x-ray Q&A: adjusting to work life as a *new* radiologic technologist

[@leanneeggenberger9127]

I think x-ray techs are amazing! I’ve had multiple x-rays and an MRI and other tests throughout my life and they always do such a nice job of putting me at ease bc it can be nerve wracking! Great video! 😊

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you! 🤍

[@nakita_neacol]

Happy RAD TECH WEEK!!! 💀✨ love a good Q&A, thank you for this Julia 💕

[@JuliaKristine]

YEAAAAH happy rad tech week to my favorite gal! ❤️

[@madisonrose5952]

Girl, I love how REAL you are! I'm currently a senior in the Nuclear Medicine Technologist program so the anxiety is REAL especially when you have camera issues. I have CT in my degree plan, and definitely enjoyed my clinical rotation in that area of radiology. Keep being awesome and inspiring!

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me ☺️

[@darinasays]

Not an xray tech but still gotta watch! 💖

[@JuliaKristine]

I appreciate you 🤍

[@ajjames6613]

Im taking my arrt in a month. Haven't been an xray tech since 2009 in the army. Excited to get back into it. Great video! I have lots of questions for you.

[@brittanytrull]

me knowing way too much about the rad tech position for someone who isnt a rad tech hahahah

[@brittanytrull]

Happy rad tech week to my favorite one out there

[@JuliaKristine]

HAHA ily thank you!!!

[@selenamiller6127]

I’m a 2nd year student & just got hired for a student tech position. Love your channel!!! 💕

[@JuliaKristine]

Congratulations! 🤍

[@coleenfilipinas5692]

Thank you, Julia, for answering my question 🥰

[@rdgzyamilet]

I’m planning on returning back to school to get my degree and radiography is one of the careers i’m really interested in & this video just gave me more motivation to pursue it.

[@JuliaKristine]

That's super exciting!!

[@megandeckard9029]

As a tech who has been in the field for 18 hrs, this video is very well done and informative!!! Great job!

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!

[@saracottongim3237]

Hey Julia! Can you make a video on preparing for a job interview? What to put on a resume, how to dress, and what questions to prepare for during a rad tech position interview? I know you had a student tech job so that interview might have been different, but I think this would be helpful to upcoming graduates like myself :)

[@natakibennett9282]

Yess

[@monacheyanne6122]

Yes please!!

[@erincampbell2284]

Happy Rad Tech week babe!! I also graduated in May - late in life but finally!! Keep on killing it girl ... and thanks for trying to inform everyone! I could have used someone like you years ago to help ease my anxiety :)

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!! Congratulations on graduating ☺️ I’m beyond thankful for this community who can connect over all-things imaging!

[@ricafaeldog4369]

Many people are not aware what is radtech is but this video helps to know and give them an idea. I'm a radtech student from Philippines :).

[@JuliaKristine]

thanks for watching!!

[@gretschenwilliams344]

I am currently in my final year of high school and got acceptance to my rad school of choice to study towards a bachelor of science in radiography ! Watching your videos makes me more and more excited to start with my rad course next year. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS :D Love from Cape Town, South Africa x

[@JuliaKristine]

Congratulations!!

[@ajjames6613]

Look into becoming an RA. Its not much more schooling and it opens a lot of job options.

[@gretschenwilliams344]

@@ajjames6613 THANK YOU :D. Can you maybe expand more in what RA entails?

[@taylorbeeson2684]

Thank you for the video! I’m currently taking prerequisites for the rad tech program at my college, I love the insight that you give about being a rad tech and I’m excited to get in it!

[@JuliaKristine]

Good luck with your schooling!!

[@emmazeller6763]

I loved this video, I’m in my last semester of occupational therapy school and I love learning about different health professionals :)

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!!

[@Alexis-dq8dp]

You’ll need to share everything as you move to MRI AND CT!!

[@JuliaKristine]

Oh absolutely! ☺️

[@radassma2681]

You are absolutely RadAss!!! Thank you for the time and dedication to us. I’m a recent grad and you make me feel human 💖💖💖

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!! Congrats on graduating! 🤘🏼

[@daltonb8234]

as a fellow tech I love watching these videos!

[@JuliaKristine]

thanks for watching!

[@TheArtichokeMan]

Good video. I did most of my learning in the years after I graduated school. Being a new tech must be exhilarating, it was for me nearly 10 years ago. Keep up the good work, happy rad tech week.

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!!

[@smsvolleyball16]

Happy national rad tech week!! 🖤☠️🤍

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you! ☺️💀

[@madelainenastasia9845]

Lot's of wonderful information. Thank you so much for your insight and answering all of these great questions! 🤩👍💛

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you!

[@madison1952]

Love your videos!!!! I agree about the whole burn out I work at a hospital and with covid there is sometimes after the week I burned out

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you for all that you do!

[@madison1952]

@@JuliaKristine thank you I’m a housekeeper! It’s still as important as any other job in healthcare! Love you Julia!

[@JuliaKristine]

@@madison1952 Absolutely!!!

[@madison1952]

@@JuliaKristine ❤️❤️

[@jillianbuck3508]

Happy Rad tech week❤️❤️❤️

[@honeypotfilms6066]

woah this is so cool!! also unrelated but I loveee ur hair - honeypot films

[@JuliaKristine]

thanks!!

[@heathrrose]

I️ am in my second year and we are doing 13 weeks of just clinicals (five days a week, but no classes during this time).. I️ am starting to get so burnt out but this video helped a lot! Thank you!

[@JuliaKristine]

Woah!! That has to be so tiring, but so exciting that you’re remaining in clinical with covid!

[@elizabethoest]

I feel you girl I did that over the summer 4 days for clinic tests on Fridays and we only had a week before starting up in august our work load is different now but still feels the same 😭 wish you luck girl!! We will graduate soon 💙

[@heathrrose]

@@elizabethoest girl I️ feel your pain 😕 being a student during the pandemic is the worst. we will get through this! good luck to you 😊

[@ciahishername]

I loved this video!!!! What camera lights do you use? I love how you videos always look so neat and put together!

[@JuliaKristine]

Thank you! I don’t use any lights actually. I’m just in front of a window ☺️

[@user-bq8fg1yz4s]

Im a MRI tech. Great video.

[@CrisGarcia6]

I know what you have been going through. I want to let you know to stay safe and congrats on graduating at community College

[@kiki562714]

hii! looove your videos!

[@kendra5421]

What classes focused on math and physics in your program? I’m really thinking about going into radiology technology because I love healthcare but I don’t want something too hard. I tried nursing school fall 2020 and dropped out because of how hard it was especially because of covid. 😩

[@JuliaKristine]

Pretty much all of the classes in the program have some math or related physics, but it's all cumulative throughout the whole program! Meaning you're not really learning anything "new" in each class, necessarily! Once you've learned the foundation & basics of radiographic physics, the following classes you will take will use the knowledge that you've already learned in those previous classes - it's kind of hard to explain, but hopefully that somewhat makes sense hahah -Radiographic physics -Image production & evaluation -Advanced imaging -Imaging equipment -Radiation biology & protection -Radiographic positioning (some very basic math)

[@daytoy45]

same! i had to leave nursing school. I just CANT do it online

[@ralphieboy718]

Didn't finish the video yet but I've been a tech for a little over a yr now. I work in an urgent care and its really not a terrible first gig. My place pays more then most hospitals around me currently so thats why I'm staying.

[@JuliaKristine]

That’s great! I often get questions about wage and that just goes to show how much it can fluctuate and vary per facility, as well as per state!

[@ralphieboy718]

@@JuliaKristine your in ND rn? If u don't mind me asking whats the approximate wage for xray techs in an outpt compared to a hospital? And is that salary a comfortable salary for the state that you live in? Also I've had to do all 7 views of a mandible multiple times. Its not bad but I know my images weren't the greatest lmao. But I mean I did have someone break their whole mandible in half

[@JuliaKristine]

Roughly $20-$25 depending what type of facility and the location. Cost of living is more manageable in the state, but I have other sources of income too. Yikes!!! That’s crazy and sounds so painful! I’m surprised they didn’t order a CT right away!

[@ralphieboy718]

@@JuliaKristine im in an urgent care atm no CT. I've been struggling with trying to figure out a side hustle I get paid low 30's but I live in nyc and that's honestly not enough. I do eventually want to go into mri possibly CT but with covid I've put that on hold

[@JuliaKristine]

True, true! I’m sure the ERs in my small city vs. NYC are totally different with wait times, etc. Wishing you luck when you make that transition over to MRI/CT!

[@BrookeAndrews679]

Your eyes are so pretty!

[@JuliaKristine]

thank you!

[@nataliazertuche8069]

any tips for passing anatomy & biology classes ? 😔 I’m really struggling

[@JuliaKristine]

I’m a huge visual person, so drawing the bodily structures and labeling them always helped me. You could also give purposegames.com a try! Otherwise I don’t have any tips for bio 🥴 I hardly remember that class!

[@cdawn41]

Complete Anatomy is a software that allows u to visualize and see each part of the body and it helped me a lot !

[@brenavarra3685]

Hey Julia, this may be a silly question BUT my clinical site is super old school.. I set kvp and mAs myself, develop the images and all that... so we place IR’s in the Bucky - with that said when it comes to a CXR for a female I’m perfectly fine and honestly lengthwise I’m always fine... but how / when do you know to put the IR horizontal? Thank you!!

[@JuliaKristine]

I tend to do the same with small to average adult females and place the IR vertically/portrait and collimate the height accordingly per each patient. For broader adult females (wide shoulders/bigger busted) and almost all adult men, I will place the IR horizontally/landscape!

[@coleenfilipinas5692]

Julia, I work professionally as a certified nursing assistant. There has been some pretty tough days (and my goodness I seriously mean it). Are there real tough days working as a RadTech? Can you perhaps elaborate about it in a video?

[@JuliaKristine]

There are tough days in every job, but I love my job and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

[@alexsandstrom7047]

Hey girl! So when you became a student tech, did you take your limited scope operators test or did they hire you without requiring that? If so, how was if different from the actual boards? I’m taking my operators soon so I can start working until I graduate in May!

[@JuliaKristine]

I did not! The limited licensure isn’t required in ND

[@elizabethoest]

Me thinking that I could get away from thinking of physics for a while and you started talking about 15% rule and dose creep 🤣🤣🥴😭

[@JuliaKristine]

oh no! hahaha i'm sorry!

[@favela218]

I've seen that there are bachelor's programs as well as AAS degrees for radiology tech. Do you think a bachelor's in radiography is worth it? Or what is your opinion between the two? Also, as a radiographer, do you only do X-Ray or are you also able to do CT, MRI, etc.? TIA! :)

[@JuliaKristine]

I've answered this in a few videos! If you didn't know, I have an entire rad tech playlist if you haven't seen those other vids :) kzbin.info/aero/PLAG0obhrg15XlpHxy5VnGMjJQTQKuOhyw I tend to recommend the AAS route because tuition is going to be MUCH less expensive. Ultimately, x-ray techs with an AAS vs. ones with a BS get paid exactly the same where I'm from (and likely in most states). If you're wanting to manage a department one day, go with the BS route. At the end of both programs, you have to pass your ARRT registry exam in order to practice/work - which is what hiring departments will look for on your resume. With radiology programs, the most important thing to look for is that the program is JCERT accredited. Your second question is entirely dependent on what program you go through. My program only offered a degree in general x-ray, but we got to shadow through all of the other modalities. Some programs do have extended program pathway options where you can learn CT, MRI, mammo. If I wanted to pursue CT and MRI, I would just need additional on-the-job training and then sit for my boards after I have so many exams/hours under my belt. For sonography, nuc med, radiation therapy, etc. you will have to go through an entire separate program. Hope that helps!

[@kaitlyn2342]

I start the rt program next year and I gotta admit I'm so unsure of myself. I like the technology part of it and helping ppl but idk if I can deal with being put under such high stress situations and dealing with people in tremendous pain.. my mom said to give it a semester and see how I like it so.. im really hoping it works out bc idk what else I would do for a career :( if anyone has advice that would be greatly appreciated!

[@JuliaKristine]

I'd definitely suggest giving it a semester (especially when you're able to be in clinical!) and go from there. Honestly, you won't see people writhing or screaming in pain every day unless you work at a high level trauma hospital, overnights, etc.

[@kaitlyn2342]

@@JuliaKristine thank you so much for the advice! Hearing that from an actual rad tech makes me feel a lot better.

[@sidology1.0]

​@Kaitlyn 234 any updates?

[@person3268]

first one to comment love your vids btw I make videos aswell

[@swamplles5077]

I'm so interested into radiology program, but I'm from Europe and here radiology technology program takes 4 years so your title would be bachelor of radiology technology but while I was searching online about title in usa / canada it says it's bachelors of science in Radiology technology so i was wondering if that's true?

[@JuliaKristine]

There are associates and bachelors options for radiology programs here in the US! I don’t know anything about Canada’s programs though

[@swamplles5077]

@@JuliaKristine would you bsay that the salaries for AS( associate )and BA( bachelor's)are the same or at least similar? And have you personally finished AS or BA, thanks in advance :)

[@JuliaKristine]

@@swamplles5077 I mentioned at the beginning of this video that I have an AAS degree! Where I live, a rad tech with an AAS and a rad tech with a BS get paid the exact same! One benefit to a BS is if you were ever to want to pursue a managerial role

[@swamplles5077]

@@JuliaKristine thankss so much, I'm so interested into that program now, hope I'll be accepted 😁🤟

[@JuliaKristine]

@@swamplles5077 Good luck!!

[@brooke9768]

Hey!! I am wondering if you know anything about going into radiation therapy after graduating from xray. I am hoping to get accepted into an XRAY program in Feb and then once graduating, working on the floor for a year and then going back to school for radiation therapy. Do you know anyone who has done this? Love your vids! So helpful!

[@JuliaKristine]

hi! I believe there are specialized programs for radiation therapy! A guy in my class went straight into a program in SD after we graduated and a girl in the class above me went to one in MN!

[@paigem30]

Do you know how to transition between x ray tech and ultrasound tech?

[@JuliaKristine]

Unfortunately I don’t know! I think ultrasound requires a pretty specialized program, but you could check Burwin Institute!

[@maryamrasool3808]

What if someone fail the aart test ? Can they retake it ?

[@JuliaKristine]

You have 3 chances to pass the ARRT exam

[@shelbyramsey981]

Hey! I’m starting rad tech school in January 2021, I need help finding socks and shoes for school. They must be black socks, black closed toe/ black leather like shoes! Any suggestions?? (Reasonably priced) 🆘

[@JuliaKristine]

I was able to wear any type of shoe but I’m sure someone else in the comments could help you out! You could try Dansko?

[@ajjames6613]

How long is your program? Just curious.

[@swamplles5077]

Sorry for bothering you 😅 but how long did it take you to finish an associate degree in rad tech, and how long it takes to finish an internship?

[@JuliaKristine]

The program itself was 21 months straight, however it took me awhile to do pre-reqs because I changed my major quite a few times and transferred schools. My program included clinical in the 21 months, so I didn't have to seek out an internship

[@swamplles5077]

@@JuliaKristine as someone who is not from America, I don't really get the meaning of " pre-reqs" are they like the subjects that you were supposed to took in highschool or you have to take an extra year or so to do pre-reqs after finishing highschool?

[@JuliaKristine]

@@swamplles5077 Prerequisites are the college courses that are required to be taken prior to applying to the program

[@swamplles5077]

@@JuliaKristine ahh i get it now!! Thankss

[@abbybraun1955]

I know you’re a radiology technologist- is a radiology technician a separate thing or is it not a thing at all?

[@JuliaKristine]

Technician is someone who repairs machines!

[@davidparnell3241]

Hi!

[@nikkijennings3691]

Any tips for finding a xray job? Currently struggling🥴

[@JuliaKristine]

Check frequently on indeed.com! I notice that there are positions that constantly get added on there!

[@gracestaton6703]

Is the student tech job paid? And where is that offered?

[@JuliaKristine]

Yes, my student job was paid. I’m not sure what hospitals/facilities in the US hire students - you would have to inquire with your clinical sites! Two of my six clinical sites hired second year student techs

[@Tanman96]

That's the one thing I don't like about working in clinic, don't you just wanna do radiography?

[@JuliaKristine]

No, not necessarily! I love all of the other tasks I do, but yes, I wish the x-ray load was heavier. I knew this going into the job

[@dianaboycheva]

can you explain the part where x-ray techs do iv’s and their work with needles? thank you🤍

[@JuliaKristine]

I explained that in this video!

[@Tanman96]

I mean when you become a ct or mri you can do iv instead of getting a nurse once you get certified

[@michelem1036]

3:40 you do lobotomies?

[@JuliaKristine]

I said “phlebotomy.”