How Hard Can it be to do a Chest X-ray?

Catherine M. Cooper, MS, RT(R)(CT)(BD)(ARRT)

1.5 Credit

Category A

This course will be helpful in fulfilling structured education and CQR credits

Course Description

Chest examinations are frequent in the radiology department and radiographers often become complacent when performing them. This lecture discusses chest radiographs and why they matter so much in healthcare, shedding light on their role in diagnosing and monitoring patient conditions. Proper positioning of portable, routine PA and lateral, and pediatric chest radiographs is important for the radiologist to interpret the findings to aid in the correct diagnosis and treatment for the patients. Radiographers must also properly evaluate the images they obtain to determine if they need to be repeated. This, along with practicing the ALARA principle, enables radiographers to excel in chest radiography, while prioritizing patient well-being.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the audience will be able to:

Understand the importance of chest radiographs
Master routine chest x-rays
Present best practices for obtaining accurate pediatric chest x-rays
Explain the ALARA principle and its application in chest imaging
Emphasize the importance of patient positioning for quality chest x-rays

Course Details

Completion Time: 65 minutes
Course Published: 10/2023
Course Expires: 11/1/2026 at 12:01 am CST

Speaker Bio

Catherine M. Cooper, MS, RT(R)(CT)(BD)(ARRT)

Catherine Cooper is currently a Senior Instructor and the Interim Chair for the radiography program at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Her professional interests are bridging the gap between radiographers and students to create a desirable learning environment for everyone. She utilizes a variety of teaching strategies to provide radiography students with the skills and knowledge to utilize best practices in the clinical setting. Mrs. Cooper earned her Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and her Master of Science in Instructional Design and Development from the University of South Alabama. She has over 30 years of imaging experience, including 23 years teaching a variety of radiography courses including patient care, procedures, radiographic pathology, and computed tomography.