A 70-year-old patient lying for an hour on a trolley is helped to sit up and becomes dizzy. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a fall in systolic pressure of at least:

20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic, within 3 minutes

Any fall, however small, in the systolic pressure

40 mmHg systolic, but only after 30 minutes upright

5 mmHg systolic or 5 mmHg diastolic, within 3 minutes

A frail patient who is a falls risk is placed on the X-ray table. The radiographer must:

Stay with the patient and use side rails or straps

Leave the trolley unlocked beside the table

Leave briefly to set the exposure, then return

Ask the patient to hold the table edge firmly

An 8-year-old child is unresponsive, has a pulse of 50 per minute and shows poor perfusion with inadequate breathing despite oxygen. The next step is to:

Start chest compressions with ventilation

Observe the pulse for five more minutes

Wait for the parents' consent to begin care

Give oral fluids to help the circulation

Patient care, infection control and emergencies

61 Gulf Prometric Radiographer (DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS, QCHP) practice questions on Patient care, infection control and emergencies, part of Patient Care, Safety and Ethics. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
A patient's blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg. The pulse pressure is:
1. A120 mmHg
2. B240 mmHg
3. C60 mmHg
4. D90 mmHg
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Answer: C · 60 mmHg
Pulse pressure is the systolic pressure minus the diastolic pressure: 150 minus 90 equals 60 mmHg. A normal value is about 40 mmHg. A wide pulse pressure can occur in older adults with stiff arteries or in aortic regurgitation.
- A: 120 is a wrong sum of the numbers.
- B: 240 is the sum of the two pressures.
- D: 90 is the diastolic pressure itself.
Remember this
Pulse pressure equals systolic minus diastolic.
Question 2 · Medium
A 70-year-old patient lying for an hour on a trolley is helped to sit up and becomes dizzy. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a fall in systolic pressure of at least:
1. AAny fall, however small, in the systolic pressure
2. B20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic, within 3 minutes
3. C40 mmHg systolic, but only after 30 minutes upright
4. D5 mmHg systolic or 5 mmHg diastolic, within 3 minutes
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Answer: B · 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic, within 3 minutes
Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or more, or diastolic of 10 mmHg or more, within 3 minutes of standing or sitting up. It causes dizziness and falls. Elderly patients, those on antihypertensives and those who are dehydrated are at risk.
- A: Small falls are normal and not diagnostic.
- C: 40 mmHg over 30 minutes is not the definition.
- D: 5 mmHg is within normal variation.
Remember this
Orthostatic hypotension: fall of 20 systolic or 10 diastolic within 3 minutes of standing.
Question 3 · Medium
A frail patient who is a falls risk is placed on the X-ray table. The radiographer must:
1. ALeave the trolley unlocked beside the table
2. BLeave briefly to set the exposure, then return
3. CStay with the patient and use side rails or straps
4. DAsk the patient to hold the table edge firmly
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Answer: C · Stay with the patient and use side rails or straps
Patients at risk must stay in the radiographer's sight and be secured with rails or straps while on a high table. Falls are a major cause of preventable injury in imaging. Brakes on trolleys and chairs must be applied.
- A: Unlocked wheels allow a trolley to move.
- B: Leaving the patient risks a fall.
- D: A weak grip is not a safeguard.
Remember this
Never leave a patient at risk of falling unattended on the table.
Question 4 · Hard
An 8-year-old child is unresponsive, has a pulse of 50 per minute and shows poor perfusion with inadequate breathing despite oxygen. The next step is to:
1. AObserve the pulse for five more minutes
2. BWait for the parents' consent to begin care
3. CGive oral fluids to help the circulation
4. DStart chest compressions with ventilation
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Answer: D · Start chest compressions with ventilation
In a child, a heart rate below 60 per minute with poor perfusion despite oxygenation and ventilation is treated as cardiac arrest, and compressions begin. Bradycardia of this kind is usually from hypoxia. Waiting lets the heart deteriorate.
- A: Observing wastes time in a deteriorating child.
- B: Emergency care is not delayed for consent.
- C: Oral fluids are unsafe in an unresponsive child.
Remember this
Child heart rate below 60 with poor perfusion needs compressions.
Question 5 · Easy
A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis needs a chest radiograph. Which precaution category applies?
1. AProtective isolation
2. BContact precautions
3. CDroplet precautions only
4. DAirborne precautions
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Answer: D · Airborne precautions
Pulmonary tuberculosis spreads on small airborne particles that stay in the air for hours, so airborne precautions are used. These include a negative-pressure room where possible and an N95 respirator for staff. The patient wears a surgical mask during transport.
- A: Protective isolation protects an immunosuppressed patient from others.
- B: Contact precautions are for organisms spread by touch, such as MRSA.
- C: Droplet precautions apply to large droplets, as in influenza, and need only a surgical mask.
Remember this
Tuberculosis needs airborne precautions: N95 respirator and negative pressure.
Question 6 · Medium
A radiographer pricks a finger on a used cannula after a contrast injection. The first step is to:
1. AWash with soap and water, then report at once
2. BSqueeze hard and suck the wound to clear it
3. CCover with a plaster and keep on working
4. DWait until the next day before telling anyone
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Medium
Shortly after an IV contrast injection for CT, a patient develops a few itchy hives on the arms. There is no wheeze, swelling or fall in blood pressure. The best action is to:
1. AObserve closely and reassure, treating only if it progresses
2. BStart chest compressions and call a cardiac arrest
3. CSend the patient home with no further observation, as the hives will fade
4. DGive IM adrenaline immediately, as for anaphylaxis
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Medium
In an adult cardiac arrest, AED pads are placed:
1. AOne over the upper abdomen and one on the thigh
2. BRight upper chest below the clavicle, and left lower chest side
3. CBoth on the back, one on each side of the spine below the scapulae
4. DOne on the forehead and one on the centre of the chest
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Hard
Two days after a contrast CT, a patient returns with an itchy maculopapular rash and no breathing problems. This reaction is best classified as:
1. AExtravasation injury at the injection site
2. BContrast-induced nephropathy of the kidneys
3. CAn acute anaphylactic reaction with airway signs
4. DA delayed reaction, managed symptomatically
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Hard
A patient on metformin has an eGFR of 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and needs an IV iodinated contrast CT that is essential. The usual advice is to:
1. AHold it at the study and for 48 hours, then recheck renal function
2. BStop it for 1 hour only around the injection time
3. CGive an extra dose to offset the contrast load
4. DContinue it unchanged through the study and afterwards, as contrast does not matter here
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Medium
An adult has a pulse of 70 per minute but is not breathing. Rescue breathing in an adult is given at a rate of:
1. AOne breath every 2 seconds
2. BOne breath every 15 seconds
3. CTwo breaths every minute
4. DOne breath every 6 seconds
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Medium
Before a portable examination in an isolation room, the digital detector should be:
1. APlaced under the patient with no cover at all
2. BSprayed with disinfectant while still plugged in
3. CCovered with a barrier, then disinfected after use
4. DLeft in the isolation room after the examination
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Hard
A patient with suspected measles needs a CT scan. The best arrangement is:
1. ASurgical mask on patient, N95 for immune staff, room cleared after
2. BScan on the normal list with standard precautions only, as masks are unnecessary
3. CStaff wear gloves only and no respiratory protection
4. DScan the patient in the waiting room with a curtain
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Medium
Standard precautions are applied to:
1. AAll patients, regardless of diagnosis or infection status
2. BPatients placed on isolation precautions only
3. CPatients with visible blood or body fluids only
4. DPatients known to have HIV or hepatitis infection, as recorded on the request
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Hard
A trauma patient has a heart rate of 120 per minute and a systolic BP of 90 mmHg. The shock index (heart rate divided by systolic BP) is about:
1. AAbout 0.5, which is a normal value
2. BAbout 1.3, suggesting significant bleeding
3. CAbout 108, which is a high value
4. DAbout 0.75, which is a normal value
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Medium
Blood is spilled on the floor of the X-ray room. After putting on gloves, the correct handling is to:
1. AWipe with a dry cloth and leave the floor as it is
2. BCover with absorbent material, remove it, disinfect with hypochlorite
3. CMop with plain water and a clean cloth, with no disinfectant, then discard the cloth later
4. DLeave it for the cleaning staff and carry on with the list
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Hard
A patient's blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg. The approximate mean arterial pressure (diastolic plus one third of pulse pressure) is:
1. A70 mmHg (the simple average)
2. B50 mmHg
3. C90 mmHg
4. D63 mmHg
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Medium
A patient with an eGFR of 22 mL/min/1.73 m2 needs an MRI. The main concern with gadolinium-based contrast is:
1. ARadiation burns of the skin over the scanned area
2. BHyperthyroidism triggered by the free iodine in the dose
3. CAcute pancreatitis caused by the gadolinium chelate
4. DNephrogenic systemic fibrosis, with the least stable agents
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Medium
A rescuer starts compressions on a collapsed 6-month-old baby. How far should the sternum be pressed?
1. AAbout one third of chest depth, near 4 cm
2. B5 to 6 cm, the same as in an adult
3. CAbout 1 cm, a light pressure on the sternum
4. DHalf the chest depth, around 6 cm
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Easy
Which single measure is most effective in preventing healthcare-associated infection?
1. AHand hygiene
2. BWearing shoe covers
3. CRoutine antibiotics for staff
4. DWearing a surgical mask for every patient
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Medium
After a contrast injection, the radiographer has a used needle in hand. The correct action is to:
1. ARecap it carefully using two hands first
2. BPlace it in the general waste bin beside the table
3. CLeave it on the trolley for the nurse to clear
4. DDiscard it unrecapped into a sharps container
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Medium
A patient with right-sided weakness after a stroke is moved from a wheelchair to the X-ray table. The best technique is to:
1. ALift under the arms without any help
2. BAsk the patient to jump across the gap
3. CMove towards the stronger (left) side
4. DMove towards the weaker (right) side
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Hard
A patient's mean arterial pressure is 93 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg. The estimated systolic pressure is:
1. AAbout 100 mmHg
2. BAbout 140 mmHg
3. CAbout 120 mmHg
4. DAbout 173 mmHg
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Easy
For adult CPR, the recommended chest compression rate is:
1. A120 to 140 compressions per minute
2. B100 to 120 per minute
3. C60 to 80 per minute
4. D80 to 100 per minute
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Easy
Which item of PPE is pulled over the cuffs of the gown as the final step of donning?
1. AGloves
2. BGown
3. CSurgical mask or respirator
4. DEye protection
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

36 more Patient care, infection control and emergencies questions

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Patient care, infection control and emergencies

A patient's blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg. The pulse pressure is:

A 70-year-old patient lying for an hour on a trolley is helped to sit up and becomes dizzy. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a fall in systolic pressure of at least:

A frail patient who is a falls risk is placed on the X-ray table. The radiographer must:

An 8-year-old child is unresponsive, has a pulse of 50 per minute and shows poor perfusion with inadequate breathing despite oxygen. The next step is to:

A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis needs a chest radiograph. Which precaution category applies?

A radiographer pricks a finger on a used cannula after a contrast injection. The first step is to:

Shortly after an IV contrast injection for CT, a patient develops a few itchy hives on the arms. There is no wheeze, swelling or fall in blood pressure. The best action is to:

In an adult cardiac arrest, AED pads are placed:

Two days after a contrast CT, a patient returns with an itchy maculopapular rash and no breathing problems. This reaction is best classified as:

A patient on metformin has an eGFR of 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and needs an IV iodinated contrast CT that is essential. The usual advice is to:

An adult has a pulse of 70 per minute but is not breathing. Rescue breathing in an adult is given at a rate of:

Before a portable examination in an isolation room, the digital detector should be:

A patient with suspected measles needs a CT scan. The best arrangement is:

Standard precautions are applied to:

A trauma patient has a heart rate of 120 per minute and a systolic BP of 90 mmHg. The shock index (heart rate divided by systolic BP) is about:

Blood is spilled on the floor of the X-ray room. After putting on gloves, the correct handling is to:

A patient's blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg. The approximate mean arterial pressure (diastolic plus one third of pulse pressure) is:

A patient with an eGFR of 22 mL/min/1.73 m2 needs an MRI. The main concern with gadolinium-based contrast is:

A rescuer starts compressions on a collapsed 6-month-old baby. How far should the sternum be pressed?

Which single measure is most effective in preventing healthcare-associated infection?

After a contrast injection, the radiographer has a used needle in hand. The correct action is to:

A patient with right-sided weakness after a stroke is moved from a wheelchair to the X-ray table. The best technique is to:

A patient's mean arterial pressure is 93 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg. The estimated systolic pressure is:

For adult CPR, the recommended chest compression rate is:

Which item of PPE is pulled over the cuffs of the gown as the final step of donning?