Patient Care (31 scored questions)

ARRT-R · 47 questions

• An outpatient with an IV for iodinated contrast reports itching and hives during injection, then develops swelling at the IV site with tightness, wheeze, and falling blood pressure. The nurse calls for emergency help while the technologist stays with the patient. Which contrast complication response should the technologist initiate for extravasation with mild to severe reactions and documentation?
• A 45-year-old outpatient is scheduled for a morning barium enema to evaluate polyps, takes daily metformin, and is anxious about radiation and bowel prep. The order requires low-residue diet, laxative evening before, and NPO after midnight. She asks what to expect and how to plan her day. Which patient education discussion best covers procedure explanation, dose, scheduling, and pre- and post-exam instructions?
• An anxious outpatient scheduled for a knee radiograph asks why the doctor did not order MRI instead, saying a friend told her MRI shows ligaments better and has no radiation. She wants advice on which test is right for her torn ligament concern. Which response best answers her question about other imaging modalities within the radiographer scope?
• A 62-year-old outpatient scheduled for a barium enema brings a signed advance directive, asks that results not be shared with her waiting daughter, and appears anxious about bowel preparation. The daughter asks the technologist for findings in the hallway. Which action correctly applies consent, confidentiality, and patient-rights requirements for this examination?
• A 58-year-old outpatient chest radiograph in a small imaging center shows a large tension pneumothorax with mediastinal shift. The patient is mildly short of breath, vital signs are stable, and the radiologist is off-site reading remotely. The ordering nurse practitioner is available by phone. Which communication ensures the critical finding reaches the health care team for this emergency?
• A mobile radiography unit moves between an isolation room and a surgical suite where sterile trays are opened for a myelogram, and the technologist must decide how to process the cassette cover, the tabletop, and the spinal needles. Which infection-control assignment correctly separates disinfection of surfaces from sterilization of invasive items with proper technique?
• A 45-year-old outpatient with active influenza arrives coughing for a two-view chest in a small clinic with one radiographic room and no anteroom. The technologist must contain spread while completing the exam promptly. Which action best breaks the chain of infection at the mode of transmission for this respiratory case?
• A technologist prepares to inject contrast for an emergency urogram on a patient with bloody sputum and an uncovered cough, using a single-dose vial and a sharps container at bedside. Which combination of Standard Precautions, PPE, and injection practice provides safe care during the IV contrast administration?
• A competent adult inpatient with a signed advance directive asks that test results not be shared with visiting family, then declines a contrast study after discussion of risks and alternatives. The care team asks imaging to proceed quickly. Which patient rights action should the technologist take for consent types, HIPAA confidentiality and advance directives?
• An ED teen with a swollen wrist presents with a guardian. The armband reads one name, the requisition orders a left ankle radiograph for ankle pain, and the teen points to the right wrist as the injury. The guardian urges imaging the painful wrist now. Which verification step correctly reconciles identity, order, and clinical indication before exposure?
• An 82-year-old inpatient weighing 95 kg needs lateral transfer from stretcher to x-ray table for a hip study, cannot bear weight, has a healing sacral pressure injury, and your facility requires no-lift policy with staff back protection. Which safe patient handling device should the transfer team select to maintain ergonomics?
• In a busy emergency department hallway, an anxious adult with a sprained ankle asks you why the doctor ordered radiographs instead of MRI, saying a friend told them MRI shows everything better. You have two minutes before the examination, must stay within your scope, and need to preserve trust. Which response best addresses their question about other imaging modalities?
• A 10-year-old outpatient arrives with a guardian for a right forearm radiograph for fall pain. The electronic order reads left forearm, the wristband matches the requisition name and birthdate, and the guardian insists the right arm is swollen. The technologist has two other waiting patients and a full schedule. Which identity and order verification action best meets ethical and legal standards?
• An imaging department has two add-on cases: an older adult with productive cough and confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis needing a portable chest, and a chemotherapy patient with severe neutropenia needing a KUB in radiography. Supplies are limited and rooms must turn over quickly. Which infection control plan correctly applies transmission-based and neutropenic precautions to limit healthcare-associated infections?
• A 68-year-old floor patient with a right-arm IV infusion, nasal cannula oxygen at 2 L, indwelling Foley catheter, and nasogastric tube to suction needs transfer to radiology for a chest x-ray via wheelchair. Which assistance approach correctly manages the infusion lines, oxygen, NG tube and catheter during movement?
• A radiographer must perform a portable chest on an isolation patient with MRSA, then assist with a fluoroscopic joint injection requiring a sterile tray. The unit has disinfectant wipes, sterile gloves, and wrapped instruments. Which infection-control sequence correctly applies medical versus sterile technique?
• An adult outpatient refuses a wrist radiograph after the technologist already positioned the wrist and is holding the tube ready, but the technologist exposes the image anyway without consent to avoid a repeat visit. The patient later claims unlawful touching and harm from unnecessary exposure. Which legal doctrine best classifies the intentional unauthorized exposure and resulting claim?
• On a busy orthopedic floor, you must move a 95-kg postoperative adult with limited weight-bearing from bed to wheelchair for hip radiographs, with one aide available, a slippery floor sign nearby, and a full-body sling lift parked in the hall. Which transfer approach best protects the patient and staff through safe ergonomics?
• A mobile radiographer prepares contrast for a bedside IV urogram using a multi-dose vial in a busy ED. The vial diaphragm is dusty, the previous puncture time is unlabeled, and sharps container is nearly full. Which safe injection and disposal sequence best meets Standard Precautions for IV supplies?
• In a busy outpatient center, a restless toddler needs a voiding study and keeps sliding off the table, and the resulting image shows the caregiver's fingers over the bladder edge. The technologist considers soft wrist ties and cropping out the fingers with postprocessing. Which combined restraint and electronic image-data action meets ethical and legal standards for this pediatric case?
• In a crowded ED, a radiographer performs a painful ankle series on an alert adult who repeatedly says stop and pushes the cassette away, but the technologist holds the foot still and completes the exposure to avoid delay. The patient later files a claim for harmful unconsented touching. Which legal doctrine best classifies intentional harmful contact without consent in this radiography case?
• An 82-year-old inpatient feels dizzy when standing for an upright knee exam, has a history of falls, wears a loose gown, and needs transfer from wheelchair to table. Which vital-signs monitoring with fall-prevention and modesty approach best protects this patient during the transfer?
• During evening portables, you find a leaking chemotherapy drug bag in a patient room plus an open bottle of high-level disinfectant for probes, with strong odor and a small spill on the floor. Housekeeping is delayed and the nurse asks for help containing the area safely. Which hazardous material action best reflects chemical, chemotherapy, and Safety Data Sheet principles?
• A 71-year-old postoperative patient on 2 L nasal oxygen with a left forearm IV infusion, indwelling urinary catheter and recent tracheostomy needs a portable chest radiograph in a semi-private room. The nurse asks the radiographer to move the patient upright without disrupting support devices. Which patient-assistance sequence should the radiographer follow for this multi-device transfer?
• A frightened 4-year-old needs a forearm series in a busy clinic, squirming and crying despite a parent present and foam sponges available. The student suggests taping the arm to the board and having the parent hold the child tightly without a request. Which ethical and legal approach best distinguishes proper positioning aids from improper restraint use?
• In a hospital radiology department, a radiologist verbally changes a contrast-enhanced abdomen order to noncontrast because of renal function, then the patient develops hives and wheezing after injection on a different case. Which documentation practice for order changes and medical events meets ethical and legal standards for these situations?
• A 58-year-old outpatient arrives in radiography for an intravenous urogram after a prior episode of generalized hives after iodinated contrast, currently taking metformin with a recent low eGFR noted in the chart. The patient asks if the exam can proceed today. Which medication history action and referral correctly addresses premedication and contraindication screening within the radiographer scope?
• A neutropenic oncology inpatient needs a portable chest x-ray for fever. The room has a neutropenic precaution sign, and the previous patient had active tuberculosis. The technologist must protect both patients. Which precaution combination best addresses neutropenic and airborne risks during portable imaging?
• A 58-year-old outpatient waits for a routine chest radiograph, then collapses in the hallway, is unresponsive with no normal breathing and no palpable carotid pulse, and a wall-mounted AED is within reach while two staff members respond. The clinic has no code team on site and EMS has just been called. Which cardiac arrest response sequence should the radiographer initiate first using CPR and the AED?
• An 82-year-old outpatient using a walker feels dizzy after standing from the dressing room bench, is diaphoretic, and wears a back-opening gown for a lumbar spine exam on a high table. The hallway is busy and the room is cool. Which vital-sign monitoring with fall prevention, comfort, and modesty measure best protects this patient?
• An emergency department prepares a 55-year-old with prior hives after ionic contrast for a contrast-enhanced abdomen study and a separate outpatient scheduled for a small-bowel follow-through with suspected perforation risk. Pharmacy asks for the safest contrast choice for each case. Which contrast media selection best reflects ionic versus non-ionic and barium properties?
• A 68-year-old inpatient with abdominal pain has an ordered two-view acute abdomen series. The radiologist phones to change the order to a single supine view due to instability, and during transfer the patient vomits and briefly loses consciousness before recovering. Which documentation practice best records the order change and the medical event?
• A radiology aide spills a high-level disinfectant used for ultrasound probes on the counter and floor in a small procedure room, and coworkers disagree about wiping it quickly with paper towels. Which safety action guided by the Safety Data Sheet should staff take first for the chemical spill?
• A registered technologist is asked to perform a portable chest on an isolation patient, notices a colleague altered a prior exposure log, and feels pressured to stay silent to keep the team congenial. Which ARRT Standards of Ethics obligation should determine the response to falsification?
• A 19-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, and confused 20 minutes into a delayed scoliosis series in a busy outpatient center, a glucometer is available, the patient can still swallow, and no trauma or seizure activity has occurred. The supervising technologist suspects hypoglycemia. Which immediate response should the radiography team provide for this diabetic reaction?
• A 54-year-old patient waiting for a barium enema suddenly develops hives, wheezing, and dizziness after latex glove contact, then becomes unresponsive without normal breathing or a palpable pulse. The crash cart with an AED is in the hallway. Which emergency response for non-contrast allergy with cardiac and respiratory arrest best follows CPR and AED use?
• A 62-year-old inpatient undergoing a portable chest radiograph suddenly develops stridor and hypotension after a latex glove change, the radiographer suspects anaphylaxis, gives no medication beyond scope, calls the rapid response team, and captures an image showing a new large tension pneumothorax. The nurse asks what to report. Which critical finding communication should the radiographer use to alert the health care team?
• A newly certified radiographer observes a senior technologist arriving impaired and preparing to perform portable examinations on critically ill patients. The newcomer feels pressured to stay silent to preserve team harmony and job security. Which response best upholds the ARRT Standards of Ethics?
• A 78-year-old Vietnamese-speaking patient with hearing aids and acute rib pain after a fall looks away, gives short answers, and the technologist must explain upright breathing instructions for chest imaging. Which verbal and nonverbal communication strategy best overcomes language, sensory, and emotional barriers?
• A 74-year-old outpatient weighing 92 kg with diabetes is scheduled for contrast-enhanced CT urography. Labs show elevated creatinine, elevated BUN and eGFR 28, plus history of prior mild hives after contrast. Which contrast-appropriateness assessment best protects this patient before injection?
• A 45-year-old outpatient is scheduled for an IV urogram using iodinated contrast in radiology. She reports hives and wheezing that required treatment during a prior contrast study and lists daily lisinopril, metformin, and ibuprofen. Protocol requires medication review for risk and possible premedication. Which medication history action best addresses premedication and contraindication screening for this contrast study?
• In fluoroscopy scheduling a 68-year-old with prior mild hives after ionic contrast needs an upper GI, has normal renal function, and asks why barium is chosen for bowel and a different agent is used for vessels despite both being called contrast. Which contrast property should the radiographer explain to justify agent selection and reaction risk?
• An outpatient with productive cough, fever, and suspected pulmonary tuberculosis waits in a small holding area before chest imaging. Staff have surgical masks and an airborne room available. Which infection-control action should the team take to correctly interrupt the chain of infection at the mode of transmission?
• A 54-year-old needs 100 mL of iodinated contrast for CT angiography through a new IV, with small hand veins and a large antecubital vein available, and the power injector will use a high flow rate. Which venipuncture technique and route best ensures safe high-rate contrast delivery?
• A worried outpatient scheduled for a morning barium upper gastrointestinal study calls about fasting, medications, radiation dose, and driving home afterward. She has diabetes and takes morning insulin. Which patient education response best covers procedure explanation, dose, scheduling, and pre/post instructions?
• A teenage patient with a hearing impairment and high anxiety arrives with a non-English-speaking parent for a wrist examination, nodding silently while avoiding eye contact and clutching the injured arm. Which verbal and nonverbal communication and barrier strategy best supports understanding and cooperation during this encounter?
• A 19-year-old outpatient with type 1 diabetes waits for a wrist study, now sweaty, shaky, and confused with rapid pulse after missing lunch, while another patient nearby recovers from a brief seizure. The student asks how to separate the cases. Which emergency response should the technologist prioritize to address this suspected diabetic reaction?