Are you looking for radiology tech jobs in California? Do you meet the qualifications? Or maybe you’re just thinking about becoming a radiology technician. If so, what is a radiology tech? And how do you apply to become a radiology technician?
What is a Radiology Tech Career?
A Radiology Tech or Radiology Technician is a person who uses diagnostic imaging equipment to help doctors identify injuries and diseases.
Other names for this job are X-Ray Tech, X-Ray Technician, or Radiology Technologist.
Although X-Rays are still being used, nowadays the radiology techs use other diagnostic imaging equipment like mammograms, computed tomography, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), and CT scans. All of these medical devices use technology to see inside your body without the need to do surgery of any kind.
Radiology Tech Job Description
A radiology tech can work on several pieces of imaging equipment or specialize in one of them. For instance, an ultrasound technician can spend most of their time performing ultrasounds and rarely need to work with another medical device.
Radiology techs work directly with patients while conducting diagnostic imaging procedures. Some of the duties of radiology techs include discussing procedures with patients, setting up equipment, positioning patients on the equipment, examining patients, developing film, and keeping the special radiologic equipment maintained and in top form.
The radiology tech has a responsibility to ensure the safety of patients by covering any area that’s not being imaged to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. They may be assigned to just a single machine, and become a mammographer, CT Tech, or MRI Technician.
If you think this is the job for you, you need to be well-versed in technical skills and at the same time, be able to use your interpersonal skills to engage patients. You also have to be compassionate and considerate and have the physical strength to move the equipment or help disabled patients get positioned properly for scans.
Radiology Tech Job Qualifications
What kind of qualifications do you need to be a successful radiology tech? Qualifications include:
- A Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree in radiologic technology or radiography from an accredited school or 2 years of experience in a directly related area
- A license issued by the state
- Proper certification to practice radiologic technology
- Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT) with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for American Heart Association
- Excellent skills in communication, patient services, and interpersonal interactions
- Above-average problem-solving skills
- Good analytical skills
- The knowledge and ability to understand and operate radiographic equipment and technology
- Good physical stamina to operate heavy machinery on your own
- Able to stand for long periods of time
- Flexible schedule – able to work shifts on holidays, weekends, and nights
Radiology Technician Responsibilities
As a radiology technician, here is what you can expect to do on a daily basis:
- Take patients’ histories, complete intake processing, explain and educate them about procedures
- Reviewing patient charts before the examination
- Maintaining physician notes and all records during and after all procedures
- Knowledge of how to work with the equipment and machines
- Helping patients position themselves appropriately to obtain high-quality imaging
- Calibrating the equipment to make sure it’s working properly
- Detailed work of correctly labeling the images, developing them, and helping the physician interpret them
- Keeping equipment sterile and clean and reporting equipment failures
- Staying up-to-date on radiology practices
Why should I become a Radiology Tech in California?
If you love working with people in a medical setting and crave a fluid schedule, becoming a radiology tech is a great opportunity. At Eisenhower Health, we are committed to providing the best employee experience at our state-of-the-art medical facilities in the Coachella Valley, California. Apply Today to become a Radiology Tech and join our team of passionate healthcare professionals.
Originally posted on 1/7/2022