Job Overview Transcript

 

If you have ever had an X-ray taken, you’ve interacted with an imaging technologist. These individuals are specially trained to capture images of conditions inside the human body.  Physicians rely on these precise images to make a diagnosis about a patient’s condition and necessary treatment, so the importance of an imaging technologist’s work cannot be overstated.

Imaging technologists enjoy very active, varied careers. The day-to-day tasks include interacting with patients as you prepare them for procedures, using imaging equipment, assessing images for technical parameters, and keeping detailed records. Though you may repeat the same tasks with each patient, every situation is different. Each patient you work with lends more variety to the job. There is also room for movement within the job: imaging technologists may choose to complete additional advanced training and become specialists in different areas, including cat scans, MRIs, mammography, or others, once they have obtained their foundational coursework through a program like LBCC’s.

One of the most important parts of this career is the ability to enjoy working with people in any situation. You will be interacting with a wide variety of patients, many of whom may be in pain, anxious, or seriously ill.  All the technical training in the world will not help you if you can’t relate to these patients on a human level, in a polite, professional manner.  You are often one of the patient’s first points of contact with the hospital, so your interactions with them may color their entire experience.

You also need to be prepared to face some pretty gruesome situations. Imaging technology is a vital initial step in many emergency and trauma cases, so you will often be working with patients who are covered in blood or other bodily fluids, or have bones protruding from the skin. Trauma situations in which you are providing care to injured patients are a daily occurrence.  

In such emergencies, it is crucial that you be able to think on your feet in a stressful environment. Critical thinking and decision-making skills are paramount. Situations can change in the blink of an eye, leaving you to make a split-second judgment call. The results of your decisions will often have a life-or-death impact.

In addition to level-headedness, a strong stomach, and excellent people skills, you need to be great with science and technology. Technology in the diagnostic imaging field is always advancing, so you should have a good aptitude for electronics and really enjoy using new gadgets. It’s also important that you understand the science behind these instruments, so you know how the different settings will affect patients. You will be utilizing applied physics and a strong knowledge of anatomy on a daily basis.

On a more basic level, you need to be able to take on the physical requirements of this job. You’ll be standing for most of the work day, sometimes while wearing a heavy lead vest. You need to have the strength and dexterity to maneuver hospital beds, position patients, and adjust the imaging equipment, often working with your arms above your head.

The vast majority of imaging technologists work in hospitals, though some work in physicians’ offices, laboratories, or outpatient care centers instead. Due to the importance of imaging work in emergencies, you should be prepared—especially when you’re just starting out—to work evenings, weekends, or on-call shifts.

As you are considering this field, it’s important to remember that diagnostic imaging requires a broad array of skills. It combines the art of exceptional patient care with the science of technology. You need to be friendly and professional even as you are making instrumental decisions in a high-stakes environment. You need to follow orders and work well in a team, but be able to be self-directed and make your own decisions when necessary. You must be able to multi-task and thrive in an environment without a lot of structure. If all of these apply to you, you may have the makings of a good imaging technologist.

If you think diagnostic imaging might be the field for you, visit the links at the side to continue the orientation.