Which action is recommended to protect health care staff from radiation hazards when caring for a patient receiving brachytherapy?

Which action is recommended to protect health care staff from radiation hazards when caring for a patient receiving brachytherapy?

• A. Use shielding when providing care to the patient
• B. Increase time spent in direct contact with the patient to monitor status
• C. Stand very close to the patient during care tasks
• D. Remove all protective measures to speed procedures

Answer: (A)

Protecting staff from radiation during brachytherapy relies on reducing exposure with a physical barrier. Shielding, such as lead or other protective barriers and protective garments, blocks or absorbs much of the scatter and leakage radiation that can reach caregivers as they provide care to the patient. This lowers the dose to the staff while still allowing essential monitoring and assistance. In contrast, spending more time in direct contact, standing very close to the patient, or removing protective measures would all increase the radiation dose to the caregiver. The recommended practice follows the principle of ALARA—keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable—using shielding as a primary way to reduce dose during patient care.

Protecting staff from radiation during brachytherapy relies on reducing exposure with a physical barrier. Shielding, such as lead or other protective barriers and protective garments, blocks or absorbs much of the scatter and leakage radiation that can reach caregivers as they provide care to the patient. This lowers the dose to the staff while still allowing essential monitoring and assistance.

In contrast, spending more time in direct contact, standing very close to the patient, or removing protective measures would all increase the radiation dose to the caregiver. The recommended practice follows the principle of ALARA—keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable—using shielding as a primary way to reduce dose during patient care.