Practical Radiography and Clinical Placement Assessment
Practical Radiography and Clinical Placement Assessment
This domain tests applied competence during clinical placement: machine checks, patient preparation, positioning, image critique, repeat decisions and professional conduct. Expect scenario-based questions.
Core rules
- Before exposure, check the request, patient identity, machine function, cassette or detector, collimation and shielding.
- Prepare the patient: explain, remove artefacts, position comfortably, give breathing instructions and immobilise if needed.
- After exposure, critique the image for positioning, rotation, inspiration, exposure, collimation, artefacts and markers.
- Repeat only when the image is non-diagnostic; document the reason and optimise technique to avoid further repeats.
- Follow radiation safety, infection control and local protocols; record completed examinations and maintain a reflective logbook.
Worked example
A chest image shows clavicles at unequal distances from the spinous processes and unequal rib spacing. The patient is rotated. Do not repeat blindly: rotate the patient, centre to the midline, confirm symmetry and repeat once. The reasoning is that rotation can mimic mediastinal widening and is correctable by positioning.
Traps
- Repeating without identifying the fault.
- Omitting side markers or patient identification.
- Using automatic exposure control without checking the selected chamber.
- Prioritising speed over safety or dignity.