NRSB RRS study plan

Define and distinguish the core radiation protection quantities (absorbed dose, equivalent dose, effective dose) and state their SI units and typical diagnostic magnitudes

Explain the ALARA principle and list at least five practical dose-reduction actions a radiographer controls at the console and at the patient

Compare primary versus secondary radiation barriers and identify the lead-equivalent requirements and occupancy factors that drive shielding decisions

Describe the ten-day and monthly personnel dosimetry reporting concepts, including dose limits for occupational, public, and embryo-fetus exposures

Apply the inverse square law and the relationship between mAs, kVp, and patient dose to worked numerical problems

Differentiate stochastic from deterministic biologic effects and give a tissue example of each with its threshold behavior

Identify the function and proper use of collimation, filtration, grids, and gonadal shielding in limiting dose

Interpret a fictional but internally consistent exposure report to flag dose-limit or ALARA concerns and justify each flag

Trace the x-ray production pathway from filament thermionic emission through target interaction and describe the resulting spectrum

Explain how mA, exposure time, kVp, and filtration each shift beam quantity or quality, and predict the effect on the emission spectrum

Label the components and functions of the tube housing, anode assembly, collimator, and generator type

Describe the purpose and operation of automatic exposure control and identify the detector placement and backup timer safeguards

Explain the geometric factors (source-to-image distance, object-to-image distance, focal spot size, alignment) that govern recorded detail and magnification

Differentiate the photographic and geometric properties of image quality and predict how a change in one factor affects the others

Interpret standard image-quality metrics including spatial resolution, contrast resolution, noise, and signal-to-noise ratio

Apply a repeat/reject analysis framework to categorize artifacts by cause: equipment, processing, or operator

Sequence the routine projections of the chest, abdomen, and upper and lower extremity for a standard non-trauma protocol, stating the clinical indication for each

Identify the anatomy demonstrated on each projection and the positioning landmarks used to center the part

State the standard patient positioning, part position, and central ray for at least fifteen common projections

Distinguish which projections require a grid, which require a marker placement convention, and which require special breathing instructions

Describe the anatomy and projections for the spine, skull, and fluoroscopic gastrointestinal and genitourinary studies

Explain patient identification, informed consent concepts, and the radiographer's role in verifying pregnancy status and contraindications

Outline safe patient transfer, immobilization, and fall-prevention practices including body mechanics for the radiographer

Describe contrast media types, routes, and the recognition and first response to a contrast reaction

Design a quality-control schedule for common radiographic equipment, listing the test, frequency, and acceptable limits for each item

Explain the radiographer's ethical obligations around patient autonomy, confidentiality, and honest error disclosure

Delineate scope-of-practice boundaries and identify when to escalate to a supervising radiologist or physician

Apply a decision framework to two ethical dilemmas involving image repeats, patient refusal, and documentation

Synthesize all six domains through two full-length timed practice exams under test-day conditions

Review every missed item, tagging each error by domain and by cause (knowledge gap, misread, calculation slip)

Re-drill the three weakest domains using the flashcards and problem sets built in earlier weeks

Confirm exam-day logistics: identification, scheduling, permitted materials, and calculator policy from the official handbook