Interventional radiology nursing

Abstract

Interventional radiology nursing (IVR) is a relatively new nursing specialty. The American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA) was established in 1982 and recognized by the American Nurses Association as a nursing specialty in 1991. The rapid expansion of IVR procedures being performed and the high level of patient acuity have created unique challenges for IVR nursing. The ARNA has written suggested guidelines for IVR nursing to follow and integrate into practice. The ARNA guidelines also provide a structure to the orientation process for experienced nurses entering into the IVR nursing specialty for the first time. However, written guidelines and orientation practices are inconsistent and incomplete from one institution to another. In addition, the rapid expansion of technology and new procedures being introduced pose additional burdens to maintaining and updating current nursing IVR guidelines and procedures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the structure and orientation practices for IVR nurses and to compare content covered in orientation with suggested guidelines developed by the ARNA. The results recognize variability with orientation patterns and incongruent content based on the convenience sample completing the questionnaire. Areas of strength and areas for improvement were identified. Information gathered can have significant impact on recruitment and retention of qualified nurses in IVR.