radiography programs

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

So, I just got back from my "last " interview for the various radiography programs that I applied to and now I get to drive ALL the way back up to Maine and wait and see if I get in. If I do, it means that in late August I get to pack up my life, which in my case currently means 600+ CD’s, about 50 graphic novels, about 100 other books a basketball, and most of my clothes and move back down to the Washington area.

I’ve applied to the 2 year certification program, mainly 'cause I would go well and truly crazy if I had to go through 4 years of undergrad stuff again.

Anyway, my point is, are there any Dopers out there who are radiographic techs or are in programs now? If so, do you mind telling me what it’s like and what I might be in for? The one thing that keeps being harped on me is that it wouldn’t be a good idea to get a part time job while I’m in the program, and that my social life will be pretty much non-existent. Which wouldn’t be any change from what it is now.

Anyone…anyone?

2

::: raises hand :::

The program I’m in is two years, and it also grants an associate degree as well as the certificate. (The board certification test comes afterward.) My classes now run 5 days a week/8 hours a day. I’ll graduate in Sep '03. If you can find the time for a part-time job, more power to you.

Most of our time is spent in clinicals…right there on the wards. We actually perform some of the procedures, and we assist the doctors when they’re doing something with fluoro. It’s interesting as hell.

We do rotations in GI/GU (not my favorite), ER, OR, portables, pediatrics, CT, MRI, and the females do a rotation in mammography.

We also have classes each day. They are:

Positioning (anatomy)
Physics (not heavy–mainly dealing with dosage and protection)
Electricity (how does an x-ray machine work?)
Nursing stuff (keeping things sterile, venipuncture)
Medicine (can I give a diabetic Glucagon?)
Prep and procedures (“Yes, you have to have an enema beforehand.”)

There are also a number of prerequisites that you have to have before you get in the course. Things like Anatomy/Physiology, a couple of Psych courses, Medical Terminology, Technical Writing (waste of time, but what can you do?), Organic Chemistry…and I think that’s it.

You need to go all the way to Maine? Aren’t there any hospitals near you that offer the training? Maybe a VA hospital? (Note: Make sure that the course you attend is accredited. By that I mean not one of the “shake and bake” schools that charge $10,000 for 9 months of training and don’t even make you eligible to take the boards.)

Anyway, I love it. You wouldn’t believe the way some things can be added, deleted, or rearranged within your body to make you function better.

Good luck, and let me know your progress, OK?

PS- Remember the Radiology Motto: “If you walk out of here with a shred of modesty left, we haven’t done our job.”

3

I thought that was obstetrics? :smiley:

Robin, who bills for radiology services, and who implores you to learn how to fill the friggin charge sheets out correctly.

4

Nah. We’re an all-age, non-gender specific humiliation corps.

**

Why? You’re going to charge the guy with the broken ankle for a kidney transplant anyway. :slight_smile:

5

Can’t. They’re in completely different sections of the CPT book. Only a truly numpty coder would do something that brain dead.

Robin

6

It’s not that I have to go all the way to Maine…well let me explain just a little.

I’ve spent the better part of 27 years living in the Washington DC area so I consider it my “home base” of sorts.

Back in 2000 I went down to Tallahassee, Fl to go to grad school at FSU, )library science, not radiography), but my ex-girlfriend had me arrested and I got in a serious car accident, the end result of which was that I moved up to Maine which is where my parents retired to spend my and my brothers inheritance. I’ve been living with my parents up in Bath, Maine since December 2000, and while Maine is very scenic and beautiful, I can’t fucking stand the winters.

So, when it came time to apply to radiography programs I applied to the 2 programs offered in Maine and 4 programs down in Maryland. Now, I’ve been rejected/been told that all of the slots are full from 3 of the 6, so I’m really hoping for some good news.

Both of the Maine programs are out of the running, so if i get in it will be down to Maryland. I just finished taking and failing an anatomy class. It was veyr interesting and I actually looked forward to going to class every week and at least it will give me a bit of grounding for when I take it agian.

One thing that was interesting to me was that for some of the programs, classes like anatomy/physiology etc were a prerequisite, while for other programs they were part of the curriculum.

Anyway, thanks very much for the info. It sheds light on some things.

7

I graduated xray school 5 years ago. I have advanced into strictly mammography for the last 2, however due to the amazing shortage of xray tech, I have been “helping” in xray as need for the past few months. I love my job. However, I do sometimes feel the need for something more. It can become extremely repetitive. It’s like blah blah hand xray , shoot , run film, take pt back to ER, blah, blah. That’s why I like mammo. It is FDA regulated and has alot of challenges. I also did Operating room for about a year and loved it. And special procedures is interesting too. I never scrubbed, but I did run the equipment for angiograms in the xray dept and in OR. I liked the excitement of ER at first, but after 5 years I could care less.

Due to all the shortages, there is SERIOUS money to be made right now, without an end in sight. I know a guy who went to Virginia with a travel company for $42 an hour at a clinic, now that was easy money, and all expenses were paid. I mean housing and travel and car. WOW!! You don’t do jack at clinics except a few chest and back films.
I also have a friend who did a 13 week assignment at Maui Memorial, all expenses paid.

And there is more good news. The starting salary has increased about $6 an hour since I first got out of school and the rates are steadily on the increase. I got $4 and hour this year just due to other facilities raising base pay and we had to be competitve so our rates were raised also.

I did have a part time job in school and worked about 30 hours a week in the radiology file room at my main clinical site. I also partied at least once every couple of weeks. I am not however the type that studies alot or that has to study a lot so I studied and got by. You learn more in the field than you will ever learn taking some test. So, with that said take it seriously and enjoy it!! And good decision on the 2 year program, because the pay is the same, and I think you learn more. The 4 year program has too much classroom and I think the 2-year students get alot more clinical time and that is what is really important. The greatest thing about xray is all of your options when you get out. Like CT, MRI, Ultrasound, Mammo, Nuc Med, Specials/Cath Lab, and Radiation Therapy. All but Nuc Med and Rad. Therapy you can still do “on the job” training for. NO ADDITIONAL SCHOOL!!! That’s the best part.

Good Luck!!

8

(italics added for emphasis. MsR)

FYI: If you were convicted, you might have a heck of a time taking your registry exam. Depending on the nature of the offense, you might not be allowed to take the registry at all. Of course, if you weren’t convicted, there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s still nothing I would advertise.

Robin