Final answer:
The nurse should ensure the patient's understanding and safety by removing metal, screening for contraindications, and preparing for the MRI, which uses a magnetic field and radio waves to generate images.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse preparing a patient for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) should ensure the patient understands the procedure, removes any metal objects, and verifies that the patient has no contraindications for MRI, such as certain metallic implants.
MRI is a medical imaging technique that uses a large magnetic field to change the spin of protons in the patient's body, creating detailed images of internal tissues and organs. The main magnetic field is produced by a superconducting cylindrical coil, and during the scan, radio waves are broadcast and reemitted, with the resonance process being sensitive to the density of nuclei, typically hydrogen nuclei or protons.
Prior to the MRI, the nurse must also address any concerns the patient may have regarding the noise, duration, and potential discomfort of the procedure, and ensure the safety and comfort of the patient throughout the scan.