Radiology technician students can get on-the-job training.
Arkansas radiology technician jobs range from student on-the-job training to working in specialized fields. Technicians operate equipment that takes images of the human body. They also often administer radiation to patients to eradicate cancer and tumors.
The Arkansas job market reflects the national trend: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiology technician jobs will grow by 17 percent through 2018. The BLS also reports that the median annual salary for a technician (as of 2008) was about $53,000.
Radiology Technician Student
Radiology students perform the same tasks as technicians, although they work under strict supervision. Students operate radiology equipment in various environments, including emergency rooms, surgical theaters, clinics and special procedures rooms. They follow department protocols under supervision and learn to perform fluoroscopy and tomography procedures on patients.
Students also interact with patients by explaining procedures and answering questions. They often act as a liaison between the radiologist and patient. Students training as radiology technicians need strong basic nursing care skills. They also document patient progress, update patients' charts and advise nursing staff about patients' conditions.
To qualify for this job, a student must have a high school diploma and be enrolled in the second year of an accredited radiology technology school.
Special Procedures
Special procedures technicians perform a variety of functions beyond operating imaging equipment and maintaining patient files. St. Vincent Health Systems, in Jacksonville, Arkansas, for example, requires special procedures technicians to assist physicians with evaluating patients. These technicians record patients' vital signs, medication incompatibilities and allergies. They also keep an eye on patients to alert doctors about any special needs or potential risks regarding treatment or radiation doses.
Special procedures technicians can administer medication and therapies under a physician's direction. They must also label radiographs, develop film and collate X-rays. Laboratory responsibilities include participating in the hospital's quality-assurance program and identifying lab problems that could affect test results.
Special procedures technicians must be accredited by a medical assistant school and must also possess a radiologist certificate from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
As-Needed Jobs
White County, Arkansas, hospitals, such as the White County Medical Center, offer contract jobs to radiology technicians on an "as-needed" basis, otherwise known as PRN, or "pro re nata," in the health care field. These technicians may work two 10-hour shifts a week.
Although they work in an as-needed capacity, these radiology technicians must have ARRT certification. Some radiologic technologist jobs also require an Arkansas nursing license. Some PRN technicians do not perform fluoroscopy or contrasting-imaging procedures. They are required to work independently and exercise initiative and good judgment without supervision.
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