Which safety measure is essential to protect both the patient and the healthcare provider during X-ray imaging?

Metal objects, including jewelry and accessories, can interfere with the X-ray image quality. Instructing the client to remove these items ensures accurate results.

b. "Consume a full meal before the procedure." This choice is incorrect because clients are usually instructed to fast for a specific period before an X-ray, especially if abdominal imaging is involved, to reduce interference with image quality due to food and gas.

c. "Drink a large amount of water before the procedure." This choice is incorrect because drinking water is typically not required before an X-ray procedure. Fasting or specific preparation instructions are more commonly given.

d. "Avoid taking any pain medications before the procedure." This choice is incorrect because the nurse does not typically instruct the client to avoid pain medications before an X-ray. Pain medications would not interfere with the X-ray procedure itself.

Requesting others in the room to wear protective lead aprons is an effective way to reduce radiation exposure to other patients and staff in the vicinity of the X-ray procedure.

a. Keeping the X-ray room door open during the procedure can lead to increased radiation exposure to people outside the room. The door should be closed during X-ray imaging to minimize radiation scatter.

b. Placing the X-ray machine at a higher elevation does not affect radiation exposure to other patients and staff in the room. The proper use of protective lead aprons is more effective.

d. Increasing the number of X-ray images taken at one time does not reduce radiation exposure to others in the room. The number of images taken should be limited to those necessary for diagnostic purposes while minimizing radiation dose to all individuals present.