How do you know if a patient is experiencing negative side effects of radiation?
The interviewer wants to know which signs or symptoms you look for in your patients during treatment. You need to be able to interpret some of the patient's physical signs for many reasons. As you track the rate of cancer cells growing and spreading, what should you keep in mind about how the patient might be feeling? Every person is different, and some people can tolerate more rounds of treatment than others. Describe some of the side effects and share any experience you have with patients who have displayed any of these symptoms. Discuss your response when you notice these issues, including how you communicate with the patient.
"Many of my patients are very in tune with their bodies and will let me know any changes they feel, big or small. Others, I can see in their eyes or body language that they are tired or feeling weak. Everyone reacts differently to radiation therapy, so I always encourage open conversation with my patients and frequently ask them how they are feeling."
"In my current clinic, we have a questionnaire for patients when they arrive, where they can rate how they are feeling in various areas. This questionnaire opens the conversation for us to discuss any changes they are feeling or difficulting they are experiencing. I will notice if a patient is weaker than normal, looking shaky, tired, or nauseous. One of my strengths as a radiation therapist is my ability to be in tune with how others are feeling."
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Anonymous Answer
If the rapport changes. Over a course of radiotherapy. I get to know patients and what is normal for them. I also ask them "how they are' every day and read their patient notes from previous visits.
Cindy's Feedback
Good. Can you provide more detail about what changes in rapport would lead you to believe the patient is having negative side effects? Are there also visible signs?
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