Medical Radiation Technologists

Nature of work

This group includes technologists who operate radiographic and radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment and produce images of body structures for the diagnosis and treatment of injury and disease. They work for hospitals, cancer treatment centres, clinics, radiological laboratories, colleges, and universities. Medical radiation technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this group. Radiological technologists may specialize in areas like computerized tomography, angiography, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, interventional radiology, dosimetry, stereotaxy, or brachytherapy.

Job duties

Radiological technologists:

• Use X-ray, radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners, mammography units and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce radiographs or anatomic images of the human body for the diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury.
• Record and process patient data.
• Complete basic verification and quality control checks on radiographic and film processing equipment.
• Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient during the radiographic examination.
• Explain procedures, position patient and equipment and apply radiation protection measures.
• May train and supervise student radiographers or supervise other radiological technologists.

Nuclear medicine technologists:

• Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals like radionuclides and other tracer materials to patients or to biological samples.
• Use radiation detection equipment like gamma cameras, scanners, scintillation counters, and ionization chambers, to get data for nuclear medicine physicians to use in diagnosis.
• Complete diagnostic procedures using radioactive materials on biological specimens like blood, urine and faeces.
• Record and process results of procedures.
• Check equipment to make sure it works properly.
• Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient during the examination.
• Apply radiation protection measures.
• May train and supervise student nuclear medicine technologists or supervise other nuclear medicine technologists.

Radiation therapists:

• Use linear accelerators, cobalt 60, X-ray and other radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment prescribed by radiation oncologists.
• Check radiation therapy equipment to make sure it works properly.
• Help radiation oncologists and clinical physicists prepare radiation treatment plans.
• Help prepare sealed radioactive materials like cobalt, radium, cesium and isotopes and the construction of devices like plaster casts and acrylic moulds to help with administration of radiation treatment.
• Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient's physical and psychological well-being during the entire course of treatment.
• Explain procedures and side effects of radiation.
• May train and supervise student radiotherapy technologists or supervise other radiotherapy technologists.

Sample job titles

• diagnostic imaging technologist
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist
• mammography technician
• medical radiation technologist
• nuclear medicine technician
• radiation therapy technologist (RTT)
• radiology technologist
• registered technologist in nuclear medicine (RTNM)
• registered technologist in radiography (RTR)
• X-ray (radiology) technician

Skills

This work demands skill, accuracy, and close attention to detail. You should be efficient yet sensitive to patients' needs. Integrity and a strong sense of responsibility are important, as your results may affect a diagnosis or treatment. You must also be comfortable working with technology and able to keep up with new advances in the field.

Job requirements

• A two- to three-year college, hospital or other approved program in diagnostic radiography or magnetic resonance imaging (for radiological technologists and magnetic resonance technologists), nuclear medicine technology (for nuclear medicine technologists) or radiation therapy (for radiation therapists) or a bachelor of health sciences in radiography, nuclear medicine or radiation therapy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
• Licensure with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia.
• Certification by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is required in Nova Scotia.

Other considerations

People in these jobs may be required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays. There is no mobility between the three types of medical radiation technologists without further training. Experience as a medical radiation technologist is required for supervisors and instructors.

Regulations

Contacts

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