What are the proper patient instructions for the PA projection of the chest?

For the PA projection of the chest, the most appropriate patient instruction is to take a deep breath and hold it. This instruction is important because holding a deep breath expands the lungs fully and ensures that the structures of the thoracic cavity, including the heart and lungs, are clearly visualized on the radiograph. Clear imaging is crucial for accurate evaluation and diagnosis.

Instructing the patient to hold their breath ensures that motion does not occur during the exposure, which helps to reduce the potential for blurring on the image. A deep breath captures the maximum lung capacity, providing a more detailed view of the internal structures.

While some options might involve variations in breathing techniques, holding the breath after a deep inspiration is standard practice in chest radiography to achieve optimal image quality. The other choices either do not facilitate proper imaging of the chest or could lead to suboptimal results.