Evaluation of nurses exposuretoX-ray in closed intensive care units around the time with film badgedosimetry method

Radiological examinations for patients who are hospitalized in intensive care units are usually performed by using portable radiography devices.
The aim of the study was to investigate ICU nurses ‘exposure during portable radiological examinations with cumulative method.
This study was cross sectional. For this study,29 film badges were installed in multiple locations in 3 intensive care units of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan. Hospital intensive care unit consists of surgery, trauma and domestic. The measurement locations were nurses’ break room, nursing station, patient rooms and behind a lead apron. All Films Were installed for two months. Appropriate statistical tests were used for describing the data. The level of significance was set at below 0.05. Study data were analyzed by SPSS v. 16.0.
The highest dose of radiation was 0.11milisievert in this method which was much lower than the highest permitted level of radiation exposure - i.e. 1 milisievert.
Portable radiological examinations do not expose healthcare providers to high doses of ionizing radiation. Clinical settings which have been designed and organized according to proper safety standards can be considered as safe and free from ionizing radiation during portable radiological examinations.