What Your Scan Really Shows: A Nurse’s Guide

Medical imaging can feel like a black box: patients get tests, worry about radiation, or receive studies that don’t change care. In this focused 18‑minute episode Nurse Jessi opens with a 60–90s micro-case (a low‑risk head bump that triggered an avoidable CT) and uses a new recurring feature—'Jessi’s 90‑second Scan Score'—to rate whether a scan was necessary and why. The episode covers what X‑ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound best show; plain-language radiation and contrast comparisons (including a simple metaphor equating a CT dose to a few days of background exposure); one-line decision prompts after each section to guide action; two-line scripts and a printable 'what to say' card; and a 20–30s clip from a radiologist explaining when imaging truly changes management. The close offers three concrete takeaways, a risk-aware checklist to download, and a CTA to submit anonymized scan questions for future episodes. Educational, practical, and safety-first.