ARRT Patient Care 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of isolation precaution is used for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Reverse isolation
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Pulmonary tuberculosis is spread by airborne particles (droplet nuclei <5 µm) requiring airborne precautions including N95 respirator use and negative-pressure rooms.
Question 2: A patient receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min needs a portable chest X-ray. The technologist should:
- Remove the oxygen cannula during the exposure
- Leave the oxygen in place and proceed with the exam (Correct answer)
- Switch the patient to a face mask before imaging
- Discontinue oxygen as it interferes with imaging
Correct answer: Leave the oxygen in place and proceed with the exam
Supplemental oxygen should not be interrupted; nasal cannulas do not significantly affect image quality and the patient's oxygenation status must be maintained.
Question 3: The term 'NPO' means:
- No prior operations
- Nothing by mouth (Correct answer)
- Non-painful observation
- No pharmaceutical orders
Correct answer: Nothing by mouth
NPO is Latin for 'nil per os,' meaning nothing by mouth, and is used to restrict food and fluid intake before procedures or surgery.
Question 4: When performing a venipuncture for contrast administration, the needle bevel should be oriented:
- Facing down toward the vein wall
- Facing up (bevel up) (Correct answer)
- At a 90-degree angle to the skin
- Parallel to the skin surface, bevel sideways
Correct answer: Facing up (bevel up)
The bevel-up orientation allows the needle to enter the vein smoothly and reduces the risk of piercing the posterior vein wall.
Question 5: A patient undergoing a radiographic exam becomes unresponsive and pulseless. The technologist should FIRST:
- Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
- Activate the emergency response system (call code)
- Begin chest compressions immediately while calling for help (Correct answer)
- Place the patient in recovery position and observe
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions immediately while calling for help
According to current AHA guidelines, high-quality chest compressions should begin immediately while simultaneously calling for emergency help.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a breach of patient confidentiality?
- Sharing patient imaging results with the ordering physician
- Discussing a patient's case with a family member without patient consent (Correct answer)
- Documenting contrast administration in the patient's chart
- Confirming a patient's identity before beginning a procedure
Correct answer: Discussing a patient's case with a family member without patient consent
Under HIPAA, patient health information may not be shared with family members without the patient's explicit consent, except in specific circumstances.
Question 7: The purpose of a body mechanics principle such as 'keeping the load close to the body' when lifting a patient is to:
- Increase the speed of the transfer
- Reduce strain on the lumbar spine by minimizing torque (Correct answer)
- Protect the patient from falling
- Maintain proper sterile field distance
Correct answer: Reduce strain on the lumbar spine by minimizing torque
Keeping a load close to the body reduces the moment arm and therefore the torque placed on the lumbar vertebrae, preventing injury.
ARRT Patient Care 3
Which type of isolation precaution is used for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis?