Radiologic Safety: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Recommendations

Exposure to ionizing radiation poses many risks and dangers to health care workers. Radiology nurses are particularly vulnerable to its damaging effects. Radiologic principles and practices are not addressed in the required curricula of most generic nursing programs for licensure as a registered nurse. Radiology nurses must learn these principles and practices through staff development, continuing education, or on-the-job mentoring. With this article, the reader should gain a historical perspective of notorious radiation accidents occurring in the past century and learn about biologic effects of radiation exposure. Common radiologic terminology is defined, and Compton scatter and secondary radiation are discussed. Information useful to radiology nurses to minimize their exposure is presented.