Are You An X-ray Technician Looking for a New Career? It’s All About Branding Yourself

Finding a position as an x-ray technician these days takes more than just a degree. You have to be able to make yourself more marketable and show your future employers you know what you are doing and you are one of the best in your field. This may sound confusing and difficult, but in reality, this can be a very simple process. Here are some steps you can take to promote yourself in the x-ray technician field.

5 Steps to Take to Promote Yourself as an X-ray Technician

• Create an Online Profile- You may have heard of corporate business executives and online workers using social networking sites to build a reputation and introduce themselves to clients and other members in their field, but did you know you can do the same to advance yourself as an x-ray technician? Establishing a smart online profile will keep you one step ahead of the game. You will be able to share your experiences as an x-ray technician, learn from others, and show the world what you are capable of accomplishing. Make sure you keep social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin free of questionable posts and pictures to ensure you look your best to any employer who chooses to search for you online. Read the rest of this entry »

Fluoroscopic X-ray Technician Overview & Training

Becoming an x-ray technician can be a fun and exciting career with many possibilities. Due to advancements in technology, an aspiring x-ray technician may choose to work with a variety of different medical imaging equipment, like MRIs, CAT scans, and fluoroscopes. If you are interested in a career as a fluoroscope x-ray technician, consider the following information.

What is Fluoroscopy?

Fluoroscopy is a technique that is used by radiologists and x-ray technicians to obtain images of internal organs of the body. Unlike an x-ray, where the patient, or subject, must remain still, fluoroscopy has the technology to capture moving images, which are then displayed on a monitor like a television. This type of procedure is most often used to help diagnosis problems with the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient because it allows for full, 3-D like, images.

Many times, fluoroscopes are combined with contrasting dye that is ingested by the patient. This dye allows the radiologist and technician to better see the images and more correctly detect any abnormalities.

What Type of X-ray Technician Training is Required? Read the rest of this entry »

Interested in x-ray tech training? Do you know the difference between the two types of x-ray techs?

The terms technologist and technician often seem interchangeable to those not involved in the medical industry. And sadly enough, even the medical field may confuse the use of the terminology at certain times. In short, the position a professional holds comes down to the actual x-ray tech training that the individual received.  It is not about old terminology versus the new terminology.  It is, in simplest terms, the difference between knowing how to push the correct button on the medical imaging equipment to actually understanding the medical reasons and technology behind pushing the buttons.

Old School or Zero X-ray Tech Training

Becoming a radiology or x-ray technician originally required no more x-ray tech training than landing the job and having someone teach you as you went along. The job itself was simply taking pictures of patients who were injured or sick. A simple interview and a desire to work, and you could have the job. Read the rest of this entry »

Technology continues to open new doors in medical imaging. Electromechanical Wave Imaging, also known as EWI, has been created to aide in understanding and evaluating possible heart problems. How does this affect your medical imaging career? By keeping up with the latest technology and enrolling in continuing education, each new advancement can open new career doors for you. Here is the breakdown of electromechanical wave imaging.

What is Electromechanical Wave Imaging?

The precise type of issues it addresses are those that affect the electrical impulses with cause the heart to pump blood throughout out the body, i.e. contract and release.

An irregular heartbeat, or arhythmias, equate to a normal electrical pulse of your heart being disrupted. Currently, doctors are able to place pacemakers surgically to assist in keeping things jumpstarted. Occasionally it is possible to use a catheter inserted into the damaged cardiac chambers to burn away the damage. The problem until now has been that doctors have not been able to pinpoint the exact site of the diseased areas and only full-blown surgery could offer such answers. With the addition of the medical imaging of EWI, diseases will be detected in advance and with a greater ability to determine who will receive the most benefits from which treatments. Read the rest of this entry »

X-ray technicians are responsible for taking and developing x-rays in a medical environment. The technicians often work closely with radiologists to provide the imaging that will help to diagnose bone breakage, tumors, internal problems or other serious medical conditions that are not always immediately noticeable. There are a variety of medical imaging and x-ray technician training programs to prepare x-ray technicians for employment and obtaining an x-ray technician license. There is another licensure, called an x-ray technician limited license. We are going to take a look at that today.

Who Needs an X-Ray Technician Limited License?

Limited licenses for X-ray technicians are a new type of license available for those interested in pursuing a career in the radiology field.  As of June 2011, 36 states have adopted the limited license and now require technicians to hold at a least a limited x-ray license before they can begin working with patients and handling x-ray equipment. The exact procedures an x-ray technician with a limited license is permitted to perform vary according to state. Read the rest of this entry »

Deciding to become an x-ray technician is an excellent and fulfilling career choice. As an x-ray technician, you will have the opportunity to be part of a growing medical field and earn a decent salary. First things first though. Before you can start your career as an x-ray technician, you will need proper training.

While there are several highly respected schools that can provide you with x-ray technician training, there are also a number of schools that make false claims or conveniently leave out important information that may leave you without the ability to earn your certification after your training is complete. Here is the information you need in order to avoid enrolling in the wrong x-ray technician school.

What You Should Look For in the Right X-Ray Technician School

• Location- Your education is key to your success as an x-ray technician, but so is the location of the school. An out-of-state school may not provide you with the correct training you need to work in the state you live in and you may not be eligible for certification in your state after completing the course. If you are considering enrolling in out of state courses, whether online or in a traditional campus setting, be sure you are receiving an education that is accepted in your state. Read the rest of this entry »

In addition to sending out resumes and pounding the pavement in search of your next x-ray technician job, you may want to take the techie step and harness the power of social networking. These days, if you want to get the best x-ray technician jobs, you need to know how to use these resources. Here are some tips that will get you started in the world of social networking.

How To Use Social Networking Sites to Land an X-ray Technician Job

Many jobs available in the x-ray technician field are not posted on websites for all the world to see. Employers often use social networking sites to reach out to potential employees. Sometimes, key individuals leak information about a potential job opening on their social networking sites, which can greatly give you the upper hand. In order to be privy to this kind of information, start by building your profile on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Read the rest of this entry »

CT and MRI techs are specialists in the medical imaging career field. They operate specialized radiological equipment that is able to scan a patient’s body and produce images of internal structures, which can then be used by a physician to determine a diagnosis for the patient. If you are already in medical imaging, specializing in certain equipment can open doors to rewarding career opportunities. Here’s the breakdown:

Become a CT or MRI Specialist

Becoming a CT or MRI specialist will involve additional medical imaging training. There are two options that you can choose from.

• College courses- Students who wish to join the medical imaging career path as either a CT or an MRI tech may choose to earn a certificate, Associate’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree. The majority of employers require at least a two year degree in radiology. You will study courses like anatomy, physiology, physics, and radiation protection.

• On the job training- Some employers have the time and resources to spend on educating potential CT and MRI specialists while on the job. Most of the time, the trainee will be a radiographer, or x-ray tech, who is interested in furthering his or her career. Trainees are generally taught by a certified CT or MRI specialist, and are shown how to operate the medical imaging equipment as well as how to care for patients. Read the rest of this entry »

Working with medical imaging as a certified radiology equipment specialist is an important part of the health care industry. If you are tech savvy and wish to pursue a job in the medical field, this may be the career path for you. You will play a key role in maintaining the health and safety of patients, while also working closely with medical staff.

What is a Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist?

A certified radiology equipment specialist is a biomedical equipment technician with a certification in radiology equipment. This type of specialist works within the medical community, maintaining and repairing medical imaging and radiology equipment. These experts also make sure that all the equipment that they install follows safety standards and function properly. Read the rest of this entry »

As we have often reported in our various medical imaging blog posts and informative articles, the key to a top paying career as an x-ray technician is to enter into a specialized field.

True with any career path, specialists in any field always command higher pay since they are part of a subspecialty with more knowledge in a particular area than others who choose to take a broader approach to their career. It’s the old adage, “less is more” that rings true in the field of medical imaging. Currently, a specialized field getting a lot of attention in news articles and radiology reports is Interventional Radiology.

What is Interventional Radiology?

Interventional Radiology (IR) involves minimally invasive medical imaging procedures, which can be used to guide surgical procedures or to diagnose medical conditions. Because of the rapid advancements that have been made in the field of Interventional Radiology, career opportunities for x-ray technicians who continue their medical imaging training on this path will continue to grow. Read the rest of this entry »