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Farhana
Student
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
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What is a typical day in the life of a radiographer?
I am starting a radiography program next semester! Would love to know more about the career
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Shelley DeReu RN, BSN, CNMT
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Shelley’s Answer
Hi Farhana,
Congratulations getting into your program. A typical day for a radiographer varies according to the type of imaging department you are employed. In many states, students have to be a certified radiographer before they can become certified in MRI, CT and mammography Techs. There is on the job training for Surgery, bone density and interventional specialties.
There are medical imaging/radiology departments in pediatric, osteopathic, neurology, general family practice, immediate care facilities, surgery centers, trauma hospitals, community, oncology clinics/hospitals, mammography and bone density, sports centers...etc.
All radiographers have to care for their departments. Run quality control on their imaging equipment and medical equipment. Stock linens and medical supplies. Clean work and patient surfaces and generally maintain their work environment.
Radiology specialties such as; CT, MRI, Mammography, bone density, surgery, ultrasound, interventional and general radiography generally work in one large department. Every specialty has an outpatient and inpatient schedule with times the patients have been slotted to complete or in the case of inpatients, need to be completed because their next procedure is dependent on the results of this one. While there are scheduled patients, there will be add-on patients from the emergency room or other inpatients. So the work load of the day is always changing.
Rad Techs need to prep their patients with IVs, for infusion contrast or with oral contrast. They are in contact with other hospital department staff to coordinate prep for the patient such as assure they are NPO or fasting or other prep for their radiologic procedure. Then procedures are completed and the techs are processing that paperwork and charting completion in the patients' medical history, uploading images for the Radiologists to interpret, and answering any questions the radiologist may have. Technologist have to be flexible (and often creative) when they are imaging the patient to assure patient comfort, care and safety while getting the required good quality images. The Tech always try to avoid duplicating or redoing an image due to the extra radiation exposure to the patient.
Radiology/medical imaging is a busy place in hospitals, and they have 24 hour shifts, work holidays, weekends and some even have an on call rotation. Other facilities mentioned above, the pace of the work day may be slower. This is good to know as you start out in your profession, you can work extra to launch financial footing and independent living. As you become more established in life, you may have the option to change employers to accommodate a better work life balance.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck to you!
Congratulations getting into your program. A typical day for a radiographer varies according to the type of imaging department you are employed. In many states, students have to be a certified radiographer before they can become certified in MRI, CT and mammography Techs. There is on the job training for Surgery, bone density and interventional specialties.
There are medical imaging/radiology departments in pediatric, osteopathic, neurology, general family practice, immediate care facilities, surgery centers, trauma hospitals, community, oncology clinics/hospitals, mammography and bone density, sports centers...etc.
All radiographers have to care for their departments. Run quality control on their imaging equipment and medical equipment. Stock linens and medical supplies. Clean work and patient surfaces and generally maintain their work environment.
Radiology specialties such as; CT, MRI, Mammography, bone density, surgery, ultrasound, interventional and general radiography generally work in one large department. Every specialty has an outpatient and inpatient schedule with times the patients have been slotted to complete or in the case of inpatients, need to be completed because their next procedure is dependent on the results of this one. While there are scheduled patients, there will be add-on patients from the emergency room or other inpatients. So the work load of the day is always changing.
Rad Techs need to prep their patients with IVs, for infusion contrast or with oral contrast. They are in contact with other hospital department staff to coordinate prep for the patient such as assure they are NPO or fasting or other prep for their radiologic procedure. Then procedures are completed and the techs are processing that paperwork and charting completion in the patients' medical history, uploading images for the Radiologists to interpret, and answering any questions the radiologist may have. Technologist have to be flexible (and often creative) when they are imaging the patient to assure patient comfort, care and safety while getting the required good quality images. The Tech always try to avoid duplicating or redoing an image due to the extra radiation exposure to the patient.
Radiology/medical imaging is a busy place in hospitals, and they have 24 hour shifts, work holidays, weekends and some even have an on call rotation. Other facilities mentioned above, the pace of the work day may be slower. This is good to know as you start out in your profession, you can work extra to launch financial footing and independent living. As you become more established in life, you may have the option to change employers to accommodate a better work life balance.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck to you!