The role of a radiologic technologist is very varied. In many healthcare roles, you may be limited to interacting with people or doing more technological and science-based aspects of the job. But as a radiologic technologist, you will have the chance to hone your people skills, as well as your technical ones, in this highly skilled environment.
People and Skill Combined
Throughout the day, a radiologic tech may be presented with a variety of patients, some of whom may be in severe pain, some of whom may be facing the prospect of serious disease diagnosis. You may even come into contact with people who have no social support and who are looking at you for guidance and reassurance.
Your role is to support patients, to judge the mood of the setting, and to be there as both the expert in the room and the person who is empathetic to their condition. You’ll need to be quick on your feet and able to adapt to situations that may change very fast, all the while ensuring that your patients are in the correct positions, are as comfortable as possible, and that they are protected as far as possible from excessive radiation exposure.
There are not many jobs within the healthcare sector that offer such a great variety within the role.
How to Become a Radiology Technician
There are many routes into becoming a radiology technician; at some point, you will need to complete your American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification, which is the halfway point towards a bachelor’s degree.
If you decide to take a Bachelor of Science degree course after becoming certified, your career options will open up and you will have the opportunity to explore more managerial and supervisory roles within your chosen field.
There are many programs on offer, and online learning options such as the Marian Online Radiology Tech program are fully accredited to get you qualified and where you want to go in as little as 7 weeks.
The certificate programs usually involve very heavy learning and they also have an intensive curriculum. As such, they appeal to candidates who already have significant experience within the field. There will be a lot to learn, including courses in medical ethics, but these can be completed fully online which appeals to many candidates.
Specialisms Within Radiology Tech
As technology moves forward in medicine, the opportunities to specialize in different areas have become vast. Radiology techs who complete the necessary courses and certifications may choose to specialize in areas such as mammography, computed tomography (CT), neurology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and many other fields.
Medical technology is moving along at a pace, and the job of a radiology tech is going to get more and more exciting as the decades go by. Many radiology technicians love the fact that they are able to offer real insights for their patients and their families that would not have been possible just a few years ago.
