Interruptions in Interventional Radiology: A Review of the Literature

Interventional radiology (IR) nurses are responsible for providing conscious sedation and nursing care for patients undergoing invasive procedures. Nurses are expected to provide quality care in a fast-paced environment. Interruptions during the delivery of that care can lead to medical errors. In an attempt to learn more about the impact interruptions can have in IR, a literature search was conducted. Although several studies have examined the occurrence and reasons for interruptions during high-risk procedures such as medication administration, no articles were located that discussed the interruptions in a procedural unit like IR.