| The field of radiology offers a multitude of | | | | Ultrasound Tech is a simple procedure in which |
| options for the aspiring medical imaging | | | | someone moves a wand-like device around the |
| professional. How many people have thought | | | | body, while images are magically captured on a |
| about getting into radiology, but couldn't get past | | | | screen. The reality is that being an Ultrasound |
| the cliché of the option of becoming an | | | | Tech requires a keen sense of anatomical |
| x-ray technician or waving a wand around a | | | | structures and their location and relation to one |
| pregnant woman's belly, viewing a fetus in the | | | | another. A highly developed understanding of |
| womb. Then there are the lucky ones who have | | | | anatomy and above average hand eye |
| a friend or a relative who are in the profession | | | | coordination are a must for anyone considering a |
| and give them some insight; help them get past | | | | career in ultrasound. You must be able to |
| the clichés about the profession. Hopefully, | | | | understand what you are looking at on the screen |
| this article will get past the common ideas about | | | | in order to get the best image for the physician |
| the field and provide some insight into a field that | | | | to review. |
| offers endless possibilities for growth. | | | | The field of ultrasound branches off into many |
| The field of radiology, broadly speaking, can be | | | | sub-specialties. Some of the more common are |
| broken down into three main components. The | | | | abdominal sonography, obstetrics, gynecological, |
| first is general radiography. The second is | | | | cardiac, and vascular sonography. Abdominal |
| Ultrasound, which is properly referred to as | | | | sonography focuses on the many complex organs |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The third is Nuclear | | | | and tissues within the abdominal area such as the |
| Medicine. | | | | liver, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and kidneys. |
| General radiography is often an entry point into | | | | Obstetrics and gynecological sonography, often |
| the field of radiology, although, you can choose to | | | | abbreviated as "ob-gyn" is what usually comes to |
| enter the field from any one point. General | | | | mind when the subject of ultrasound comes up. |
| radiography entails being the professional who | | | | This is the branch of ultrasound that focuses on |
| takes pictures of the inside of the body. The area | | | | the health and progress of a pregnancy and |
| being imaged is predetermined by the ordering | | | | monitoring of the female reproductive organs. |
| physician based on the clues they have about | | | | Cardiac sonography is all about monitoring heart |
| what might be wrong with a patient. This could be | | | | and valve function. Closely related to cardiac, is |
| something as simple as determining whether a | | | | vascular sonography, which monitors the flow of |
| bone is broken or fractured or it could be to | | | | blood to and from the heart and throughout the |
| locate an unusual growth. The picture taken is | | | | blood vessels. The uses of ultrasound technology |
| called a radiograph. A radiograph, also known as | | | | are always evolving and offer several interesting |
| an x-ray is produced using small doses of ionizing | | | | paths of work and study in itself. |
| radiation to produce the images. The use of x-ray | | | | Nuclear Medicine is the least commonly known |
| technology is used on other related procedures as | | | | branch of radiology and is often misunderstood. |
| well. The most commonly used are MRI's | | | | Because the term "nuclear" has negative |
| (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed | | | | connotations attached to it, the work is |
| Tomography), and Mammography. All of these | | | | sometimes misunderstood or thought to be |
| procedures use the same technology of ionizing | | | | dangerous. Quite to the contrary, nuclear medicine |
| radiation in order to obtain the images. | | | | is a safe method of peering into the cellular |
| When you make the decision to take path of | | | | function and physiology of a patient. In a nutshell, |
| general radiography, you can either start as a | | | | radioactive isotopes, known as radionuclides are |
| limited scope x-ray technician or you can become | | | | combined with various pharmaceuticals, which are |
| certified as a Radiologic Technologist. Limited | | | | administered to a patient. The way in which these |
| Scope X-Ray Tech's often perform multiple roles | | | | substances react in the body provides clues to |
| such as Medical Assisting along with their x-ray | | | | problems and helps to identify the source of illness |
| duties. Being a Limited Scope X-Ray Tech often | | | | and diseases. The difference between nuclear |
| requires that you become licensed through the | | | | medicine and the two other branches of radiology, |
| state that you work in and sometimes involves a | | | | is that it uses chemicals that actually react at the |
| test that ensures you understand the basic | | | | cellular level, rather than just snapping pictures. |
| fundamentals of x-ray and radiation safety. If you | | | | Careers in nuclear medicine range from the highly |
| want to become a Radiologic Technologist, or R.T., | | | | specialized pharmacists who prepares the |
| as it is often referred, you will need to complete | | | | radionuclides to the individuals who actually |
| an associates degree and pass an exam | | | | administer and interpret the reactions. Becoming a |
| administered through the ARRT (American | | | | Nuclear Medicine Tech starts with an associates |
| Registry of Radiologic Technologists). | | | | degree and it is recommended that you become |
| Being a Radiologic Technologist requires that you | | | | licensed through the NMTCB (Nuclear Medicine |
| have compassion and understanding for patients | | | | Technology Certification Board). |
| with a variety of conditions and circumstances. It | | | | Choosing a career in radiology and medical imaging |
| is your job to position the patient properly so that | | | | can seem overwhelming, given all the options. |
| the best possible image can be obtained for | | | | Usually, one of the main paths will spark your |
| diagnosis and to keep the patient calm when | | | | interest more than another. If you're not sure |
| anxiety may be running high. | | | | about it, contact a local diagnostic medical imaging |
| Another entry point into a career in radiology and | | | | center or the radiology unit in a local hospital and |
| medical imaging is Diagnostic Medical Sonography. | | | | ask if there are any volunteers who would be |
| Becoming an Ultrasound Tech, now properly called | | | | willing to talk about what it is like to be in their |
| a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, is achieved | | | | shoes. Finding out first hand about the challenges |
| when you complete an associates degree and | | | | and realities as well as what is rewarding about |
| pass an exam administered by the ARDMS | | | | the job can be eye opening. You should also talk |
| (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical | | | | to representatives from schools offering radiology |
| Sonographers). The technology used in | | | | programs and be prepared with a list of questions |
| sonography is different than radiography; ionizing | | | | about the programs to ensure it matches your |
| radiation is not used, but instead high frequency | | | | unique skills and unique desires. I hope this article |
| sound wave technology is used to capture | | | | has given you some insight into the options within |
| images. | | | | the field of radiology. |
| There is a common misconception that being an | | | | |