What Do I Do If I Want To Be An X-Ray Machine Operator Technician?
X Ray technicians (x-ray Machine Operators, X ray Tech) are also known as radiologic technicians and Radiographers. These radiologic technical professionals help in producing radio graphs i.e. X-rays, of skeletal structures of the human body as suggested to the patient by a physician. Radiography are images generated on high contrast film of the skeletal body parts of the human body with the help of different equipment here the use of X-rays. Radiography are image produced on a radio sensitive surface, such as a photographic film, by radiation other than visible light, especially by x-rays passed through an object or by photographing a fluoroscopic image. Also called shadow graph, skiagram, Also called skiagraph.
X Ray Technician or Radiologic Salary and Job description
X ray technician involve in lot of work in the radiologic department as well as other works also. Radiographers or the X-ray technicians mainly take care of the equipment that are connected to the radiography like the x-ray machine its maintenance and proper utilization of that equipment, X-ray technicians work also include in taking care of the patients who come in seeking of an X-ray as directed by their physician, positioning of the patient and the film exactly so that there will be no exposure to the radiations and also can produce correct images helping the diagnosis of the physician. Apart from these works a X-ray Technicians can also take care of the record works, maintaining the private offices of the physicians, taking care of the radiology department in a hospital etc.
The salary depends upon country to country and off course on experience however initially a fresher technician earns USD $55,000 to USD $60,000
X Ray Technicians Programs and Education
X ray Technicians obtain a associate degree under the name of X ray technology or Radiologic technology i.e. one who can deal with operations with machines emitting radiations. These sort of X ray technology associate degree program are often available with certain community colleges as well as some vocational colleges and the duration of the course is generally about 2 years full time to complete. These 2 year schedule includes the works in classroom as well as clinical works. The students are trained in such a way that they don’t harm themselves as well as the patients who approach them i.e. they are taught how to position patients without exposure towards radiation or with minimum exposure towards radiation. Some associate colleges provide practical approach by interfacing the students with health centers etc.
Associate degrees are in common apart from them there are also Bachelor’s degree programs in radiologic technology for students looking for leadership or management positions.
Knowledge acquired by an X-ray Technician:
X ray technician degree program mainly focus their curriculum on the following topics like anatomy and physiology-to know the positions of different organs, skeletal structures and important organs in the human body, patient positioning-which is very important for a X Ray technician as they have to take care of the position of the patient because x-ray radiations are harmful body-damaging waves, imaging-for correct positioning of the high contrast film for perfect images and pathology and radiation protection are further subjects learnt by an X-ray technician. Certain ethical subjects like the medical laws and ethics, patient confidentiality, medical terminology etc.
Students interested in X-ray technician degree programs can check the credibility of the community of vocation colleges which are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, this commission accredits certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs.