Deck 4: Critical-Thinking and Problem-Solving Strategies

Question 1

Which of the following situations would require critical analysis thinking skills?
1)A patient asking for directions to the restroom
2)A physician asking you to call his office to speak to his nurse
3)Improvising the angulation of the x-ray tube to compensate for a patient condition
4)Your supervisor asking you to develop a new quality control plan
5)Repositioning a patient after assessing the patient's previous images
6)Providing a gown to a patient with instructions on putting it on correctly
7)Modifying exposure factors after reviewing the patient's history

A)2,3,5,6,and 7 only
B)1 and 2 only
C)3,4,5,and 7 only
D)1,2,and 6 only

Answer 1

C
Radiologic sciences professionals are presented with unique and challenging ethical,technical,and patient care situations every day.Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are essential to provide high-quality patient care,diagnosis,and treatment in these situations.Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills may also be used to manage personal concerns and issues.

Question 2

When you write a lengthy essay on your feelings about radiation protection,you are analyzing your

A)values that are learned or instilled as a part of your affective education.
B)knowledge of allowable dose limits.
C)skills with patient restraint that were developed in the laboratory setting.
D)comprehension of the cardinal rules of radiation protection.

Answer 2

A
Analyzing personal values and feelings and managing uncomfortable ethical situations are components of affective critical thinking.Students must value the professional knowledge that serves as the foundation for their chosen profession.Feelings can be expressed through journal writing,essay responses,or conferences with faculty and clinical instructors.

Question 3

In your experiences as a student radiographer,you will encounter a variety of technologists,each with his or her own methods for performing procedures.Some will be quite good,and unfortunately some will be bad.As a student,you have a responsibility to recognize these various behaviors and assess their professional correctness.A firm reference point for determining the appropriate behavior for technologist behavior would be

A)asking other technologists if these behaviors are correct.
B)calling the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and getting their opinion.
C)referencing the ASRT Practice Standards and ARRT Code of Ethics.
D)consulting a radiologist to get his or her opinion.

Answer 3

C
Professional standards of the radiologic sciences support and define skills and behavior expected in the workplace.Professional societies such as the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)publish practice standards that define specific professional expectations and responsibilities.Credentialing agencies such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)publish codes of ethics.

Question 4

As a student radiographer,you have been assigned to work with a classmate as part of a group project.Your assignment is to produce an x-ray image of a nonroutine projection of the skull.To do this,you would perform this

A)on your classmate in a hospital radiographic room.
B)on a patient volunteer in a small clinic setting.
C)using a skull phantom in a laboratory setting.
D)on an actual patient when he or she visits the clinical setting for this type of study.

Question 5

The transfer of knowledge gained in the laboratory or classroom setting is best demonstrated

A)on human phantoms in the practice laboratory.
B)through essay questions on a major examination.
C)on volunteer patients in a skills laboratory.
D)in an actual clinical setting on patients.

Question 6

While working as a radiographer,you design a unique receptor holder to use during portable procedures that clearly reduces the exposure of others by lessening the need to hold patients or cassettes.The development of this imaging device shows that you are functioning at what level of learning?

A)Psychomotor
B)Synthesis
C)Affective
D)Cognitive

Question 7

Exposure factor selection for optimum image quality is one of the most challenging aspects of radiography.In your attempt to produce an image of a patient's hip in the AP projection,you become frustrated with the image you have created because it is suboptimal in image quality.When you show the image to the supervisor,he abruptly states that you need to repeat the image and this time "get it right." As you begin to repeat the image,your first critical analysis thought should be to

A)select the best solution to get a good image.
B)clearly identify the problem that led to the suboptimal image.
C)pull out your notes to find a solution.
D)ask your classmates for help and pick one of their suggestions.

Question 8

Critical thinking is an essential part of the radiologic sciences profession.This requires the professional radiographer to use broad intellectual skills and experiences when making the correct choice for any given situation because

A)many decisions are difficult and complex.
B)working with each patient is a unique experience.
C)no two procedures or treatments are the same.
D)all of the above.

Question 9

Critical thinking skills are necessary for the competent medical imaging professional.Various organizations within the radiologic sciences provide guidance and documentation of these traits.As an example,the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)publishes ______________ that help define specific professional expectations and responsibilities.

A)Essentials
B)Standards of Care
C)rules and regulations
D)practice standards

Question 10

All of the following choices would generally require critical analysis thinking EXCEPT

A)checking in for work and reviewing the day's schedule.
B)working in surgery with a portable C-arm that is malfunctioning.
C)preparing to perform a radiographic examination on a non-English-speaking patient.
D)working in the emergency department with a trauma patient.