Unprofessional?

lostinrates

zaksmum wrote: »

The context of it was that the radiologist asked me the routine questions beginning with "Have you any concerns about your breasts?"

I said "No" and she raised an eyebrow, puffed out her cheeks, shot her colleague a look, shook her head as if in disbelief then carried on positioning me.

I did feel a bit upset and startled really that she would say such a thing.

This is highly unfortunate.

I have to see a great many nurses and I am afraid I am often forced to remind my self they are normal people in stressful roles often dealing with people who are very inconsiderate of them, because they certainly do often fail the bedside manner thing. A kind nurse at a time we are stressed but they are doing their daily job can make a tremendous difference to sense of well being and ease of some procedures. My last interaction with a nurse was also a bit grim, but one before was lovely, and we also talked about breasts, but hers, as she'd just done a topless shoot for a calendar for one of the cancer charities. DH, in the room with me, obviously didn't quite know what the polite thing to say was....' I'm sure its great' sounded to enthusiastically interested he said afterwards but 'good luck with sales' he felt sounded as if he'd looked, judged and felt luck was needed!

The important thing is YOU said you have no concern with your breasts. Don't let one persons poorly judged and impolite comment make you feel otherwise. . The important thing is you are happy, and any other enjoyed of them enjoy your confidence in them, and that that mammogram shows them to be healthy as well as one of the wonderful shapes and sizes breasts come in.

zaksmum

You're right...all that really matters is that they don't find anything dodgy so fingers crossed.

I'd never want to get her into trouble or anything because everyone can have an off day I suppose.

Anyone who was more sensitive than I am could've had their confidence knocked and that wouldn't be acceptable at all so I do hope the radiologist doesn't make a habit of such personal comments.

meritaten

must be the same one we all got - ! I have to admit I thought it funny. I can remember saying some 'unfortunate' things in my years in retail and hospitality.

stavromueller

Janepig wrote: »

This is making me feel a bit better now after I had to have an x-ray a year ago, and there were signs up everywhere telling you to make it known to the staff if you are or might be pregnant. I wasn't, didn't think anything of it, but the radiographer (I assume that's what they're called) obviously needed to know so I was rather put out when, even though I'm <cough> early 40's and like to think I don't look it, she dashed all my hopes by not asking if I was pregnant but "are you still having periods"?!!!! Nice. "Yes I effing well am" was what I wanted to say!!

Before any procedure involving radiation on a female patient, their pregnancy status must be identified. The ONLY options we are allowed to use: within 2 weeks of their period, 2 years post menopause or post hysterectomy. If they couldn't confirm this, then we would make everyone do a pregnancy test.

Admittedly this is for higher dose procedures than mammography or simple x-ray but there will be similar restrictions them as well. It wasn't the best phrasing, I will admit, however, there are also quite a lot of people who would get very arsy if you ask them if they are pregnant (mis interpretting it as fat for example!). We do have to ask EVERYONE between 12 and 65 ish. We could get into serious trouble with the authorities if we accidentally exposed an unborn foetus.

Janepig

stavromueller wrote: »

Before any procedure involving radiation on a female patient, their pregnancy status must be identified. The ONLY options we are allowed to use: within 2 weeks of their period, 2 years post menopause or post hysterectomy. If they couldn't confirm this, then we would make everyone do a pregnancy test.

Admittedly this is for higher dose procedures than mammography or simple x-ray but there will be similar restrictions them as well. It wasn't the best phrasing, I will admit, however, there are also quite a lot of people who would get very arsy if you ask them if they are pregnant (mis interpretting it as fat for example!). We do have to ask EVERYONE between 12 and 65 ish. We could get into serious trouble with the authorities if we accidentally exposed an unborn foetus.

Yes, I get that she needed to know whether I was pregnant or not, there were notices everywhere, and to be fair, if I was, I'd got the hint that I needed to tell her first. I'd also been sent down there from a ward where I was due to have my gall bladder removed so again it would be apparent before then if I was pregnant.

I think it would have been nicer to have been asked if there was a chance I could be pregnant, explaining about the restrictions you've mentioned, rather than "are you still having periods?" which then has to lead on to the "could you be pregnant" question. How old does someone have to look before you stop doing the "are you still having periods" question. Perhaps if I have to have an x-ray when I'm 75 and the radiographer asks me that I'll be like "Yessssss!" :j:j

I sometimes have to ask awkward questions of people I see in work and it can be difficult to word things so people don't take offence, so I do appreciate the issues.

Jx

mountainofdebt

Janepig wrote: »

Yes, I get that she needed to know whether I was pregnant or not, there were notices everywhere, and to be fair, if I was, I'd got the hint that I needed to tell her first. I'd also been sent down there from a ward where I was due to have my gall bladder removed so again it would be apparent before then if I was pregnant.

I think it would have been nicer to have been asked if there was a chance I could be pregnant, explaining about the restrictions you've mentioned, rather than "are you still having periods?" which then has to lead on to the "could you be pregnant" question. How old does someone have to look before you stop doing the "are you still having periods" question. Perhaps if I have to have an x-ray when I'm 75 and the radiographer asks me that I'll be like "Yessssss!" :j:j

I sometimes have to ask awkward questions of people I see in work and it can be difficult to word things so people don't take offence, so I do appreciate the issues.

Jx

I will always remember asking, when I was a student radiographer, a female patient was she or could she be pregnant to which she replied no.

Did an abdomen x ray and when the x ray was put up on the viewer (this was a good few years ago lol) the other student radiographer with me couldn't work out what a feature was ......and the face of the qualified member of staff who we asked what it was dropped as she said 'oh its a baby'.

Cue unbelievable panic but we'd both signed the request form to say that the patient had replied no to the pregnancy question.

hardpressed

A friend was was in her 80's was given Thalidomide as part of her treatment for cancer, she had to sign a paper to say she understood the risk of getting pregnant while taking this drug.

Janepig

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I will always remember asking, when I was a student radiographer, a female patient was she or could she be pregnant to which she replied no.

Did an abdomen x ray and when the x ray was put up on the viewer (this was a good few years ago lol) the other student radiographer with me couldn't work out what a feature was ......and the face of the qualified member of staff who we asked what it was dropped as she said 'oh its a baby'.

Cue unbelievable panic but we'd both signed the request form to say that the patient had replied no to the pregnancy question.

Well I suppose you often read stories of women who didn't know they were pregnant until the late stages so it could happen quite easily I should think. The key thing is that you cover your back by having the signatures to say you asked and you were told no.

I'm obviously a dinosaur though, do you not use viewers any more (by that I assume you mean the light boxes on the wall). Is it all computerised now?

I've always been curious as well (sad I know) as to how protected you are as radiographers from the x-rays?

Jx

pollypenny

At least your radiographer wasn't an ex-pupil, as I had once, in fact my very first mammogram.

Janepig

pollypenny wrote: »

At least your radiographer wasn't an ex-pupil, as I had once, in fact my very first mammogram.

Pol, you're putting me right off ever having a mammogram!! How old do I have to be before I have to have one? Have I got afew years left? Please say I have!!

Jx