angelac1978

in my program, all of our major tests had to be passed with a 75% for the first year. In the second year, we have to pass the tests with an 85%, If we don't pass, then we are allowed to remediate the exams which involves a lot of extra work. The remediation exam is harder too, no multiple choice, it's all essay and short answer. If we fail 2 remediations, then we fail the course and we are out of the program. A

one that I have picked up working as a student x-ray tech is asking women of childbearing age if they are pregnant. The phrase is "embarazada?" and I ask it in a questioning tone with my hand over my lower abdomen. There is a list of questions and body parts in my department so when we do have Spanish speaking patients, it is not too hard to communicate. I just wish I had paid more attention in my 4 years of high school Spanish. A

MOnurse, I totally agree. Nurses in the country do not get paid enough for all that they have to deal with. Right up there with teachers. (my sis teaches 4th grade and you wouldn't believe some of the stuff her students have come up with!) Also, congrats to your husband for completeing his rad tech program! I can't wait to be in his place next year! A

If this isn't a generalization, I don't know what is! The post that I replied to seemed to imply that nursing is very difficult (which I know is true) while radiography was a piece of cake, which is not the case. My feelings were not hurt, not sure where that impression came from, and there was no need to apologize, with or without the rolling eyes. However, I do not appreciate being told to "move on" and to not let things offend me. Just because a post is not directed at you does not mean that it can't be offensive to you. I have no problem with the OP and I realized her intent from the beginning. I was just commenting on some of the posts here and answering a question about an RT's job description and education. A

is this really necessary? I am about to finish my first year of rad tech school and it is tough. We have the same pre-reqs as the nursing students do, with the exception of micro, but in its place we have to take 2 semesters of physics. Right now, we are in clinic 40 hours a week. During the regular semester we have 20 hours of clinic in addition to our classes. I am not trying to make an argument about which program is harder or which career is harder or more lucrative. Why can't we just agree that both programs are tough, and that anyone who works in healthcare has a tough job, whether you realize it or not. Also, can we avoid generalizations like the one about rad techs just standing around during a code waiting for the RNs to do something. It really isn't necessary. Here is a link that explains the job that radiologic technologists do. Registered technologists must complete an accredited program that lasts from 18-24 months. There is a shortage of techs in most imaging modalities and so entrance into those schools is extremely competitive. Most schools will not accept you unless you have completed most or all of your pre-reqs. Once you complete the program you have to sit for the board exam adminstered by our national registry, http://www.arrt.org If one wants to work in an advanced modality like MRI, ultrasound, radiation therapy or nuclear medicine, more schooling is required, usually another year of classes and more clinic time. If your hospital is calling transporters radiology techs, then something is very very wrong there. I would never work at a hospital that gave transporters that title. It's like calling a CNA a nurse, which we all know is not appropriate. Also, I know of no state that requires that you be an RN before becoming an RT or MRI tech or any other imaging tech. I'm really not trying to be preachy here, but it is frustrating when there are so many misconceptions about my future career. A

I took the residual ACT for my school and it was the exact same test booklet as the standard ACT. The only difference was that they graded the forms right there and I walked away with my scores instead of waiting weeks for it. If you are nervous, get an ACT review book. The only problem I had with it was the more advanced math like trig, there was a little of that on the test. You should do fine though! Just brush up on the basic concepts. A

I was planning on applying to a BSN program that required that students have their CNA certification. I was lucky in that a local hospital was desperate for CNAs and was offering a paid class and also paid for the exam. I took the class, passed the test with flying colors and got a job on a peds/med surg floor. Within a week I knew that being a CNA and being a nurse moreover was not for me. Maybe it was the floor I was on, but working with the same patients day after day really started to get to me. I also noticed that the nurses spent hours in the lounge after report working on paperwork. That's not what I wanted to do (and yes I know that there is much more to nursing than just paperwork) I lucked out one day when transport was backed up and I had to take a pt down to the rad dept for a routine chest. I knew the tech that was working that day and chatted for a few minutes and then on my lunch break went down and talked to her some more. I went to the local technical school the next day to apply. I just knew that it was right for me, I could see myself doing this, I didn't feel any nagging doubts in my stomach like I did while working as a CNA. I put in my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I really suggest that you do some job shadowing. Like I said in my previous post, what one person hates, another person loves! and that's what is great about the healthcare field. There is a place for everyone! A

also, admission to radiography school and especially rad therapy school has gotten extremely competitive as well. if you don't have most or all of your pre-reqs done, you probably won't get in. Rad tech school is tough too. I am in my second semester and I was working 40 hrs/wk and have cut back to about 20 and it is still rough. We are in class and clinic for close to 40hrs a week! That being said, I love school and am so glad that I made this decision. I knew that nursing wasn't for me, and I was lucky to have stumbled on to a rad tech program. The 3 fields you mentioned are very different and what one person loves another will hate. If you haven't already, I would suggest that you try to shadow a nurse, a rad tech, and a rad therapist for a day or so each to really see what each job entails. Good luck in whatever you decide! A

you do have to retain a lot of info in the rad tech department, but I would dare say that it is different types of info. I can't really say definitively because I am not all that familiar with nursing school content, but the type of info RT students have to retain are more technical in nature, like what factors to enter into the operating console to produce a good image and how to change those factors based on the patient's size, age, disease process, etc. Also, we have to know how to precisely position the patient to get good diagnostic images. We really have to know anatomy to make sure that we demonstrate everything that should be demonstrated. I could go on and on, but if you decide to go for RT and do some job shaowing, you will see all this and so much more! The school requiring job shadowing is a great idea because you will either leave being totally intrigued and know that that's what you want to do, or you will see that it's not for you at all. Good luck in whatever you decide. If you have any more ?s about RT school, just let me know and I will attempt to answer them! A

lol, more techie courses! that is definitely true. I happen to be a tech geek so I fit right in! for my program, you have to have 2 semesters of A & P, college algebra, public speaking, and all the other BS classes you have to take to get an AS degree. The algebra has come in handy though for figuring radiation intensity and distance and all other sorts of stuff. A

hey I posted a reply to you on the radiology nursing board! A

I am in a rad tech program right now and it is pretty tough. I just took my physics final this morning and I am totally drained. That being said, I totally enjoy school and I know that this is the right field for me. I worked as a CNA because I thought I wanted to be a nurse, but realized real quick that nursing was not for me! RT school is pretty intense. We have a lot of clinical hours, more than the ADN and LPN programs at my same school. My program is 2 full years long, we go August 2004 to August 2006 and next semester we will be in class and clinic for almost a total of 40 hours. Each program is different of course, but they all pretty much follow the same format. If rad sciece is something that interests you, you should check out what the requirements are the program you are interested in. I would also suggest that you do some job shadowing in an imaging dept to really get a good look at what RT's do. A

this is such a great thread! my hubby currently works for the USPS doing data entry. He is also doing coursework online to get his degree in meteorology. He wants to work for the Weather Channel one day but says he would "settle" for working for the local tv station! :chuckle A

scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner works great on white leather shoes. I use it about once every few weeks and use baby wipes in between to keep them white. A

not to be nit picky but the correct term for rad techs and CT techs and so on is "technologist" not "technician". You'd be offended if someone called you a nurse's aide. It's the same type of deal. A