NigCareers

Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a radiology technician. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a radiology technician.

 

Who is a Radiology Technician?

Radiology technicians are healthcare professionals that specialize in the imaging of the human anatomy for diagnosis and treatment of pathology. They are professionally known as a radiology technologist. They operate high-tech radiographic machinery and also use computers to develop and manage x-ray images. Radiologic technologists produce x-ray images to diagnose breaks and fractures in bones, and abnormalities in body systems, use low-dose x-ray systems to conduct mammograms, and create cross-sectional images of patients’ bodies using CT scans and more.

X-rays and other technologies are used to provide images that help physicians and healthcare workers diagnose, prevent and treat health issues that are of concern.  In addition to X-rays, radiology technologists or technicians may use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, and other technologies or modalities to create images.  Once the technologist has completed an imaging exam with a patient, they work closely with the radiologist, or the medical doctor who specializes in medical imaging, to interpret the results of the exam. Radiology technicians play an integral role in hospitals and provide a variety of imaging exam services to patients. These professionals also provide support to a patient’s care team, which may include doctors, nurses, and radiologists, throughout the patient’s diagnosis and treatment for medical conditions. Within the hospital setting, a radiology technician may work in a specific area of the facility. The commonly assigned areas for radiology technicians are the emergency room, the operating room, and critical care units.

 

Radiology Technicians Job Description

Below are the behavior interventionist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a behavior interventionist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

• Understanding radiation safety measures and protection that comply with government regulations ensure the safety of patients and themselves.
• Employing protection devices so that only the portion of the patient’s body requiring the x-ray is exposed to radiation.
• Updating patient records into the Electronic health records of their hospital.
• Maintaining the imaging equipment itself, to prevent its malfunctioning.
• Collaborating with the medical team and other healthcare professionals.
• Controlling the equipment so that the radiographs are of the correct contrast, detail, and density.
• Working under the supervision of a physician or health personnel.
• Following medical protocol carefully and regularly.
• Ensuring proper sterilization and storage of instruments.
• Providing patients with protective wear to reduce radiation exposure.
• Calibrating equipment to ensure accurate results.
• Assisting with interpreting radiograph results.
• Logging and organizing imaging results.
• Preparing and submitting bi-monthly progress reports.
• Coordinating with radiology department personnel to schedule and complete radiographs.
• Maintaining strict confidentiality of patient imaging results at all times.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of current radiology practices.
• Reporting equipment failures on time to prevent further malfunction or damage.
• Ensuring the proper sterilization and storage of their radiological equipment.
• Preventing any unnecessary radiation exposure to their patients, coworkers, or themselves.
• Understanding how to use lead aprons, shielding devices, and monitoring instruments to measure radiation exposure.
• Working closely with patients when performing radiologic imaging procedures.
• Explaining examination procedures to patients, even before the doctor or physician attends to them.
• Positioning patients and equipment properly before performing examinations on the patients.
• Developing film, and maintaining and operating specialized radiologic equipment.
• Ensuring patients’ safety by covering any areas not being imaged to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure.
• Understanding other modalities in radiography, not just a particular radiographic procedure.
• Completing the patients’ intake process, taking patients’ histories, and preparing and educating patients about the imaging procedure.
• Reviewing patients’ charts or medical records and Doctors’ notes before any examination can be carried out.
• Maintaining patients’ records during and after procedures, check-ups, or examinations.
• Preparing radiopharmaceuticals for easy contrast in the diagnostic images.
• Positioning patients and equipment to capture the correct area and produce clearer images.
• Monitoring patients and ensuring their safety during imaging procedures or examinations.
• Calibrating the equipment to ensure clear and usable images are taken of the correct area, as specified by the Doctor.
• Logging and organizing image results, updating and storing the patient’s medical records, and making the records accessible in case of an emergency.
• Developing films and assisting with the interpretation of the radiograph results in easy diagnosis and treatment by a medical professional.
• Consulting with Radiologists to determine if other images need to be taken or for proper interpretation of a radiograph.
• Ensuring the proper sterilization and storage of medical equipment, maintaining radiographic equipment, and reporting any equipment failures.
• Knowing the right medical equipment to purchase and how the equipment can be used.
• Teaching or training junior radiologists or interns on the medical practice of radiological technicians.
• Understanding time management, how to work under duress and  still give quality service
• Opening up junior or interning radiologists to opportunities that are necessary for their growth.
• Having physical stamina to stand for long periods and operate heavy machinery without assistance.
• Preparing the imaging exam equipment for use at all times.
• Setting up the examination room for patients.
• Gathering information from the imaging exam for interpretation by the radiologist and diagnosis of the medical personnel or officer.
• Ensuring that patients are safe and comfortable throughout the imaging exam process at all times.
• Administering trace quantities of radiopharmaceuticals to patients so that their tissues, organs, and bones are seen more clearly on an imaging exam.
• Administering radiation doses to a patient as part of cancer or other disease treatment.
• Utilizing sound wave technology to get images of a patient’s tissues and organs regularly.
• Measuring a patient’s bone mineral density using proper equipment.
• Understanding the technicalities of the machinery used for medical examination.
• Ensuring to undergo persona training, conferences, workshops, or read books that can brush up their skills and put them out in their field or industry.
• Keeping patients as comfortable as possible during their tests or examination, can sometimes be frightening and stressful for those undergoing them.
• Coordinating with the radiology department to schedule and complete radiographic procedures.
• Maintaining or staying up to date on the current radiological practices, procedures, or the current trend in their industry.
• Operating magnetic resonance scanners to create images such as MRIs that help diagnose diseases faster to help Doctors and other healthcare professionals throughout their daily activities.

 

Qualifications

• Obtaining a high school diploma or general education degree (GED)  certificate.
• Obtaining certificates in program study of education, management, and specific patient populations.
• Obtaining a bachelor’s degree from an accredited radiology technology program.
• Having (x) years of clinical experience in radiology and radiological sciences.
• Owning the current BLS certification.
• Obtaining the current American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification.
• Owning the current license in the state of practice.
• Completing an approved radiology technology program in the space of (x) years.
• Having an understanding of administration and management as opportunities that bring them into administrative roles as managers and supervisors can be fully utilized.
• Understanding how to offer excellent patient service and securely transfer images to doctors.
• Understanding the operations of radiology tools, including MRI, sonogram, X-ray, and CT instruments.
• Understanding budget management and its allocation.
• Being able to stand for long periods.
• Ability to operate equipment without assistance or guidance.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule (nights, weekends, and holidays as needed) or when the need arises.
• Having a proper understanding of human anatomy and physiology.
• Possessing excellent interpersonal skills and effective communication skills.
• Having a thorough working knowledge of a wide variety of radiographic equipment.

 

Essential Skills.

• Communication skills: interacting with diverse people like the doctors, clients other technicians, and medical staff isn’t an easy thing. It can simply be said you communicated if there was an understanding. You are the one your patient seeks answers from, even as you prep them for examination. Managing stress (theirs, as well as your own), expressing compassion or empathy and remaining calm when patients become agitated even while doing your job well can be frustrating and annoying, but as medical personnel, you mustn’t let your emotions deter your professional service and comfort you give to distressed patients. Since medical reports or imaging interpretations are reported to their supervisors, radiology technicians need to be easy with words. Effective communication as we all know involves active listening on both sides too, so this should be what the radiology technician put into consideration since they likely work with patients in various emotional states and of different ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. Learning to adjust your approach to match patients’ needs can improve your communication skills and make you able to care for the patients.
• People management skill: As radiology technicians, this skill is crucial, because, in all they do, they come into contact with people of different statuses, with different issues or trauma, and your duty to make them comfortable and open to receiving treatments.  While many jobs require good patient communication skills, there are a special set of skills a Radiologic Technologist must have. Most of the time, patients that radiologic technologists interact are at the worst moments in their lives. It is the job of the X-ray technologist to interact with these patients, make them comfortable and have them assist in obtaining good images. People management skills are mandatory, but a calm, professional and reassuring voice can make a patient have a good experience on one of his or her worst days or days they see as traumatic ones.
• Empathy:  You need to be able to understand the pains of your patients, not just be professional alone for you to comfort or empathize with them. You remain calm despite pressure from superiors and your patients or the normal agitation that your patients go through during their medical examination. Patients know when you have a real desire to help them get better. Dealing with sometimes difficult topics that normally people run for As a radiology technician you need to have an understanding of patient concerns and anxieties. Providing their services whenever needed in various hospital departments. They typically have regular and direct contact with patients throughout their day in a hospital, so they need good interpersonal skills and relational skills in addition to the hard skills required to be a radiologic technician.
• Attention to details:  These medical are adept at details. When dealing with humans and lives in general, all things need to be put into consideration with carefulness and total concentration. Though they have skills, they don’t lose sight of their limitations, so they desire to keep learning and improving their skills in every radiology technicality especially when it pertains to their field of study.

 

How to Become a Radiology Technician

• Obtaining a high school diploma or GED certification.
• Obtaining a degree in radiation physics, anatomy, pathology, and radiobiology or other related fields.
• Earning an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in radiologic technology or radiography.
• Undergoing training or programs in (x) years to gain experience.
• Undergoing radiologic technology programs which also coding or medical office courses, as some jobs will require these skills to be utilized in practice.
• Undergoing an accredited training program like the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and be certified.
• Completing an American Registry of Radiologic Technician (ARRT) certification-approved educational program in the same discipline as the credential you are pursuing in other related fields.
• Understanding the ARRT Ethics Code of Conduct and accepting to be conformed by it.

 

Where to Work as a Radiology Technician.

• Medical laboratories.
• Medical health centers.
• Teaching hospitals or clinics.
• Federal or state health facilities or centers.
• Outpatient care centers.
• Intensive care unit and the neonatal intensive care unit.
• Private health care facilities.
• Private imaging centers.
• Doctor or physician’s office.
• Therapeutic centers and outlets.
• Intravenous therapy centers.
• Educational institutions like colleges and universities.
• Mobile imaging companies.
• Research centers or institutes.
• Industrial plants.

 

Radiology Technician Salary Scale

While the profession is in great demand, it is also highly competitive. An associate’s degree can help elevate your resume closer to the top of the pile on a recruiter’s desk. Your level of education, training, and location determine the amount of compensation you can receive. Your employer can also have a large effect on your earnings, with private institutions typically paying more. The average Radiology Tech salary in the United States is $63,201, but the range typically falls between $57,601 and $69,701.

N.B Due to employment opportunities that are on the rise for qualified Radiologic Technicians, advances in diagnostic imaging technology, combined with the rising age of the general population, have left many employees seeking educated and skilled Radiologic Technicians.

Health and Safety

Tags: How to Become a Radiology Technician, Job Description, Radiology Technician, Radiology Technician Job Description, Radiology Technician Qualifications, Radiology Technician Salary, Radiology Technician Skills, Who is a Radiology Technician