Welcome to Arkansas Children's Hospital. My name is Eva and I'm here to talk to you about having an MRI.
Do you know what MRI stands for?
It means Magnetic Resonance Imaging
basically, it's a big camera that uses a magnet to take pictures of the inside of your body.
Sometimes your doctor may call the MRI a scan of your body.
The MRI camera never touches you, but it does make a lot of noise as it takes your pictures.
Today, I'm having an MRI and I wanted to bring you along to show how all this happens.
First, you will check in at the radiology waiting room on the first floor of the hospital.
There are touch screens that will help you check in. You'll use this screen to let the Radiology staff know that you are here.
One of the people at the desk will call your name and give you a bracelet or stickers with your name on it.
It's important you have this with you at all times. This is how the Radiology staff will know who you are.
When it is time for your scan, you will be called to the MRI area
you may have your height and weight taken and will change into hospital pajamas.
You may meet different people during your visit in the MRI.
There are nurses, MRI technologists - that's the person who will take your pictures during the MRI scan,
and sometimes even a Child Life Specialist.
The Child Life Specialist can help explain the MRI machine and let you
hear the sounds the camera makes during the scan. Depending on the type of scan
you are having today you may be able to watch a movie or listen to music during your scan.
You could even bring your own music or DVD from home to watch.
The Radiology team members will ask you questions about any surgeries you had in
the past and if you have any metal in or on your body, this includes dental metal.
The adult caregivers can also answer questions about their own surgeries or
metal in their body to see if they can go into the MRI scanner with you
Sometimes the doctor will order contrast or dye for the MRI scan.
This is something that will make your picture shine or glow. The doctor wants to
light up those areas in the picture. If you have to have contrast for your MRI
scan you will have an IV placed once at the hospital.
Do you know what an IV is?
An IV is a small plastic straw that a nurse or MRI technologist will place in
your hand or arm. A small needle is used to put the plastic straw on your vein.
The Child Life Specialist may also talk with you about having the IV placed and
help distract you when it happens. There are many ways to help you get the IV placed.
Cold spray - which numbs the skin, Buzzy - which vibrates and tricks your
brain to fill the vibration and not the poke as much and distraction from your caregivers or the Child Life Specialist
If you need an IV the radiology staff will help you,
so it will be as quick and easy as possible.
Your caregivers will not be able to take any metal objects into the MRI scanner.
No cell phone, keys, wallets, debit cards, or watches. They will be able to lock these items in a locker
until after the scan.
If you are able to watch a movie or listen to music,
the technologist will help you with this too. If your caregiver is going into the scan
room with you they will get earplugs to help block out some of the sounds that
MRI camera makes. The camera makes a lot of noise during the scan, sometimes it
sounds really cool like a spaceship or even like someone is knocking on the
door or hammering a nail.
When the MRI scan is ready to start you will feel the bed move into the camera.
The person taking pictures can also talk to you and you can talk to them.
You will have a special button that will help the person taking your pictures
hear you talk to them if you need something. It's even fun to relax, listen to music or
watch the movie and sometimes I even take a nap while I'm having an MRI.
Your biggest job during the MRI is to be really still. Remember, it's a camera and
it's taking your picture, if you move the picture will be blurry.
Have you ever pretended to be a statue? If you can pretend to be as still as a statue the
pictures will be awesome. Once the pictures are taken and the scan is over
the technologist will tell you that they are coming in to help you off of the table.
You should get your results in a few days. Your caregivers will also need
to contact the doctor who ordered the MRI scan to get the results.
So that's it!
Be sure to ask your Radiology team if you have any questions.