A patient with Bell’s Palsy is getting a diagnostic exam using magnetic resonance imaging. To help prepare the patient, which interventions should be included on the nursing care plan?

Explanation

• The nurse should carefully examine the patient's history and assess whether the patient has any internal metallic devices such as orthopedic hardware, pacemakers, shrapnel, etc.. Also be careful to make sure all metallic objects like jewelry and hairpins are removed to prevent injury

• A MRI machine can be very tight and make a lot of noise. It is important to find out if the patient is claustrophobic because they must remain still for a prolonged period to get an accurate picture

• Unless it is an abdominal MRI, the patient is not placed on NPO orders. For an MRI of the head, NPO status is not needed

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