Radiographer Student - Career Information 2

[Jannsmith]

Thanks for the video. I'd heard that the curriculum is quite rigorous and that, unfortunately, there aren't too many jobs for the rad tech or even the medical sonographer (used to be referred to as 'ultrasound technologist').

[conquerorqueen]

For my 3 year degree programme there were 350 applicants and 30 chosen. Only one intake a year. Also competitive and highly intensive. I just can't see how you can cover as much as we do in two years. I would hate for our programme to be shorter.

[800piranhas]

2 years?! We have 3 years and they want to make 4 of it!

[flintcake]

2 year programs are incredibly hard to get into. I go to a very small college and we had over 100 students apply for our Diagnostic Radiologic Technology program alone. I was chosen as were 19 other students. I graduate in May and we are down to about 16 students. It's very difficult to get into and once you are in, you have to keep up with the pace or you're out.

[supertrex2]

yeah dont collimate that shit. open it all wide and pump that MAS.

[NeilPowrie]

ITS LEENNA!!!!

[zohebnwo110]

this might sound stupid, im thinking of studying radiography. Seen as you are always dealing with x-rays, is there a chance that a radiographer can get cancer lol. what is baisically done to make sure that a radiographer is in a safe enviroment to work in.

[redmilkcrate]

Youll be alright. You go behind a leaded glass screen when you make the exposure. Also if youre doing portable work or working in a flouroscopy room then you get to wear a lead apron. You also wear a dosimeter which keeps an eye on if youre picking up radiation other than natural background radiation. Normally you wouldn't. In any case if you're at least 6 feet away you're well safe. I dont always wear a lead when I go doing portables I just back off a bit - it's very safe really.

[conquerorqueen]

For starters you NEVER stand in the room with a patient while they are being x-rayed. You are behind a wall looking through a window that is lined with lead. When you take images in operating theatre etc you wear lead gown, thyroid shield, lead glasses. Other measures can be taken like collimating, low-dose fluoro technique, tube under couch to reduce scatter. Radiographers wear radiation monitoring badges to see what exposure they are getting.

[shaani110]

Its too late now, im going to university to study biomedical science lol, But i still want to work in the NHS.

[redmilkcrate]

Radiography is an absolute piece of piss. So long as your not squemish, and you don't tire easily. That production line you talk about is not always true. Some examinations eg. IVU, or Barium studies can easily take up to and over an hour.

Yesterday for example I worked an IVU list in the morning. Then did a bit of A&E work a CT head, did a couple of jobs in the resus room, then went to do a portable x-ray in a neonatal ICU. Then in the afternoon assisted an enema list. It's never boring.

[redmilkcrate]

That didn't even involve the other aspects of the job such as imaging in theatre, and the stuff you can specialise in such as MR imaging, CT, ultrasound, radionuclides, or reporting on the images. you can also go into Quality Assurance and Radiation protection where you can get to maintain and test the equipment as well. You can also maintain a picture archiving system (PACS) which is essential to making sure that the images can be seen by the doctors who need them.

[AnotherSchmoe]

By "radiography is an absolute piece of piss" do you mean it's easy and a good career choice, or do you mean it's a crappy career and should be avoided at all costs? Just wondering because I am thinking about checking it out sometime in the future. I just ask because I'm across the pond from you and expressions vary, typically calling something piss in the US means that it's bad. Thanks in advance. =)

[redmilkcrate]

It's meant as a positive expression. But a fair point though. In the UK if something is a peice of piss it means it is really easy. Actually the training is fairly difficult because you're learning new skills, but once you're qualified it's really not that difficult. Occasionally you'll find something really difficult to x-ray, but most of the time it's really easy.

[AnotherSchmoe]

Alright, thanks for the info.  =)

[gdulli080]

do u think so? im starting radiography at salford uni in mnchester nxt september. got the right a levels. i heard its fkin hard. and its 3 years of 50% clinical study (workin in hospital) btw

[redmilkcrate]

The training is hard. You have to understand the physics and principles behind what you do. You also have to have a good knowledge of anatomy. Also you have a lot of technique to learn, and you need to learn what makes a good image. But just look at the radiographers where you train. The work itself won't stress them - because it's an easy life when you've had the training. The sheer amount of work and the attitude of certain other health professionals might be a stressor.

[dethadol1]

@redmilkcrate I was wondering if you could explain you're "sheer amount of work comment", its just that i'm thinking of studying diagnostic radiology and would like to have more information. If you dont mind!

[redmilkcrate]

@dethadol At the moment we currently have an on call system which means that as well as Monday to Friday 9 til 5 you also have to cover weekends, evenings, and nights. However in some NHS trusts theres been a move to shifts, which means you work 37.5 hours per week and no more. Currently at our place we work alternate weekends as well as through the week, and cover 2 or 3 nights per month, as well as 4 or 5 evenings per month in addition to the 9 to 5. At times this aspect can get you a bit down

[dethadol1]

@redmilkcrate Thanks for getting back to me! So for your alternate weekends, is that 9 til 5 on saturday and sunday or does that include evenings?

[redmilkcrate]

@dethadol1 Everywhere is different. But radiology has to provide a 24/7 service. In hospitals with no AED, or a part time injuries unit you might work through the day and sleep over through the night for emergencies on the wards. However at the other extreme you might be in a really busy hospital and have to cover a daytime session, an evening session, or a night time session. You will have a varying number of radiographers on call dependent on service requirement. We have 5 through the night.

[redmilkcrate]

@dethadol1 Best thing to do is get some work experience at a hospital of your choice, and ask them what they do in terms of shifts or on-call, and what service they provide. However tread carefully when asking about it. Recently there has been a shake up in the NHS agenda for change, affecting pay, hours, and the work we do outside normal hours. As well as some trusts recently moving from on-call to a shift system. Both systems have pros and cons. But for some radiographers its a sore area.

[Frottagecub]

I can tell you here in Austin, Texas... there are about 3,000 student signed up and only 100 students are picked out each year just to start in the Diagnostic Imaging - Radiology Classes

[elfishwitch]

@gdulli080 Hey, im starting radiography in september 2010 at Salford too!!

[redmilkcrate]

You do learn a lot of stuff that you immediatly forget.

You generally don't tell people what is wrong because you are only employed to obtain images and NOT to make a diagnosis - you have to be medically qualified to do that (i.e. a Doctor). This is a difference that you need to have clear in your mind before you criticise what radiographers do.

The physics you learn is important for QA purposes. You have to know that the CR is working correctly. You of course know what CR means!!!

[iamchriston]

what would u say is the average pay of a radiologist and a technician...and whats the difference....and after i graduate like a two year training school..would i be a tech. or ologist...

[redmilkcrate]

Be a radiographer it's a piece of piss. To be a radiologist you have to be a qualified doctor first then you train up. It's really hard.

[conquerorqueen]

Where do you live that the degree is only 2 years?! That is slightly worrying, lol...

[redmilkcrate]

Actually in the UK you can complete a masters degree in diagnostic radiography at some universities. But usually you have already got a bachelors degree in another health/science. The 2 years master degree assumes you already have a handle on anatomy, and things like patient care. Dropping these modules reduces the time it takes to complete the training substantially, with a minimal drop in clinical time.

[jbouge86]

Two years sounds odd, but if you knew how hard it is to get into a two year radiology program you might change your mind. It's extremely competitive and you can only apply once a year. After the two year program, you have the option to continue your education (while getting paid a decent salary)