Radiology Forums

kwtechstu · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

I am a first year rad tech student and just started clinicals about 2-1/2 months ago. I am not enjoying it. I find myself getting really nervous when positioning patients. I like the actual contact, but I feel like a duck out of water. It just does not come naturally for me. The techs at the site where I work are not all that helpful. Most of them give the feeling that they are being put out by having to work with a student. I know that in another month or so when I know what I am doing that Iwill be doing their work for them. Why aren't they able to look ahead and realize that students really make their life easy?

Aspiringtechnologist · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: NE PA

Cheer up bud, think of it this way; by going through this hell with somewhat pompous staff, your getting somewhat prepped for dealing with idiots in the Rad dpt. where you will eventually work. Is the department that busy that they cannot talk amongst themselves and keep a light mood, or is the treatment only towards you? If it's only towards you, there are probably some ways to change that, but I would not know since I am not in your situation. Just be kind, ask to help if you can, and put yourself in a position to always be useful and people will come around. Good luck either way, and go chill with friends after the clinicals to relax and forget about it. Piling ont he stress dya to day will affect energy, and therefore grades, and that is the last thing you want.
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If I could get into this program I'd annihilate it!

papa · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

talk to your clinical instructor. students (though we don't like to admit it) have done the grunt work. i remember being a student and having to clean all the cassettes in the department while the other techs sat back and watched. it's not the most attractive thing to be doing in radiology, but it needed to be done.

i've found that most techs who treat students as a lower class tech, have either forgotten what it was like to be a student (not knowing a lot, strugeling to survive in the medical world) or were so burned by techs as a student, that he/she feels that it's necessary. most of the time, they've forgotten about student life.

as for the duck out of water and coming naturally, don't worry about it. it'll come to you. relax, take a deep breath, and look at the art that you are making. if you start to get down in your clinicals, come here after class or work and we'll talk about it. that's one of the great things about this forum. i've found that a lot of us are like one big happy family. HJ-mom, CTDave-dad, the other mods are like brothers and sisters, and i'm the evil wild child. (heh, heh, heh Twisted Evil

)

you'll find that in the field as well - one big happy family.

always here for ya..

papa RT(R)(CT)
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Mr. Green

papa RT(R)(CT) Mr. Green

http://sites.google.com/site/delusionalradiology

never meddle in the affairs of a dragon, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup

natsew · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

I for one feel better. Knowing that we all have experienced this rite of passage almost makes it better.
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X-Ray Vision

Funny Bones · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 21

Trust me... In six months you'll look back in those intimidating exams and say, "what was so hard about that?"

During my first year, I had a copy of Merrill's within easy reach. Each time I was given an exam to do, I would reference 1) patient position, 2) position of the part, and 3) central ray position prior to greeting the patient. Before sending the films, and releasing the patient, I would always check the evaluation criteria listed in Merrill's for that specific view just to make sure I was submitting good films.

I also spent the last 15 minutes of each night, before going to bed, reviewing positioning and evaluation criteria for only one (1) view (i.e. swimmer's position).

Good luck.