title: An overview of nuclear medicine imaging procedures.
abstract: Nuclear medicine imaging is not generally well understood by nurses who work outside this area. Consequently, nurses can find themselves unable to answer patients' questions about nuclear medicine imaging procedures or give them proper information before they attend for a test. This article aims to explain what is involved in some common diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging procedures so that nurses are able to discuss this with patients. It also addresses some common issues about radiation protection that nurses might encounter in their usual working routine. The article includes links to videos showing some typical nuclear medicine imaging procedures from a patient's point of view and links to an e-Learning for Healthcare online resource that provides detailed information for nurses.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Sciences Research, University of Salford, Salford, England.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiography, University of Salford, England.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: PET-CT scan; SPECT; bone scan; computed tomography scan; myocardial perfusion scan; nuclear medicine; nuclear medicine imaging; positron emission tomography scan; radiation protection