| Have you ever gone to a hospital or clinic and | | | | the sound waves transmitting through the body. |
| received an X-ray? If so, the person who helped | | | | Irregularities or other visual cues in the pattern of |
| prepare you for the procedure was a radiology | | | | sound waves will clue them in to certain diseases |
| tech. Radiology technologists obtain the images | | | | or unhealthy conditions that may exist. |
| used by physicians to diagnose and treat internal | | | | Sonographers work closely with physicians in |
| diseases. There are various types of radiology | | | | diagnosing illnesses. Those already in the medical |
| tech jobs available today for those who are | | | | field may receive sonography training at a hospital; |
| trained in this specialized field of medicine. | | | | students can also get a degree in sonography |
| Radiology tech jobs can be broken down into four | | | | from a two or four-year college. |
| major categories. Each one requires a certain | | | | Nuclear Medicine Technologists |
| amount of medical training, usually including a two | | | | For a radiology tech job specializing in nuclear |
| or four-year bachelor's or associate's degree in | | | | medicine, the applicant should be prepared to |
| the science of radiology. If you're interested in | | | | work carefully under demanding conditions. Some |
| pursuing this career or just looking for some | | | | of the materials used in nuclear medicine are |
| more information about it, the following is sure to | | | | particularly dangerous, and the individual must be |
| help. | | | | well-trained in order to handle them correctly. |
| Radiographers | | | | In nuclear medicine, unstable atoms that emit |
| Radiographers, also referred to as radiologic | | | | radiation can be used to diagnose certain diseases |
| technicians, perform the procedures that obtain | | | | in patients. These radiopharmaceuticals are given |
| X-rays needed by the physician. Radiographers | | | | to patients, often by injection, by nuclear medicine |
| prepare the patient for the X-ray procedure, set | | | | technologists. The technologist then monitors the |
| up the area with lead shields, and prepare the | | | | body functions with a camera, and notes areas |
| X-ray beam. They are also responsible for | | | | where radioactivity may concentrate to indicate |
| developing the resulting X-ray film. Radiographers | | | | an abnormality or disease. |
| generally work under the physician's orders. A | | | | Radiation Therapists |
| major part of their job involves ensuring safe | | | | Radiation therapy is a different form of radiology |
| conditions, as X-rays are hazardous if not handled | | | | tech job in that it specializes in treating, not just |
| correctly. | | | | detecting, illnesses. Radiation therapists give |
| Radiographers should expect to work closely with | | | | patients chemotherapy and other forms of |
| the patients. Their job includes prepping the | | | | radiology treatment to help treat cancer. They |
| patient for the procedure and explaining any | | | | work closely with the patient and physician to |
| questions that may arise both before and after | | | | bring the patient back to health and attempt to |
| the X-ray is given. | | | | beat the disease. |
| Sonographers | | | | Regardless of what type of radiology tech job |
| For this type of radiology tech job, you will be | | | | interests you, you're likely to find an excellent job |
| expected to produce images using high-frequency | | | | market with good pay and benefits. A shortage |
| sound waves instead of X-rays. While this | | | | of professionals in these areas has resulted in high |
| procedure is designed for the same purpose as | | | | demand for those with a two to four year |
| an X-ray, it is an entirely different process and | | | | degree in any form of radiology tech. If you're |
| requires a special form of training all its own. | | | | considering a radiology tech job for your future, |
| Sonographers use a transducer to scan the | | | | you've got a good chance of landing an excellent |
| patient's body, watching for results on a | | | | career in a rapidly advancing medical field. |
| connected screen that shows them the result of | | | | |