HESI RADIOGRAPHY PRACTICE TEST 1
| EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT.
Which procedure is an example of surgical asepsis?
A. Clean glove application.
B. Hand washing
C. Clean gown application
D. Surgical hand scrub. - ANS D. Surgical hand scrub.
Asepsis is the absence of disease-producing (pathogenic) organisms. Surgical asepsis, or sterile
technique, includes procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms from an area. Surgical
hand scrub, sterile glove application, and sterile gown application are examples of surgical
asepsis.
A radiographer receives a request for a portable chest x-ray and then performs the x-ray on the
incorrect patient. Which legal term best describes the actions of the radiographer?
A. Battery
B. Negligence
C. Assault
D. Invasion of privacy - ANS A. Battery
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 67
,Battery is defined as touching to which the victim has not consented. Performing a procedure
on the wrong patient may constitute grounds for a charge of battery.
The lead radiographer is planning a strategy to efficiently manage the morning workload. The
department is short-staffed due to meetings, and four patients are now ready for their
examinations. Assuming that none of the exams is emergent, which patient should be seen
first?
A. An 54-year-old male with type 2 diabetes for an upper GI
B. A 18-year-old female for an intravenous urogram
C. An 83-year-old female for a chest x-ray
D. A two-year-old child for a barium swallow - ANS D. A two-year-old child for a barium
swallow
An x-ray department should begin the day with patients who are fasting prior to their
examination. In this example, more than one of the patients is fasting, so the radiographer must
decide who goes first based on other factors. Since none of the cases are emergent,
consideration should be given to pediatric and geriatric patients because they have the most
difficulty being NPO for long periods of time.
Which type of contrast agent is preferred for low risk and low cost for a patient diagnosed with
a possible perforated bowel?
A. Barium sulfate suspension, flavored
B. Gaseous media in the form of crystals
C. Ionic, water soluble, diluted with juice
D. Nonionic, water soluble, diluted with juice - ANS C. Ionic, water soluble, diluted with juice
The least risk with the least cost would dictate ionic, water soluble media. Barium should
definitely be avoided, because of the risk of introducing contrast into the peritoneum. Barium
sulfate suspension might cause adhesions if it spills into the peritoneum via a perforation.
Gaseous media will not yield all of the information that positive media will in this case.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 67
,A patient reports symptoms including itching, rash formation, and difficulty breathing
immediately following the administration of intravenous (IV) contrast media. Assuming the
patient has had no prior exposure to radiopaque contrast media, what is the most likely cause
of these symptoms?
A. Acute bronchospasm
B. Allergic reaction
C. Anaphylactoid reaction
D. Acute renal failure - ANS C. Anaphylactoid reaction
The symptoms described in this scenario are the result of an anaphylactoid reaction, a type of
reaction that clinically mimics anaphylaxis but requires no previous exposure to contrast media.
A patient received 100 ml of IV contrast media as a part of an abdominal computed tomography
(CT) scan, as well as 500 ml of dilute, oral contrast, prior to coming to Radiology for a separate
order, an intravenous urogram (IVU). The patient's creatinine is 0.4 mg/dl and BUN is 36 mg/dl.
Why should this IVU be rescheduled?
A. The presence of the previous oral contrast in the abdomen precludes an IVU.
B. The lab values indicate increased risk for contrast injection.
C. The lab values indicate that the contrast would not be excreted in sufficient quantity to be
useful for an IVU.
D. The presence of the previous intravenous contrast precludes an IVU - ANS A. The presence
of the previous oral contrast in the abdomen precludes an IVU.
The single, most compelling reason to reschedule this IVU is the presence of previous oral
contrast in the abdomen.
The radiographer is assisting a patient to move from a wheelchair to the x-ray table. Which
represents the safest practice by the radiographer when moving this patient?
A. Maintain the center of gravity over the base of support.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 67
, B. Extend the arms as far as possible to increase the base of support.
C. Bend at the waist so the center of gravity is midway between the patient and the base of
support.
D. Reduce the base of support slightly so the center of gravity is easier to maintain. - ANS A.
Maintain the center of gravity over the base of support.
The radiographer should maintain the center of gravity over the base of support. If movement is
required, then the feet should be moved to maintain this relationship. All other responses
violate proper body mechanics.
Which term best describes the process of cleaning the surfaces in a radiology department with
10% bleach solution in water?
A. Sterile technique
B. Medical asepsis
C. Sterilization
D. Surgical asepsis - ANS B. Medical asepsis
Proper cleanliness, like hand washing and cleaning surfaces, is termed medical asepsis.
Which action is best taught to the patient using the communication technique of
demonstration?
A. The correct positioning for a particular projection.
B. Instructions for donning and removing a patient gown.
C. The correct direction to face when sitting at the radiography table.
D. Direction on where to sit relative to the radiography table. - ANS A. The correct positioning
for a particular projection.
Demonstration is particularly effective for showing a patient the specifics of a position.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 67
| EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT.
Which procedure is an example of surgical asepsis?
A. Clean glove application.
B. Hand washing
C. Clean gown application
D. Surgical hand scrub. - ANS D. Surgical hand scrub.
Asepsis is the absence of disease-producing (pathogenic) organisms. Surgical asepsis, or sterile
technique, includes procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms from an area. Surgical
hand scrub, sterile glove application, and sterile gown application are examples of surgical
asepsis.
A radiographer receives a request for a portable chest x-ray and then performs the x-ray on the
incorrect patient. Which legal term best describes the actions of the radiographer?
A. Battery
B. Negligence
C. Assault
D. Invasion of privacy - ANS A. Battery
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 67
,Battery is defined as touching to which the victim has not consented. Performing a procedure
on the wrong patient may constitute grounds for a charge of battery.
The lead radiographer is planning a strategy to efficiently manage the morning workload. The
department is short-staffed due to meetings, and four patients are now ready for their
examinations. Assuming that none of the exams is emergent, which patient should be seen
first?
A. An 54-year-old male with type 2 diabetes for an upper GI
B. A 18-year-old female for an intravenous urogram
C. An 83-year-old female for a chest x-ray
D. A two-year-old child for a barium swallow - ANS D. A two-year-old child for a barium
swallow
An x-ray department should begin the day with patients who are fasting prior to their
examination. In this example, more than one of the patients is fasting, so the radiographer must
decide who goes first based on other factors. Since none of the cases are emergent,
consideration should be given to pediatric and geriatric patients because they have the most
difficulty being NPO for long periods of time.
Which type of contrast agent is preferred for low risk and low cost for a patient diagnosed with
a possible perforated bowel?
A. Barium sulfate suspension, flavored
B. Gaseous media in the form of crystals
C. Ionic, water soluble, diluted with juice
D. Nonionic, water soluble, diluted with juice - ANS C. Ionic, water soluble, diluted with juice
The least risk with the least cost would dictate ionic, water soluble media. Barium should
definitely be avoided, because of the risk of introducing contrast into the peritoneum. Barium
sulfate suspension might cause adhesions if it spills into the peritoneum via a perforation.
Gaseous media will not yield all of the information that positive media will in this case.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 67
,A patient reports symptoms including itching, rash formation, and difficulty breathing
immediately following the administration of intravenous (IV) contrast media. Assuming the
patient has had no prior exposure to radiopaque contrast media, what is the most likely cause
of these symptoms?
A. Acute bronchospasm
B. Allergic reaction
C. Anaphylactoid reaction
D. Acute renal failure - ANS C. Anaphylactoid reaction
The symptoms described in this scenario are the result of an anaphylactoid reaction, a type of
reaction that clinically mimics anaphylaxis but requires no previous exposure to contrast media.
A patient received 100 ml of IV contrast media as a part of an abdominal computed tomography
(CT) scan, as well as 500 ml of dilute, oral contrast, prior to coming to Radiology for a separate
order, an intravenous urogram (IVU). The patient's creatinine is 0.4 mg/dl and BUN is 36 mg/dl.
Why should this IVU be rescheduled?
A. The presence of the previous oral contrast in the abdomen precludes an IVU.
B. The lab values indicate increased risk for contrast injection.
C. The lab values indicate that the contrast would not be excreted in sufficient quantity to be
useful for an IVU.
D. The presence of the previous intravenous contrast precludes an IVU - ANS A. The presence
of the previous oral contrast in the abdomen precludes an IVU.
The single, most compelling reason to reschedule this IVU is the presence of previous oral
contrast in the abdomen.
The radiographer is assisting a patient to move from a wheelchair to the x-ray table. Which
represents the safest practice by the radiographer when moving this patient?
A. Maintain the center of gravity over the base of support.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 67
, B. Extend the arms as far as possible to increase the base of support.
C. Bend at the waist so the center of gravity is midway between the patient and the base of
support.
D. Reduce the base of support slightly so the center of gravity is easier to maintain. - ANS A.
Maintain the center of gravity over the base of support.
The radiographer should maintain the center of gravity over the base of support. If movement is
required, then the feet should be moved to maintain this relationship. All other responses
violate proper body mechanics.
Which term best describes the process of cleaning the surfaces in a radiology department with
10% bleach solution in water?
A. Sterile technique
B. Medical asepsis
C. Sterilization
D. Surgical asepsis - ANS B. Medical asepsis
Proper cleanliness, like hand washing and cleaning surfaces, is termed medical asepsis.
Which action is best taught to the patient using the communication technique of
demonstration?
A. The correct positioning for a particular projection.
B. Instructions for donning and removing a patient gown.
C. The correct direction to face when sitting at the radiography table.
D. Direction on where to sit relative to the radiography table. - ANS A. The correct positioning
for a particular projection.
Demonstration is particularly effective for showing a patient the specifics of a position.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 67
