TOP TIPS FOR REVISION: 

• Make flashcards with your collimation points – these are available on the revision aids section on this website, or you could make your own 
• Get someone to test you 
• Keep flashcards in your pocket and test yourself whilst waiting for the kettle to boil or every time you reach your destination after driving 
• Revise, revise, revise – collimation points are muscle memory! 

TOP TIPS FOR REMEMBERING RADIOGRAPHY POSITIONS: 

Dorso-ventral = dorsal & ventral. The x-ray beam will reach the dorsal area first. 

Ventral-dorsal = ventral & dorsal. The x-ray beam with reach the ventral area first. 

Caudo-cranial = caudal & cranial. The x-ray beam will reach the caudal area first. 

The first part of the word is the first area of the patient that the primary beam will reach first. It’s worth remember this because when it comes to doing your OSCEs, it will help you in understanding which way up the patient needs to be. 

ALWAYS REMEMBER:  

• Measure the area of view. If the area is measuring over 10cm, you will need to use the grid. Make sure you verbalise this to the examiner 
• Do not use leg ties if your patient is described as being sedated 
• Remember to prepare your x-ray label with the patient's name, surname, the x-ray view you are taking and the date 
• Remember to use the left/right markers and ensure they are within the light beam diaphragm 
• Use sandbags and wedges appropriately 
• Consider the weight of the animal when you first enter the OSCE station. To be safe, if the patient is 10kg and over, ask for help in moving the patient – you cannot go wrong with that! 
• Verbalise what the health and safety requirements are – lead lined PPE, dosimeter, x-ray light, leaving the room, calling “x-ray”, being 2 metres away from the primary beam – REMEMBER TO TAKE THE EXAMINER WITH YOU! This alone can be an instant failure of the task if you leave the examiner in the room and take an x-ray. 

****Coming soon.......****

Radiography positioning

Radiography landmarks

How the x-ray machine works

Differentiating between x-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound

Health and safety involved

What we can do as veterinary nurses

OSCE tasks