HOSPITAL, PATIENT AND RADIOGRAPHER s

self-control radiographer. We have all of us met the patient, often

of a
not very ill, who is difficult to please and impatient of delay and almost
seems to imply that he is doing us a favour by letting us X-ray him. The
radiographer who can see such a one as a challenge to professional ability
to handle people is in no danger of loss of forbearance, and can indeed
find a satisfying sense of success in leaving this patient smoother than he
was before.
In any circumstances there must be no loss of temper by the radio
grapher, however severe the provocation. Once we have lost our tempers
we have lost any control of the situation and allowed the patient to
determine our behaviour. Clearly this should not be so, since it destroys
altogether the correct professional relationship.
It was said a little earlier that the patient wants to find a cheerful
radiographer, and in general this is true. Certainly he never wants his
visit to the X-ray department to be marked by an atmosphere of unrelent
ing gloom. However, there is scope for different interpretations of the
word 'cheerful'.
Obviously it must always stop short of the hilarious and when the
patient is very ill, and knows he will find something heartless in
it,

a
radiographer whose exuberant demeanour has quality that seems to
a

ignore the graver aspects of the situation and his own physical difficulties.
At its ridiculous extreme this gives us caricature of radiographer saying
a

'Just jump up on the X-ray table' in bright and encouraging tone to

a

patient disabled with arthritis, but possible to seem callously ani

it
is
a

mated in many lesser degrees than this. The best interpretation of the
word 'cheerful' of meaning conveyed
by

perhaps the shade the phrase

is

'of good cheer', so that the ill patient feels an atmosphere of confidence
and hope.
As well persuading the patient of sympathetic response towards
as
a

him, the radiographer has to convince him of professional capability. To

the radiographer the X-ray examination doubtless one of many to be
is

undertaken in day's work, either more or less difficult according to its

a

nature, the condition of the patient, and the experience of the radiographer
To the patient the X-ray examination important and unique because
is

his own. Upon the results will depend the determination of his ail
it
is

ment, its treatment, and thus features of his immediate and indeed even
far distant future. Obviously he wishes to be assured that this examination
will be carried out at the highest level of efficiency and that no mistake
will be made.
The first thing then for the radiographer to look efficient. This one
is
is