The Nurse Radiographers’ Experience of Meeting with Patients During Interventional Radiology

A wide range is carried out in catheterization laboratories in radiological departments everyday. In Sweden, the nurse radiographers are usually responsible for patient care, medical technical equipment, and sterility during interventional radiology. The competence of a nurse radiographer is mainly equated with that of registered nurses. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe nurse radiographers’ experiences of caring for patients undergoing radiological interventions at the catheterization laboratories. The study is based on individual interviews analyzed using a hermeneutic approach. “Sensing and responding to the patient” was the main theme that appeared in this study from the radiographers’ descriptions of their encounters with patients undergoing radiological intervention. The meaning of this main theme is based on four themes; creating a trusting atmosphere, creating a dialogue, dealing with unpredictable outcomes, and dealing with pain and agony.