Safe Radiation Practices that You’ll Learn in a Radiology Program

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If you are interested in becoming a radiologic technologist then you will likely look into attending a radiology programs. Since radiation can be a dangerous thing to work with, you may be wondering what safe radiation practices will you learn in a radiology program. We’ve put together an overview of some elements of radiation protection that you’ll learn as you pursue your career in radiology.

Radiology Program Overview

While some technologists will pursue a bachelor’s degree, most opt for the associate’s degree in radiologic technology. These programs normally require two years to complete and most community colleges and technology schools offer such programs. Another option also exists, the one to two year certificate program and are even offered through some hospitals. Because you are dealing with radiation, most states require that radiologic technologists be licensed or certified.

Whichever program you choose, you will be entering a career with a median annual income of $55,910. As radiation based diagnostics and treatment continue to grow, so will jobs for radiologic technologists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a growth of 21 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is higher than the national average.

The Dangers of Radiation

Radiation is a curious beast. It has the power to diagnose and heal. It also has the power to harm, destroy, and even kill. X-Rays, for example, have enough energy that can damage the actual DNA in cells. What this means is in high enough doses, X-Rays can damage and kill living tissue.

Before you get too worried, you have to put things in perspective before discussing radiation protection. The average chest X-Ray exposes a patient to about the same amount of radiation they would get from natural sources over the course of about ten days. It’s also important to note that different organs and parts of the body have different amounts of sensitivity to X-Rays.

Radiation Safety

Above, we talked about the “average chest X-Ray,” but what constitutes average, and what about other uses of X-Ray including the treatment of cancer? How does a radiologic technologist know how much X-Ray is enough and how much is too much?

Radiation for medical use is measured in units called millisieverts, which are abbreviated as mSv. Other units such as rad, Gray, or rem may be used, but the mSv is the most common unit. For diagnostic X-Rays, different amounts of mSv units of radiation will be used depending on the organ or part of the body targeted. Part of any radiology program will focus on the correct amount of X-Ray to administer for a particular function.

For treatment of cancer or other issues, the medical dosimetrist is a type of radiologic technologist that will work with the radiation oncologist and medical physicist to determine the appropriate dosage of radiation to be used in each treatment session. During course work, students will learn about safe dosages and radiation protection to keep themselves and patients safe while still treating the cancer.

Radiation is dangerous, but when handled correctly, it can be a lifesaving thing. Any good radiology program is going to teach you safe radiation practices to ensure you understand all about radiation protection. Your next step is to get over to your local community college and find out more about radiology programs in your area.