Right reasons to pursue Radiology Technology?

WannabeRadTech · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 19

I guess I did come off as a jerk.Sorry.

Anyway, when do you think there will be a demand again for techs? Would you say 3 years from now?

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:53 am Post subject:

Hard to say for sure.

*IF* the cycle goes as it has since 1979 (when I earned my RT), then sometime in the next 3-5 years.

But this is a little different. This recession/depression is so tough - all industries are affected. It's impossible to say if our industry will open up.

The usual cycle is primarily caused by the market for RT's. There's a demand for qualified RTs, students flock to programs who accept more students who graduate into the marketplace and fill the open positions. Then there ARE no open positions and there are more graduates than jobs.

This time, all of that is exacerbated by the national unemployment rate, poor insurance reimbursement slashing the cash-flow into hospitals and reducing growth.

So the answer is ... we hope so.

hjh, RT

WannabeRadTech · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 19

Ok, assume the economy gets better in the next 3-5 years.

I guess I have a hard time understanding how there could be a demand again.....

So, schools would close due to less students applying? Woudln't all the un-employed techs just snatch up all the jobs availible?

Also, how hard is it to cross trian into MRI

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:07 am Post subject:

OK, let's assume the economy improves.

Belive it or not (I know, I have a hard time believing it too!) some of us baby boomers are getting older. Some will retire, some will move into education or less physically demanding positions, start their own businesses. The same is true for RT's currently out of work. Believe it or not, if they want to feed their families, they're not sitting still moaning about being out of work - they're finding other ways to earn a living. If jobs begin to open up, many will not return to radiography.

Most schools associated with colleges and universities will not close - but they WILL cut their enrollment. Schools that currently accept 20 students/year will cut back to 10. That will be good for the profession. It will reduce the glut .. but it will also lead to the next logical phase of the cycle.

Fewer students graduating and sitting the certification exam. Jobs open up, not enough RT's to fill them. Eventually, we'll be in a similar position again - schools will open up to more students and before you know it - more graduates than jobs.

There's no way to ever make it come out even.

MRI? Don't count on moving into MRI as soon as you graduate. And cross-training is not the same in every facility. Some will only allow it with a year or two of RT working experience (experience in school does not count), others don't cross train they hire only experienced MRI technologists.

Good luck,
hjh, RT

WannabeRadTech · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 19

Thanks for the detailed answer.

A MASSIVE worry of mine is getting old and having to work a physically demanding job. I dread it to the point of depression.

The reason I want to cross-train into MRI is because it seems relativly less physically demanding as opposed to regular XRAY.So, you could be in your 60s and be doing MRI. So, it sounds like it is still possible to cross train into MRI.

I am torn between Radiology Tech and Mechanical Engineering. I kind of steered away from Mechanical Engineering because it often leads to corparate jobs....which don't want you anymore after age 55.

My final questions:

-Can you get a physics/math based bachelors in Radiographic Sciences after obtaining the 2 year degree!

-Do you feel the un-avoidable affects of age on your current job?

hjhogle · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject:

Don't kid yourself. There are very few jobs in imaging that are NOT demanding. MRI technologists might appear to spend a lot of time sitting, but ask someone who works in MR sometime what their day is like. (Although I DO understand your concerns about aging, believe me!)

A while back .. 10 years or so ... I moved into administration and then into imaging IT. While it doesn't involve lugging cassettes or pushing portables, it has its physical challenges. Our campus is quite large and is spread over multiple non-adjacent blocks, plus we also support some of the University sites that use our systems. I keep threatening to wear a pedometer to track the number of miles hiked (usually in a hurry), but I haven't done it yet. I'm a workaholic - I work long hours and don't get enough rest, and I'm appalled that my body won't tolerate the same punishment it did when I was 25. So I move forward on strength of will sometimes, and spend all weekend sleeping others. Whatever works Smile

. But the truth is, I think no matter what profession you're involved in, you're going to feel the unavoidable effects of aging - that's part of the thing, you know? We can't stand as long, or sit as long without getting stiff. We can't stay up all night and work all day. That's just the way it is. I can hate or refuse to admit it .. but it is what it is.

But there are things about growing older that I like. It gives me permission to behave like a mentor - I have experience to share (professional and personal), and I try to share that in helpful ways (rather than bossy ones). And I like that.

But yes, you might find MRI less taxing than pushing a portable xray machine and lifting patients in ICU beds. And yes, with some time under your belt in faciity as an RT, it's likely that cross-training into MR will still be possible. Don't expect that to go on forever, though. Sonography has already begun the move away from radiography, and to the best of my knowlege, some sort of formal training is now required for diagnostic medical sonography. MRI will quickly follow suit.

You can get a 4-year degree in anything you want - your 2-year degree won't prevent that. Get a BA in English Lit. if that's what you want. Will your 2-year degree transfer? Some of it will. I earned an AS in Radiography in 1979. Long time ago. I've just entered a BS program with a concentration in "Health Studies" - they accepted all of my prior credits, which is a bit unusual. Other programs I reviewed accepted some or most of my prior credits. I would think that if you don't wait as long as I did, most if not all of your AS would be acceptable. Again, that'll depend on the concentration and the school.

Good luck
hjh, RT

WannabeRadTech · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 19

^^^^^^Ugh, see that is what I was afriad of.

Eventually, age affects you in ANY profession. I guess choose your passion and hope they don't replace you with a newer model down the road.

It happened to my dad who now does consulting.

I think the only place your safe from getting fired from getting to old is:

Government jobs.

You ARE right. Ultrasound now requires you to go to a University for a year.
Very VERY hard to get into the program. You need a 2 year degree in Radiology Technology.

hjhogle · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject:

Off the subject and none of my business, of course....

In the first place, shoddy performance will get you fired from anywhere, including the government. I'll also say that I know dozens of government employees - city, state and federal - who work their asses off for mediocre pay and zero respect from citizens.

Just as I have met - and in one notable case, worked closely with - RT's who arrived to work just barely on time, did the minimum during the workday, complained all day about their terrible employer and how hard they were expected to work and then clocked out 5 minutes early.

Yes. At any age and in any industry, it's possible to lose one's job. Layoffs and tough economic times have increased people's fear of this. So if you were looking for some sort of magic bullet - a "protected" industry where no one gets laid off or fired, hospital's never downsize or have money trouble .... I'm sorry, but where on EARTH did you get that idea in the first place?

Real life is what it is, regardless of your field.

So you choose a field that interests you. You learn all that you can, you participate in your profession, you treat others (including patients and your employer and co-workers) and yourself with respect.

If you arrive on time, if you work hard, if you volunteer for extra responsibility, if you're a cooperative co-worker, if you don't whine and complain, if you treat others as you wish to be treated, then you're less likely to have to worry about getting fired.

That's true anywhere.

And if they replace you down the road with a younger employee, then perhaps it was time for you to do something else. Something that you would not have done if you hadn't had to look for it. It's your choice how to perceive it.

Good luck
hjh, RT