Radiation Safety and Health Profession Discussion

For the follow-up post, please respond to one of your classmates’ posts by finding an article that discusses a point not already covered regarding that profession and summarizing it for the class. Include a full APA citation of the article at the end.

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For this weeks discussion I decided to talk about the radiation technology health profession. To begin it’s important to note that radiology technicians and radiology technologists perform different diagnostic tests. The book describes it as “Radiologic technicians perform imaging examinations like X-rays, while technologists use other imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography,” (Cross, 288). Radiologic technicians help produce x-ray images by positioning radiographic equipment and explaining to the patient how the tests will be run. Whereas radiology technologists perform complex procedures like fluoroscopies, ct scans, MRIs, and mammographs. These radiology technologists also help explain the procedures to the patient and prep them for imaging like a radiology technician. In addition to prepping and expelling patients for their imaging, radiology technicians and technologist must keep track of and organize patient records. When it comes to working as a radiology technician or technologist you must first acquire a certification, associates degree, or bachelors degree from an accredited radiology program. However, associates degrees are most common with this profession. A student interested in radiology must first take courses in “biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, imaging and patient care procedures, medical terminology, and radiologic physics” (study.com, 2020). After a student completes these needed core requirements they may then advance on to the clinical practice to work with doctors and patient hands on. Finally, upon completion of the necessary schooling time, the student must sit down for either the licensing exam or certification test offered through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. An area of practice for this degree is a cardiovascular technologist. These radiology specialists deal solely with diagnostic imaging of the heart. The education requirements are pretty similar to that of a basic radiology technologist, however, cardiovascular technologist students must complete a year of specialized course having to do with cardiology. Radiology is definitely a career that I would love to pursue in addition with my bachelor’s degree. I have always had a draw to technology and computers since I was little and have a knack for using them. I always thought it would be cool to help figure out what was wrong with people by taking scans of their organs, bones or other problem area. So much so any time my siblings or dad had to have a scan, I would always ask to look at it. Radiology would allow me to have amore hands off way of helping people than having to deal with some of the knotty gritty nurses deal with. I imagine that professionalism in this area is staying organized, always making sure to thoroughly follow the scanning process, being friendly to help people stay calm, and not rush the scans so proper images go out. While yes it’s not as hands on like a nurse, there are still several areas you can fail if you are not acting professional and doing your job well.

Cross, N., & McWay, D. (2016b). Stanfield’s Introduction to Health Professions (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. (2020, December 18). Study.Com. https://study.com/radiologist_technician.html