Radiography technicians take x-rays to diagnose medical illnesses. They must follow physicians’ orders, prepare patients, and maintain equipment. Specialized training is required for nuclear medicine, CT, and MRI technology. Certification is required in the US, and continuing education is necessary for recertification. Radiography technicians work an average of 40 hours per week and often have on-call, evening, and weekend shifts. Most work in hospital settings, but as healthcare settings change, more procedures may occur elsewhere.
Radiography technicians, also known as radiologic technologists or radiologists, take x-rays of parts of the human body to help diagnose various medical illnesses. Many radiographers have additional training to work in specialized areas such as nuclear medicine technology or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. In the US, radiography certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is required to work as a radiography technician.
Although the primary job of the radiographic technician is taking x-rays, technicians often have many other duties. Technicians are expected to accurately follow physicians’ orders, as well as adhere to the proper use of radiation equipment to avoid unnecessary exposure to patients, co-workers and themselves. The X-ray technician prepares a patient for an examination, explaining the medical procedure and positioning the patient so that specific parts of the body can be X-rayed. It is also the radiographer’s job to remove items such as jewelry from patients that radiation cannot pass through. In addition to performing scans and preparing patients, radiography technicians can adjust and maintain radiography equipment, organize patient records, and create departmental work schedules.
Experienced radiographers often perform more complex and intrusive radiologic procedures. Radiographers called nuclear medicine technologists use specialized diagnostic procedures that involve administering non-radioactive substances into patients’ bloodstreams. Radiography technicians known as computed tomography (CT) technologists operate computerized scanners to produce cross-sectional images of patients. MRI technicians operate machines that use strong radio waves and magnets, as opposed to radiation, to create images of the body.
Preparation for the profession of radiography technology is offered at colleges, universities, hospitals, and occasionally at technical institutions. Employers often prefer to hire technologists with established training. Formal radiography training programs last from one to four years and guide students to a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree. The one-year certificate programs are designed for experienced radiographers or other health care technicians looking to change careers. Two-year degree programs are most common in radiology training.
In the United States, voluntary certification exams are offered by the ARRT. To qualify for certification, radiography technicians typically must graduate from an accredited radiology program and pass an exam. Radiography technicians must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to be recertified.
A full-time radiography technician averages approximately 40 hours of work per week. Many have on-call, evening and weekend shifts. Most radiography technicians find work in hospital settings. As physicians move to ambulatory care and separate diagnostic facilities, more radiologic procedures may occur in other healthcare settings.
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