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Occupational Description

The radiographer plays an important role on the medical team as technical assistant to the radiologist, a physician who has specialized in the use of x-rays for diagnosis and treatment. A certified radiographer is qualified to work in hospitals, doctors' offices, public health projects, industrial medical clinics, veterans' and military hospitals. As a skilled radiographer, you would assist the radiologist in examining for broken bones, ulcers, tumors, diseases or malfunction of various organs. You would adjust x-ray equipment to the correct setting for specific examinations, put the patient into the correct position, make the required x-ray exposure, and process the radiographs.

In some cases, you may be called upon to use mobile x-ray equipment in the emergency room, in surgery, or at a patient's bedside. Your responsibilities may also include maintaining x-ray equipment in efficient operating condition except for major repairs, and keeping records of patient's radiographs and reports, ordering supplies, and mixing processing solutions. In addition, you would be responsible for the mental and physical comfort of patients while they are in your care.

Opportunities

Employment opportunities, both locally and nationwide, are excellent for registered radiographers. Once certification for diagnostic radiography is attained, it is then possible to enter such specialized fields as ultrasonography, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy. Other diagnostic specialties within the specific sphere of radiography include fluoroscopy, angiography, tomography, and C.T. scanning.

In addition, it is possible through continuing education to become active in hospital administration or in the instruction of radiological sciences.

Salary and Employment Outlook

The newly registered radiographer with no experience should have little difficulty finding immediate employment, locally or nationwide, starting from $28,000-32,000 per year. The less numerous, more highly qualified positions (i.e., large hospital department administration) may start from $35,000-50,000+ per year depending on level of responsibility and locality.