Safe Patient Handling Techniques - ARRT Radiography Exam

1. Which action should you take first before any patient transfer or repositioning?

   Assess the patient and the environment for safety and needed assistance. Initial assessment identifies potential risks, patient capabilities, and required resources to ensure a safe procedure.

2. What is the correct use of a gait (transfer) belt during assisted ambulation?

   Snug at waist over clothing; grasp from the sides or back, not the front. Proper application provides secure support without restricting breathing, allowing safe guidance from stable points.

3. Which option best describes when to use a slide board for a bed-to-stretcher transfer?

   When the patient can sit and assist but cannot stand or bear weight. Slide boards bridge gaps safely for non-weight-bearing patients capable of seated positioning and minimal assistance.

4. Which instruction best helps a patient stand safely from sitting during a transfer?

   Scoot to edge, feet flat, lean forward, and stand on the count. This sequence promotes proper weight distribution and momentum, facilitating a stable transition to standing.

5. What is the correct direction to transfer a patient with one-sided weakness (hemiparesis)?

   Toward the stronger side whenever possible. Transferring to the stronger side maximizes patient participation and stability, reducing fall risk and caregiver effort.

6. Which movement should you avoid to reduce spinal injury risk during transfers?

   Twisting the trunk; pivot with the feet instead. Twisting stresses spinal discs and muscles, while pivoting maintains alignment and minimizes torque on the back.

7. What is the correct relationship between the load and your body during lifting?

   Keep the patient or load close to your center of gravity. Proximity to the center of gravity reduces leverage forces on the spine and improves control during handling.

8. Find the error: You plan to lift a patient by placing hands under the axillae. What is correct?

   Do not lift under axillae; use a gait belt or lift device instead. Axillary lifting risks brachial plexus injury; alternatives provide safer, more controlled assistance.

9. Which technique is preferred for moving a patient up in bed to reduce shear and strain?

   Use a friction-reducing sheet or mechanical assist with a coordinated count. Assistive tools decrease friction and required force, promoting team coordination and reducing shear on patient skin.

10. What communication step should occur immediately before initiating a patient move?

    Explain the plan and obtain patient cooperation with a clear count. Clear communication ensures patient understanding and participation, reducing resistance and injury risk during the maneuver.

11. What is the safest way to generate force when lifting or boosting a patient?

    Use the legs and hips; avoid lifting with the back. Engaging larger leg muscles distributes force evenly, protecting the spine from excessive load and injury.

12. Which body position best supports safe lifting when moving a patient?

    Wide base of support with knees flexed and back in neutral alignment. This stance provides stability and leverages lower body strength to maintain balance and reduce back strain.

13. Which option is correct for hand placement when assisting a patient to stand?

    Hold the gait belt; do not pull on the patient's arms or shoulders. Belt support offers stable leverage without risking joint strain or instability from pulling on limbs.

14. What is the primary goal of using proper body mechanics during patient handling?

    Reduce injury risk to patient and staff while maintaining control of movement. Proper body mechanics minimize musculoskeletal strain and ensure controlled movements to prevent harm to both caregivers and patients.

15. What is the correct safety check for a wheelchair before a bed-to-wheelchair transfer?

    Lock the brakes and move or remove footrests as appropriate. These steps prevent wheelchair movement and clear obstacles, ensuring stability and safety during the transfer.

16. What is the correct direction to turn a patient in bed using a drawsheet?

    Toward you while shifting weight; keep the patient's spine aligned. Pulling maintains ergonomic positioning for the caregiver and ensures straight spinal movement to prevent twisting injuries.

17. What is the correct response if a patient begins to fall during assisted ambulation?

    Widen stance, guide to floor, protect head; do not try to stop the fall. Controlled descent protects both parties by managing the fall's impact while prioritizing head and neck safety.

18. Which positioning reduces transfer distance for a bed-to-wheelchair transfer?

    Place the wheelchair at a slight angle on the patient's stronger side. Angled placement minimizes reaching distance and leverages the patient's stronger side for efficient, safer movement.

19. Which patient condition is a contraindication to using a gait belt at the waist?

    Recent abdominal surgery or abdominal aortic aneurysm. These conditions risk internal injury or rupture from abdominal compression, necessitating alternative support methods.

20. Which transfer method is appropriate when the patient can bear weight and pivot?

    Stand-pivot transfer with assistance and a gait belt if indicated. This method utilizes patient abilities for efficient, low-risk movement with minimal equipment.

21. Identify the best practice for bed height when preparing to move or transfer a patient.

    Raise the bed to about waist height of the caregiver. Waist-level positioning aligns the work with the caregiver's strongest muscle groups, minimizing bending and strain.

22. What is the safest action if a transfer requires more help than you currently have?

    Stop and obtain additional staff or appropriate assistive equipment. Seeking help prevents overexertion and ensures adequate resources for safe execution per handling protocols.

23. Which transfer method is appropriate when the patient cannot bear weight safely?

    Use a mechanical lift or powered stand-assist per facility protocol. Mechanical devices provide necessary support and reduce manual strain when patient weight-bearing is compromised.

24. Which option best prevents patient sliding and skin shear when elevating the head of bed?

    Raise knees first or use positioning devices to maintain alignment. These measures counteract gravitational pull, maintaining position and minimizing friction-related skin damage.

25. Identify the correct way to manage lines and tubes (IV, oxygen, catheter) during transfer.

    Secure and route lines; keep devices below insertion sites as required. Proper management prevents dislodgement, kinking, or tension, ensuring device function and patient safety.

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