For many people, the idea of having to gown up and lay in a strange machine is intimidating. Others who have never experienced an MRI may find themselves more fearful of not knowing what to expect. Whatever the cause for insecurities, understanding the standard MRI process can make the test seem less frightening and more tolerable.
Step 1: Eating
Although many medical tests require that a patient is NPO (without food or water) prior to a procedure, rarely do MRIs require this.
Step 2: Checking in
The day of the MRI, begins with arriving at a hospital, medical plaza or radiology center that has an MRI machine. The patient will be asked to check in and fill out any necessary paperwork before the procedure begins.
Step 3: Changing
Because of how sensitive MRI machines are to magnetic items, the patient will be shown to a dressing room and asked to undress into a metal free gown as well as to remove any jewelry, hair ties, etc that are metal. Women will be asked to remove their bras. All belongings should be placed in a designated locker.
Step 4: Questions
After changing into a gown, a series of questions will be asked in a small room or nursing section of the clinic regarding the patient’s medical history. At this time, if a patient has a pacemaker, metal pins, or any type of metal in their body they should inform the nurse. If the MRI requires dye or medications, an IV may be placed at this time.
Step 5: The Technologist
Finally it is time to meet the technologist. He or she will be responsible for positioning the patient and performing the scan. Now is a good time to bring up any last minute questions or concerns to decrease anxiety.
Step 6: Ear Plugs
The machine is very loud while scanning a patient. Ear plugs will be provided and should be worn to drown out the sound of the machine. Depending on the facility, ear plugs that provide music may be provided for relaxation.
Step 7: Getting Positioned
Now comes the actual part of entering the machine. The patient will be asked to lie down on a table that slides out of a tunnel-like machine. The technologist will position the patient for the scan and in some cases will prop up the patient’s knees.
Step 8: Inside
The technologist will slide the bed into the machine and enter a different room where he or she is able to administer the scan. The scan normally takes between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the MRI ordered. Breathing during the scan is acceptable but the patient should lie very still and try his best not to move. It is normal to hear clicking sounds.
Step 9: Communication
One thing that makes many people nervous is not being able to communicate with their technologist. The technologist is able to hear and respond to the patient at any time if the patient is not tolerating the scan or has a question or concern. Because of this system, a patient is never “stuck” in the machine against his will.
Step 10: Finished!
After the test is complete, the scanning table will be withdrawn from the machine and the technologist will help the patient back to his dressing room to change. A radiologist, a doctor with a specialization in radiology, will later look over the images created during the scan and will write up a report to send to the patient’s doctor regarding the results. The patient will meet with his doctor in a few weeks to discuss the results.
References
- No Fear MRI
- ArthritisInsight.com Medical Tests
- The Fun Times Guide
Stephanie Adamson - You could say that I have always had a passion, a desire even, to write. In second grade my favorite class was "writer's workshop" and ...
