Archive for November 2009
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The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Radiology Technician – Salary, Career and More
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Radiology technician in healthcare industry pertains to a person who specializes in the radiology machines for purpose of administering of non radioactive elements into a patient’s bloodstream for diagnostic purposes and other uses. He is a person, who underscores and performs a number of procedures for imaging internal organs of a patient’s body. He prepares and tells a patient about the various procedures as to be undertaken for various steps of radiography operational technique.
He also takes extreme care of instructions given by doctor while Radiology therapy as to protect themselves, patient and co-workers from unnecessary exposure to radiation. He is merely not involved into the procedural techniques of radiology but also keep patients records and helps in maintaining equipments. An experienced radiographer performs certain complex tasks like fluoroscopies, computed tomography and mammography.
Environment for Work: As radiology is pertaining to heavier machines and standing on feet for a longer period of time hence a radiologist should have a strong physical stamina as to work for longer hours by standing on feet and lift and around disabled persons. A radiology technician do also sometimes has to move around in packed vans with sophisticated diagnostic equipments. There always remain threat of exposure to radiation; however, there chances of exposure get minimized by wearing lead aprons, glove and other shielding devices like instruments to track level of monitoring. General working hours for radiology technician is about 40 hours a week.
Training of a Radiology Technician: A person in radiology can be trained up to from 1 to 4years and after completion of the course he is provided with a certificate, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree depending upon the course in which he has taken admission into. Though two year’s associate degree program is more rational and popular in this perspective. For the professionals who are already in radiography and wish to continue study of radiography for advanced study can follow one year certification program. And other professionals apart from radiology like registered nurses and medical technologist who wish to change their area of working can also opt for this one year certification course. For administrative tasks and senior positions one can choose up master’s degree in radiology.
Certification Process: As the machines and technology involved in radiology uses a number of radiations, therefore protecting a patient and medical staff away from the unnecessary exposure to radiation there are Federal legislations that ensures that operators of radiological equipments are properly trained. It is The American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) provides voluntary certification for radiologic technicians. 35 states use (ARRT) conducted examinations for the state licensing purposes. A radiographer going for a certification should have accredited program and must have degree of an accredited program and should pass an examination
Scope for Job: As regarding the scope of the job it is found that job opportunities going to rise by 15 percent for radiologic professionals in America with corresponding increase in population.
Earnings: Average salary for radiology professional is counted upon to around $57, 940.
The medical field is one of the fields of study most aspired to by many people who would like to work in the health and care giver industry helping people gain their health back. It’s one of the fields which have a wide variety of specialization which you can choose from. Radiology Technician Training is one of them. Radiology Technician Training involves performing tasks like taking x-rays and administering non radioactive materials into the patients’ bloodstreams, mammograms and CT scans for diagnostic reasons only.
Radiology technician training is also known as radiography. The training equips one with skills to carry out tasks that involve preparing the patients who will undergo radiologic examinations by explaining to them the procedures that are followed in order to make it successful which ideally would entail removing the jewelry and other metallic objects and positioning the patient in the right position to be examined. They also prepare and administer materials that act as contrast media through injection or alternate methods to ensure a clear and good image. They set the x-ray beam and place the x-ray film behind or under the patient to capture the image. They are the ones who document patient information, and maintaining the equipment in use.
A Radiology Technician when training can choose to specialize on mammography which involves the use of low dose x-ray to take images of breasts, computed tomography or the magnetic resonance both take a cross section of three dimension viewing. They also manage a radiology department. For a full time radiologic technician, they work estimated 40 hours a week, though part time opportunities are also available. They are also required to have good and strong muscles, this is because most of the time they lift or turn disabled patient.
Radiation hazards exist in this occupation, but it is minimized by the use of lead apron, gloves and other shielding devices, together with equipment that are used to monitor radiation exposure. Radiologist technicians have badges that they wear that help them to measure radiation levels in the radiation area. This guides them to know if the radiation area is safe for them and patient or not.
Preparation for radiology technician training is offered in hospital, colleges, university and vocational training, formal training of which is mostly the key requirement takes a period of between 1-4 years. After the training, you get first a certificate, then an associate degree or bachelor degree. But two year associate degree programs are most common. If you have majored in other programs or medical fields, you can get a 1 year certificate program for you to become a radiographer.
Radiology technician are trained to be sensitive to patients’ physical and psychological needs. They are advised to pay attention to details, follow each instruction carefully and work as a team. After they have gained enough experience, they can perform CT scanning and then can be promoted to be supervisors of that department but depending on the courses and the master’s degree that they would have acquired.