Anyone here work as an XRAY TECH or MRI TECH????

spottedhawk36 · 10-14-2008, 01:13 PM

i was looking at the possiblility of going to school to get into one of these career fields, anyone here have a job as one of these, whats the pay like? how do you like the work, what kind of shifts do you work, what type of schooling is needed to obtain one of these jobs, is there alot of demand for these jobs? thanks in advance.

RascallyRabbit · 10-14-2008, 01:52 PM

I'd like to here input on this also, my wife is considering this as a possible job change.

Steve/RR

Eagleclaw · 10-14-2008, 01:58 PM

great job.

541 Native son · 10-14-2008, 02:23 PM

Hello Spotted Hawk - You might also want to check out being an Ultrasound tech or an Echo tech. The jobs that I have seen posted for US techs start at about $25/hour or more. At my hospital, they start at $28/hour which is about what I make after 16 years! OIT has (or had, I haven't checked lately) an US program and there may be some other schools offering classes here in Oregon now. Ken

wthr4d · 10-14-2008, 02:24 PM

I have friends doing this in So Cal and they have work everywhere and anywhere. the pay isnt too bad either.

Paul

Beefcake · 10-14-2008, 03:38 PM

My understand is that this is a great career path if you can get into it, but that most of the schooling is "limited entry" with waiting lists. I would also be interested what you find out...

Eagleclaw · 10-14-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beefcake

My understand is that this is a great career path if you can get into it, but that most of the schooling is "limited entry" with waiting lists. I would also be interested what you find out...

when i get to work on thursday i'll go talk to the Radiology Manager at my hospital and see what kinds of info she can give me. I'll let you guys know what i find out.

duckboy · 10-14-2008, 08:47 PM

I am pursuing an ASSOC of Applied Science degree as a Radiographic technologist (not as arad technician limited to x-ray and only certain "ie. button pusher")

Diagnostic Radiographers produce & interpret high-quality images of the body for doctors to diagnose injuries and diseases. For example, X-rays, Ultrasound or CT scans carried out in hospital whereas limited X-RAY techs are not interpreting the images, they are only qualified to do certain images and are paid much less

The pay for a rad. diagnostic technologist is around mean full-time compensation was reported highest in California ($75,873), Massachusetts($71,574), Washington, D.C. ($68,585), Connecticut ($66,471) and Oregon ($66,152).

The pay for a rad Technician is considerably less @ 17 per hour.
I have just got 3 terms of Algebra left, and then I can apply to the program (2 years of clinicals).

Getting into a program is very tough I have done the computing 101 , all of the other pre reqs, all of the anatomy/physiology/ the labs and am 1/2 way through my year of volunteering at the hospital.

The problem is, that there are hundreds of folks trying to get into the program, and there is only room for about 16. I hear that if you are not a straight "a" student, they wont even look at your application.

Getting straight (a) grades was tough to do in anatomy physiology, but the computers courses/ english research writing and intro to diagnostic radiography were do able.

So I am probably going to apply to 3 or 4 different programs after I have satisfied the pre reqs.

steelfreak · 10-15-2008, 07:16 AM

These are great jobs if you can get the schooling/training. Xray tech might not be bad but it is very hard to get into ultrasound programs. However, if you can do it, I would go for the ultrasound program. The problem is there's not enough room in schools and classes for many of these medical jobs, and competition is very, very high. I am a Cert. Anesthesia Tech II and love my job, but I was very lucky and made the right connections to get training and a job. I started out working in the materials dept of my hospital and worked my way up. Might be something to think about. Whatever you do, don't give up it takes many people alot of years to get these types of jobs. In the end it is worth all the work, great benefits, great pay, excellent job security, and many advancement opportunities.

Eagleclaw · 10-15-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelfreak

These are great jobs if you can get the schooling/training. Xray tech might not be bad but it is very hard to get into ultrasound programs. However, if you can do it, I would go for the ultrasound program. The problem is there's not enough room in schools and classes for many of these medical jobs, and competition is very, very high. I am a Cert. Anesthesia Tech II and love my job, but I was very lucky and made the right connections to get training and a job. I started out working in the materials dept of my hospital and worked my way up. Might be something to think about. Whatever you do, don't give up it takes many people alot of years to get these types of jobs. In the end it is worth all the work, great benefits, great pay, excellent job security, and many advancement opportunities.

the hospital i work at has distant learning programs for both Xray and nursing every so often. it's the best way to go to school.. My hospital pays for it's employee's to go to school.

Cornbread · 10-15-2008, 01:38 PM

My vote would be go for ultrasound tech if you can make it into a program. That technology is only getting better and better and there is more and more demand for it. Even veterinarians are using it now, I think it would be a pretty awesome field to get into for some one changing life paths if you didn't want to go so far as to become a nurse, nurse practitioner, or doctor. Right now if I had to change jobs (I'm an engineer) I would go for nurse practitioner. Health care jobs as the baby boomers age are only going to become more and more stable and you will be able to work anywhere in the US. You really can't go wrong with a degree relating to health care these days.