Radiographer Student - Career Information 2

Radiographer as a career

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Education

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• Radiography
• Radiographer
• career
• careers

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

@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 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!

[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.

[elfishwitch]

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

[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.