This is a reflective report on my first week of the clinical training in
Halat bu-Maher HC afternoon shift (HBM-PM). I think writing a
reflective report can be a helpful way to document the personal
learning and growth during my clinical period, as well as to identify
areas where I may still need improvement. The purpose of this
reflective report is to describe the new experiences that I lived and to
demonstrate the new learning outcomes. This week I faced an
interesting and challenging situation while having a knee procedure.
During the last hours of the shift, A 83 years old female patient arrived
to the department for an x-ray with her son: an old man in his forties.
She was seated on a wheelchair and barely cooperative. She had a
bilateral knee pain and was requested for a knee x-ay. After confirming
the request, the radiographer, the patient with the accompanier, and I
entered the x-ray room. After that I positioned the patient for the AP
view of the knees and then asked the son to wait outside during the
exposure. At that moment, the radiographer asked me to shoot, and I
did. Everything was perfect until we wanted to switch for the Lateral
view. After positioning the patient, we faced a problem related to the xray machine. As the radiographer select the “Knee LAT” icon on the
computer, an error message pops up saying “ the exposure factor is not
set correctly”. However, the x-ray machine was very modern we could
not find any possible solution to ignore this error message. After trying
many options like starting new exam or repositioning the image
receptor and checking the x-ray tube, the radiographer was confused
and decided to reboot the whole system. After explaining the problem
to the patients in the waiting area, we asked the son to enter the room
and stay with his mother. The restarting process took nearly around 10
minutes. Likely Everyone understood the situation and accepted to wait
for the system reboot.
For me, It was the first time I see a restart for the x-ray system. I used
to see all that generators and electricity devices in the room but
without knowing their function. In fact, every time I arrive to any
clinical site in the past, I find the x-ray system already operated and
working. At that day I decided to learn from the radiographer how to
operate the x-ray system. Firstly to activate the system, we make sure
that the ON/OFF knob is set to ON and then press the activation button
which is usually a green one. Secondly, we turned the machine on by
switching a key and choose not to warm up option. Finally, we started
the software on the computer and resumed our exam.
I think, I was a part of the problem. After a small conversation with the
radiographer, she found a mistake that I have made while pressing the
exposure button. I was supposed to press the shooting button on two
steps manner. For the next procedures I applied what I have learned,
and the error message did not appear again. Such experiences that we
do not learn from books or in campus is always interesting and
challenging. According to what I have learned, a good communication
between the radiographers in always important to solve problems, as
well as it is one of radiographer skills. In my opinion, every student
should know how to operate and deactivate the x-ray machine.