields, ceiling suspended shields, clear mobile shields taller than the person using them) when near the source of the radiation beam.

Wears protective gloves when hands are near but not in the x-ray beam.

Wears radiation dosimeters in a consistent location.

Wears one dosimeter inside the lead apron at [facility-specific location]and one dosimeter outside the lead apron at [facility-specific location].

Wears a finger dosimeter if within 1 meter of the primary x-ray beam.

Stores dosimeters at [facility-specific location] at the end of every workday.

Pregnant personnel only

Wears a radiation monitor at the waist under shielding during times of exposure to radiation.

Pregnant personnel only

Wears a maternity or double-thickness apron or a wraparound apron that is large enough to cover the entire abdominal area.

Radiation equipment operators only

Alerts personnel present in the treatment room before activating the equipment.

Verbalizes a review of facility or health care organization policies and procedures related to minimizing personnel exposure to radiation.

Participates in assigned quality improvement activities related to minimizing personnel exposure to radiation.

Concurrent competency verification of the following is recommended

Radiation safety, minimizing patient exposure;

radiation safety, radiation protective devices; and

additional competencies related to surgical attire as determined by the facility or health care organization.

DEM/DO/DA=Demonstration/Direct Observation/Documentation AuditKAT=Knowledge Assessment Test

S/SBT/CS=Skills Laboratory/Scenario-based Training/Controlled SimulationV=Verbalization

RWM/P&P=Review of Written or Visual Materials/Policy/Procedure Review (Specify P&P #s ______)O=Other: ______