Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Dinosaur
This is the control panel for the machine at the clinic where I work.
My clinical site is a brand new hospital, not even 2 years old. The imaging department is all new and shiny - we have Phillips fluoro rooms with Fuji CR readers and SwissRay digital rooms.
When I interviewed for my current job, I was told about the digital imaging system they had. When I hear "digital," I think of what I have at my clinical site. I almost cried when I saw what I was actually going to be working with. The "digital" part is where it's hooked up to a CR system.
I'm slowly getting used to my little dinosaur.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Dazzle Markers
When I passed the limited scope exam, I bought myself my very first pair of markers as a prize. Up to that point, I had been using the ones my school provided, which had a student number on them instead of initials .
While looking for markers, I came across Dazzle X-ray Markers and knew I had to get a pair. They're *sparkly* and that appeals greatly to the magpie in me. My L is Aqua Marine and my R is Orange (it's a dark kind of rusty orange).
Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone looking for some distinctive markers.
While looking for markers, I came across Dazzle X-ray Markers and knew I had to get a pair. They're *sparkly* and that appeals greatly to the magpie in me. My L is Aqua Marine and my R is Orange (it's a dark kind of rusty orange).
Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone looking for some distinctive markers.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Hey Stranger....
My poor little blog has been ignored! Well, I'm back. It was interesting to read through my past posts and see where I've been and what I've done.
So, to catch anyone up who may still be reading...
School has kept me pretty busy through the last couple of semesters. Things are winding down and on May 15th I will be graduating!
I did take the limited scope exam in August and in January of this year I started working part time at an urgent care clinic as a PTR (limited tech) but I also do back office medical assistant duties. I am certified as an MA - that was something I did while I was on the waiting list for the RT program and it has come in handy! I love my job and thankfully they will hire me on full time when I graduate and as an RT once I pass my boards.
The machine I'm working on is a trip - it's a vintage 1988 Raytheon single phase DINOSAUR. My control panel is all dials, buttons, gauges and *fractions* on the time station. The hospital where I do my clinicals is not even 2 years old and all the equipment is shiny new and either CR or digital. Even my school doesn't have equipment quite this antique. I was in shock when I first saw what I'd be working on. It is hooked up to a Kodak Orex CR system, so I'm not totally back in the dark ages.
We took a mock boards exam at school and I got an 84%, which I was pretty happy with. I bought a subscription to RadReviewEasy.com and I like the way they have their sample testing set up. I'm not too worried about boards because I already took the limited exam and the full boards is just that plus the fluoro and other body parts. I sent in my application last week and hopefully I'll be able to get my test date soon.
So, that's the update for now!
So, to catch anyone up who may still be reading...
School has kept me pretty busy through the last couple of semesters. Things are winding down and on May 15th I will be graduating!
I did take the limited scope exam in August and in January of this year I started working part time at an urgent care clinic as a PTR (limited tech) but I also do back office medical assistant duties. I am certified as an MA - that was something I did while I was on the waiting list for the RT program and it has come in handy! I love my job and thankfully they will hire me on full time when I graduate and as an RT once I pass my boards.
The machine I'm working on is a trip - it's a vintage 1988 Raytheon single phase DINOSAUR. My control panel is all dials, buttons, gauges and *fractions* on the time station. The hospital where I do my clinicals is not even 2 years old and all the equipment is shiny new and either CR or digital. Even my school doesn't have equipment quite this antique. I was in shock when I first saw what I'd be working on. It is hooked up to a Kodak Orex CR system, so I'm not totally back in the dark ages.
We took a mock boards exam at school and I got an 84%, which I was pretty happy with. I bought a subscription to RadReviewEasy.com and I like the way they have their sample testing set up. I'm not too worried about boards because I already took the limited exam and the full boards is just that plus the fluoro and other body parts. I sent in my application last week and hopefully I'll be able to get my test date soon.
So, that's the update for now!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Short but Sweet
I'm finished with classes until August. I have learned the entire skeletal system and also the urinary, biliary, upper and lower GI systems. I'll be in clinicals 40 hours a week this summer and I'll be practicing all of that as well as getting introduced to the OR. In that area, we're allowed to work on choles, retrograde pyelograms and ERCPs.
I am eligible at this point to take the practical technologist exam. I was waffling on whether or not to take it but one of the techs at my site encouraged me to go ahead and do it. He said that it's good practice for taking the RT and also with having the PT license, there is a potential to find a job and get some experience. I have all the paperwork together and I'll be sending in my application tomorrow.
I am eligible at this point to take the practical technologist exam. I was waffling on whether or not to take it but one of the techs at my site encouraged me to go ahead and do it. He said that it's good practice for taking the RT and also with having the PT license, there is a potential to find a job and get some experience. I have all the paperwork together and I'll be sending in my application tomorrow.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Man, don't you hate it when you visit a blog and it looks like it's been abandoned? Me too! Sorry to leave things hanging ... I kept thinking I should post something and then I would get busy.
So, last episode I was ready to start classes again. I finished a 6 week session and next week will start another 6 week session. This past 6 weeks we covered the shoulder girdle, bony thorax and pelvic girdle/hip in positioning, and the upper and lower GI systems in contrast class. The next 6 weeks in positioning will be skull and spine and contrast starts with the urinary system and I'm not sure where we're going to go from there.
It's been quite challenging balancing school and clinicals - I'm looking forward to later this summer when we'll have another stretch of nothing but clinicals and I can let my brain rest and just concentrate on putting into practice all that's just been crammed into it. I think part of what I'm finding so hard is the pacing. Last semester we had about a month to learn each section: chest, upper extremity (elbow down) and lower extremity (knee down). This semester, it's all going by so FAST. I don't feel like I've really absorbed it all yet.
Once I'm able to cert on my shoulder, then I will be eligible to take the limited scope radiography exam. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that. My site does not hire PTs and I don't know if I want to try to hold down a part time PT position elsewhere because it seems like it would be a lot on my plate, with clinicals and classes. However, one of the techs at my site thought I should go ahead and take it. He said that it gives you a feel for what the "real" registry exam will be like and that it could be beneficial, as far as getting that first RT job, if you are already a PT.
So I think that brings everything up to date!
Today was an awesome day at clinicals. I was able to go down to the ER, where I haven't been for the past couple of weeks. I got several abdomen/KUBs and I'm ready to cert on the next pelvis that comes my way. Also got to brush up on some extremity skills. Tib/fibs don't come by very often but a combo tib/fib-knee exam came up so I was glad to have the opportunity to practice on that.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow. One of the community colleges has started a new rad program - this is their first class and one of their students will be starting at my clinical site. I know of her from someone else I exchange messages with on a radiography forum so I'm eager to actually meet her in person!
So, last episode I was ready to start classes again. I finished a 6 week session and next week will start another 6 week session. This past 6 weeks we covered the shoulder girdle, bony thorax and pelvic girdle/hip in positioning, and the upper and lower GI systems in contrast class. The next 6 weeks in positioning will be skull and spine and contrast starts with the urinary system and I'm not sure where we're going to go from there.
It's been quite challenging balancing school and clinicals - I'm looking forward to later this summer when we'll have another stretch of nothing but clinicals and I can let my brain rest and just concentrate on putting into practice all that's just been crammed into it. I think part of what I'm finding so hard is the pacing. Last semester we had about a month to learn each section: chest, upper extremity (elbow down) and lower extremity (knee down). This semester, it's all going by so FAST. I don't feel like I've really absorbed it all yet.
Once I'm able to cert on my shoulder, then I will be eligible to take the limited scope radiography exam. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that. My site does not hire PTs and I don't know if I want to try to hold down a part time PT position elsewhere because it seems like it would be a lot on my plate, with clinicals and classes. However, one of the techs at my site thought I should go ahead and take it. He said that it gives you a feel for what the "real" registry exam will be like and that it could be beneficial, as far as getting that first RT job, if you are already a PT.
So I think that brings everything up to date!
Today was an awesome day at clinicals. I was able to go down to the ER, where I haven't been for the past couple of weeks. I got several abdomen/KUBs and I'm ready to cert on the next pelvis that comes my way. Also got to brush up on some extremity skills. Tib/fibs don't come by very often but a combo tib/fib-knee exam came up so I was glad to have the opportunity to practice on that.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow. One of the community colleges has started a new rad program - this is their first class and one of their students will be starting at my clinical site. I know of her from someone else I exchange messages with on a radiography forum so I'm eager to actually meet her in person!
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