What is considered a safe practice when a patient is being radiographed?

Proper positioning of the patient and the use of protective barriers are essential components of safe radiographic practice. Ensuring the patient is positioned correctly minimizes the risk of motion artifacts that can compromise image quality and may require repeat exposures, thus increasing radiation exposure. Additionally, protective barriers, such as lead aprons or shields, are crucial for reducing the radiation dose to sensitive areas of the patient’s body and to others in the vicinity.

In this context, it is important to prioritize measures that directly impact radiation safety during the procedure. While ensuring the patient’s comfort and taking adequate time are valuable aspects of patient care, they do not address the specific safety protocols that mitigate radiation risks. Similarly, while radiographers should take care in their attire, simply wearing a lab coat does not protect against radiation exposure in the same way as utilizing proper positioning and barriers does. Thus, focusing on these safety measures is what makes option C the most appropriate choice.