X-Ray Technician Career
Also known as radiologic
technologist, radiographer, or medical radiation
technologist, an x-ray technician is a member of the
healthcare team responsible for taking radiographic images
of the body. They typically make use of imaging equipment
such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
computed tomography (CT) in order to take these images and
these are important in helping doctors diagnose and treat a
wide variety of diseases and other medical conditions.
Radiographers can find employment in hospitals, doctor’s
offices, clinics, mobile imaging facilities, diagnostic
laboratories, and outpatient care centers. This career is an
excellent choice is you are looking to pursue a medical
career that only takes a short time to complete training.
X-ray technicians often work with x-ray imaging
equipment, and it is their responsibility to guide patients
throughout the imaging process. They explain to the patients
how the imaging will be done, guiding the patients into the
proper position and making sure that any foreign object does
not interfere with the imaging process. Since working with
x-ray equipment involves some exposure to radiation, x-ray
techs ensure the safety of patients by covering vulnerable
areas with radiation-proof equipment and managing radiation
levels emanating from the x-ray machine. They also ensure
their own safety by adhering to standard procedures and
precisely following the doctor’s instructions.
Taking images of the body isn’t as simple as taking a
snapshot of a specific body part – it involves positioning
the x-ray equipment at the height and angle that is properly
and precisely aligned with the area to be scanned. The
process of taking x-ray images is comparable to the methods
of photography in the sense that you need to manually
control each elements of exposure in order to come up with a
good image. There are controls in x-ray imaging that must be
fine-tuned to specific situations, and using the wrong
settings can easily result to an overexposed or underexposed
image, which is practically useless for analysis.
X-ray technicians are also responsible for maintaining
equipment and ensure that these are always in proper working
order prior to operation. They may also be assigned office
tasks such as maintenance of patient records and preparing
work schedules. One of the most common scenarios experienced
by radiographers is being asked by patients about their
findings during an x-ray imaging. Despite possibly having
knowledge of the medical condition of a particular patient,
an x-ray technician is not authorized to interpret and
discuss imaging results with the patients, and this is the
reason why they don’t entertain questions regarding this
matter.
In order to start a career as an x-ray
technician, enrolling in a formal training program is
required, and these are available in many colleges,
universities, and some hospitals as well. The programs you
choose must also be accredited by the Joint Review Committee
on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). X-ray
technician training can come in the form of certificate
programs, associate’s degree programs, and bachelor’s degree
programs – each different in completion times and level of
training. Voluntary certification is also offered for this
career and can be achieved by successfully completing a
certification exam administered by the American Registry of
Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Acquiring certification can
provide significant advantage in applying for employment and
can broaden your earning potential as well.
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