New here. Getting ready for a whole new world!

Bryan · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

Hello! I decided to go into Radiology a few years ago. My wife dissuaded me in the beginning because she was concerned about the potential health risk of being in a radioactive environment. I slept on the idea of pursuing Rad Tech since then. But now as I face a future that has not much hope for advancement in my current field, I am coming back around to my old thoughts of entering the RT field. Last weekend I went to Half-Price Books and bought a 3rd edition copy of Carlton's "Principles of Radiographic Imaging: An Art and a Science" for $10. Been reading like a madman during my free time. I recently found out that Ivy Tech, the school I plan on attending, uses this book. I'm pretty sure that they use a more up dated edition though. But I was pretty excited to find this out!

I was wondering how hard is it to break into the workforce as an entry-level RT. I've been looking online at job postings and they all say they want at least a year of experience. The US BLS (OOH) states that RT is a rapidly growing field and that employers are having trouble finding people to fill positions. I would like to know what to expect once I get out of school, Degree, Cert., and License in hand. Will my current job experience help me out at all? I work in direct care with developmentally disabled adults. Once I get out of school I will have accumulated around a ten year experience level in that field.

Bryan · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

BTW I am 31 years old. And I live in Indianapolis.

MurphyMobile · Moderator Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 149 Location: WNC

Bryan-

You will enjoy the field. I do and I have been doing it for 27 yrs. And I do not have any health problems due to radiation.

One should follow their dreams. And you are never too old to go after them.

The employment opportunities are good if you are a recent graduate.
Also your experience with developmentally disabled adults will help a lot.

Most hospitals hire students that do their clinicals at their location.

Just enroll, and enjoy. Good luck. Very Happy

MM

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Bryan · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

Thank you MurphyMobile! Your reply is really encouraging to me. What I am doing now is studying independently until I start going to school next spring. Hopefully when I actually go into classes most of the theory based lessons will be review to me.

Great forum BTW. But is there a way to search posts? I hate asking redundant questions.

Kevin · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Central Florida

I'm a first year RT student in FL, and can say that in my area, the graduating students have had no problem finding positions. We have several clinical sites that we rotate through, and the common thread between them seems to be a lack of RT's in the department. Maybe not all the time, but at some time, and you can be assured something is always available somewhere.

The hospital I just finished a rotation at has offered me a co-op position for the fall...the first semester I'm allowed to participate in one. Work in this field doesn't seem to be something that's hard to come by.
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