Clincal Experience

To be a Radiology RN the usual route is having ER/ICU experience then learning radiology OJT. There is a large variety in roles and responsibility of radiology nurses.

A masters degree is not required, when I started in radiology I had a 2 year degree in nursing.

I agree, most all of the nursing staff in the teaching hospital where I work are required to have critical care background. We also have to keep ACLS and PALS certifications up to date. The issue for radiology nurses, especially in smaller institutions is that basically you are the go to person for the patients. For lack of a better way to say it "radiologists dont do sick people". Radiologists may be well versed in reading films/performing procedures, however they are NOT use to dealing with "sick" people or patients who have issues while in the radiology department. That is why it is imparative that nurses working in Radiology be experienced nurses with good critical thinking and problem solving skills for patients, both inpatient and outpatient as well as visitors that are in the department at any given time.