What Does a Normal Day Look Like for a Radiologic Technologist?

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Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations, such as x-rays on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.

The term “normal day” for any medical professional would be deemed controversial when mentioned and usually quite a humorous consideration. There is a fresh faith of each individual as he or she enters the doors underneath the labeled cross of the grand facility that pays the bills from one paycheck to the next. Radiologic technologists are no exception.

Departments and Shifts

Different departments have different requirements, depending on the types of procedures, need for radiologic staff, and whether are not they are emergent departments. Emergency rooms may not have x-ray technicians on staff in the department, but may call them off of the floor or out of the operating room or other departments where they are not occupied with another assignment.

The wiser radiologic technologist will choose a department that allows autonomy, but necessity. No one wants to run all over a facility dragging equipment and heavy lead aprons from one procedure to another. A good shift to pick might be a 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p. m. in a department that is steadily busy and technologists are not called away from their own territory.

Starting the day

Once the technologist arrives at the facility, a good check on equipment should be done, so any troubleshooting can be performed before the patient appears. There may also be a need to check for scheduling updates, cancellations, add-ons, and special needs. There may be ways to ward off unhappy surgeons or other physicians if scheduling errors can be avoided.

Special Equipment/Meds

Sometimes the radiologic technologist is responsible for gathering special positioning devices for certain procedures. Fracture tables, leg stirrups, special slings, or other bracing devices may be required for proper angles of exposure. Apron racks and thyroid shields are often brought to the department for patients and other team members by radiologic technologists who aspire to be great team players. Often times, nurses and physicians are so patient oriented, they forget these items and they depend on the x-ray tech to help out where they can.

For intravenous procedures, special contrast medium may be required. The x-ray tech will often read the patient’s chart for iodine allergies and other anesthetic complications, so the physician may be alerted if there are any possible complications. They may also look for things like kidney issues or congestive heart failure diagnoses.

Comfort

Patients may be awake and alert during radiologic procedures and it is up to the technologist to make them comfortable. Sometimes patients have claustrophobia in the MRI and CAT Scan machines. There should be consideration for alternative opportunities, if the patient is non-compliant or not able to go through tight areas. A warm blanket can always calm a trembling patient who is unsure of questionable news or when in severe pain and anxiety.

Call

Radiologic technologists also have to be “on call” status and may run into a 24-hour day when this occurs. Hours can be long and grueling. They may also get very frustrated while waiting for physicians to come from other facilities or for them to finish in other areas before showing up for a posted procedure.

Procedures

Procedures may vary from routine chest films to fluoroscopy of an intramedullary rod being hammered into a femur. Forearm bone plates are hard to manage and often misbehave in the most unruly type of internal fixation ever performed. Pediatric patients will be frightened and geriatric patients will complain with “freezing” when the cold hands of a technician slide the plates from under a broken rib. These techs are underappreciated for all they do, and lend themselves to be in the background most of the time and supportive of an entire team that has one goal in mind: patient first.

At the end of the day, the tech will put away all the leftover meds, place aprons back on the rack, and prepare for the next shift by using excellent organization skills and proper protocol for filing films, videos, and other types of images that were gathered during the day to help physicians see inside the bodies of patients who trust in these professionals to improve the quality of life. These records should be treated with care since they are considered legal documents and they are proofs used to deliberate patients’ treatment processes.