Working World

Men and women from all areas of the working world are turning to the healthcare field for retraining in careers that will hopefully provide job security in an otherwise uncertain economy. Two of the hottest careers in the medical industry right now are radiologic technologists (a.k.a. MRI technicians) and sonographers (technicians who perform ultrasound procedures). Starting salaries range from $23-$30 per hour for MRI technicians and $20-$30 for sonographers, upwards to $35 per hour with 10-12 years’ experience and depending on the location.

“We are getting all types of individuals in our MRI program,” said Sarah Witte, BS, RDMS, a diagnostic medical sonography instructor at Casa Loma College. “A lot of my students are right around the age of 20. They’ve been working in retail or in restaurants and are coming back to train. Economics and desire provide the inspiration people may need to pursue a technical career in the healthcare industry.”

According to Sarah, the demand for sonographers is growing despite the sluggish economy. “This is due to an increase in population, an increase in physicians ordering ultrasounds and sonographer retirement,” she said. “The jobs are out there. They will never go away.”

Sarah also told us, “Sonographers need to be intimately familiar with anatomy, and sonography is very user-dependent — the person performing the sonogram will affect the quality of the sonogram. It is not a point-and-click procedure. I am reminded of many movies and TV shows that depict ultrasound as something anyone can just pick up and perform.”

Renee Stone, MAM, RT(R)(M), associate chair/program director for the department of radiation technology at Loma Linda University confirmed this, saying, “Ultrasound technologists are highly skilled individuals that work right along with the radiologist physician. Their knowledge base when finished with the program is revered as quite high within the profession of radiation science. As most ultrasonographers take call and work on their own [after certification], they are expected to have a high level of skill in critical thinking and troubleshooting. Their knowledge, along with MRI technologists, must be advanced in the areas of anatomy and physiology and cross-sectional anatomy. Both MRI and ultrasonographers must be able to ‘think on their feet’ so to speak. In both fields, individuals need to have compassion, empathy and the ability to organize.”

Casa Loma College’s Shellee James, RT(R)(MR), director of the two-year certificate MRI program, said, “MRI techs need to be very compassionate for patient care along with computer skills. MRI is all about computers. The most difficult part of the training is taking the student to an MRI facility and letting them scan the first time. It doesn’t matter how book-smart the person is when it comes to scanning; I have seen a moderate achiever do extremely well whereas their schoolwork was just so-so. I have seen A students fall apart at the scanning console.”

A typical day in the life of an MRI tech consists of greeting the patient; making sure the patient doesn’t have any contraindications to having an MRI, such as any implanted devices; comforting the patient if they are frightened of the MRI machine; putting the patient in the MRI unit; performing correct protocols dictated by the radiologist; keeping in contact with the patient; making sure the MRI images are of good quality; removing the patient from the machine; and advising the patient to contact his or her physician for the results of the scan.

For a sonographer, the typical day includes performing sonograms as well as interacting with patients and physicians. This will include assisting patients with using the facilities; stocking supplies; assisting with procedures, such as biopsies; looking at and evaluating clinical data, such as lab values; and previous imaging studies.

Shellee said, “One of the more difficult duties as a sonographer is helping patients with grief. Sonographers do not tell the patients the results of their exams, however we are frequently in the room with the patient after the doctor has given him or her bad news.”  

One of her ultrasound program students, Melleny Hernandez, added, “I really like the fact that I can interact with patients one on one. Radiology was my interest when I began researching this career. I was motivated by a friend who inspired me with stories. I thought, ‘I would love to do that!’ I definitely got the experience I needed to get hired by a hospital when I graduate.”

Courses in sonography involve classes in abdomen, obstetrics/gynecology, vascular, physics, normal anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology. There is usually a great deal of laboratory time and practice scanning. MRI tech courses include anatomy and physiology, cross-sectional anatomy, physics, patient care, psychology of adjustment, medical terminology, stress management, health and nutrition, ethics, business communications and organizational leadership.

Sonography is a certificate program no matter where you train. For an MRI tech it depends on your training. At Loma Linda University it is a certificate program that can be completed as an area of emphasis within the bachelor’s of science degree in the radiation sciences program (BSRS). At Casa Loma College, the MRI program is degree-granting program and students graduate with an associate of applied science (AAS). Financial aid loans and grants are available.   ­

Resources

American Society of Radiologic Technologists
Casa Loma College
Loma Linda University
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Katy Allgeyer is an artist and freelance writer. She is a columnist for Working World and Working Nurse magazines and her features have appeared there and in Feng Shui Times, The Art of WellBeing, You & Me Magazine and others.