Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Overview
SaveJob Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
Yearly Salary
| High: | $92K |
| Median: | $61K |
| Low: | $42K |
Demand
Core Tasks
- Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
- Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
- Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
- Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
- Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
- Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
- Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
- Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
- Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
- Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
- Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
- Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
- Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
- Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
- Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
- Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
- Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
- Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
- Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
- Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
- Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
- Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
- Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Medicine and Dentistry
86%
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service
84%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
83%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
78%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Administrative
70%
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Education and Training
68%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and Security
67%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Psychology
66%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Physics
64%
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Biology
62%
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
75%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
73%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension
70%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Service Orientation
70%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking
70%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
68%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking
65%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control
65%
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination
63%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operations Monitoring
63%
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Top 10 Abilities
Near Vision
80%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
80%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Oral Expression
78%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
73%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
73%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Written Comprehension
73%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
70%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Speech Clarity
70%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
70%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
98%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Working with Computers
86%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Controlling Machines and Processes
81%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Documenting/Recording Information
81%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
81%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Handling and Moving Objects
79%
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
79%
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Getting Information
78%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
77%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
77%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Detailed Work Activities
- Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
- Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
- Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
- Position patients for treatment or examination.
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
- Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
- Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
- Check quality of diagnostic images.
- Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
- Prepare medications or medical solutions.
- Process x-rays or other medical images.
- Create advanced digital images of patients using computer imaging systems.
- Maintain medical facility records.
- Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
- Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
- Move patients to or from treatment areas.
- Train medical providers.
- Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
- Perform clerical work in medical settings.
- Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Supervise patient care personnel.
- Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Manage healthcare operations.
Education
Interests
Realistic
90%
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Conventional
70%
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Investigative
67%
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Social
52%
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
15%
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
Enterprising
15%
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
Work Values
Relationships
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
79%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
61%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
60%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
50%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.