X-RAY TECHS. need your advice/opinion

[forged5.4dohc]

hello all,im thinking about becoming a x-ray tech,and would like to know how u like your job.what are the plusses/minuses of the job.stuff like that.salary,etc.

currently im a nissan tech(of 3 years),but the job is starting to get to me.i dont want to do this for the rest of my life,so lets hear it.

 

[HYBRED]

You're in luck, this board has the world's best x-ray tech...Jim Snover.

 

[snakedoctor]

Be ready to have a tough time finding a job unless you live in a big city. The x-ray tech field is getting oversaturated with qualified people. I worked a part-time job for 7 months after I graduated. The only reason I had that was because I started it when I was still in X-ray school. I had a lousy weekend shift. I went in at 5pm on every friday and didn't get to leave the hospital until 5am on Monday morning. I guess like everything else you have to start at the bottom. The school I went to was promising we would make $19.00/hour minimum right out of school. My part time job was $15.00. Now I'm working full-time at another hospital Monday thru Friday making $18.00/hour. Be prepared to cross-train in another modality. I cross-trained at my first job in CT, really didn't want to but they basically forced me so they wouldn't have to call out any CT techs during the weekend. It was a blessing in disguise because the main reason that I got my current job is because I had CT experience. I guess overall the job is ok, I'm a hard person to please and I doubt that there is a job out there that I would actually love(other than being a rock star or porn star) so take it at that. Oh also x-ray is more in depth than you would think, it's not just x-raying somebody who has broken a leg or been in a wreck. 50 percent of the people who walk in the emergency room are either there for chest pain( for what you will do a chest x-ray) or for a tummy ache (for what you will do a stomach x-ray). That might not sound bad, but when you get called out in at 2 am to x-ray somebody who has a tummy ache it gets kinda old. Sorry for the long post. If you go into it don't stop at x-ray, go for another modality like MRI or Ultrasound, that's where the money is.

 

[James Snover]

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I am an x-ray engineer, _not_ an x-ray tech. Xray techs work with patients and make the images. X-ray engineers just keep the machine running. I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression about what I do.

Having said that, I do have an inside view of an x-ray tech's life, to some extent. The worst thing about working in any medical field is dealing with some of the doctors. A very small percentage of doctors are the most amazing *ssholes you will ever meet in real life, and they are allowed to get away with it. Most doctors are amazing people you will be glad to meet and work with, but some are not worth running over with a car, and as an x-ray tech you will meet them, sooner or later.

The job can also be heartbreaking. Babies and small kids come through the emergency room, and not all of them survive. Working with a kid who has severe burns is a truly heartbreaking experience. Thank God for those who can do it.

Some patients, too, are the most amazing morons you will ever meet.

On the plus side, it is a job that directly helps people, every day. That is a good feeling. And it pays well, you can get all the hours you want in any fair-sized city, and the job-security is very good. You also work with a lot of great people, too.

Also: most x-ray techs are girls, and most of them are hot and smart, and very sweet.

Jim Snover

You're in luck, this board has the world's best x-ray tech...Jim Snover.

 

[forged5.4dohc]

thanks for the great replys.

anyone el:beer:se?

 

[SVTINBLAK]

My brother branched off from being an xray tech to running/training others on
a "liptrotripsie" unit...and I know I didnt spell that right.The machine bust's kindney stones with sound waves.He makes around 65k per year. He likes it but does travel somewhat...but he can also score 2-3 weeks off at a time with pay.