RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY - ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Radiologic Technology Program at Johnson College is a two-year (21-month) competency based, learner centered program that combines both traditional academics and clinical education. The Program prepares graduates to enter the Radiology Profession as entry level technologists within weeks of completing the program.
Graduates of the Radiologic Technology Program are eligible to sit for the National Registry Examination for certification as a Registered Radiologic Technologist or R.T.(R) with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Furthermore, Radiologic Technologists have great career potential to specialize or branch out within the field.
Students gain valuable hands-on experience here on campus in our dual radiographic labs and also during clinical rotations at various clinical educational facilities. Student may opt to shadow special modalities outside of the diagnostic radiology department during their last practicum. Choices include Nuclear Medicine, PET scanning, Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Catheterization, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Dexa Scanning, Mammography, and Oncology.
Students will attend clinic during one full summer session and also throughout the academic year. By program completion, the students will have had approximately 1,400 hours of clinical practice in two of our affiliated clinical educational facilities.
What do Radiologic Technologists do?
The Radiologic Technologist?s responsibilities are wide-ranging. Radiologic Technologists, also referred to as Radiographers, produce x-ray films (radiographs) of parts of the human body for use in diagnosing medical problems on a diversified patient population. They even perform x-rays in the operating room in traumatic and emergency situations, and much more.
They perform patient care skills by preparing patients for radiologic examinations by explaining the procedure, removing articles such as jewelry, through which x rays cannot pass, and positioning patients so that the parts of the body can be appropriately radiographed. To prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation, these workers surround the exposed area with radiation protection devices, such as lead shields, or limit the size of the x-ray beam and set controls on the x-ray machine to produce radiographs of the appropriate density, detail, and contrast. Experienced radiographers may perform more complex imaging procedures.
Radiologic Technologists must follow physicians? orders precisely and conform to regulations concerning the use of radiation to protect themselves, their patients, and their coworkers from unnecessary exposure. In addition to preparing patients and operating equipment, Radiologic Technologists keep patient records, adjust and maintain equipment, master darkroom applications, and learn digital imaging.
For Additional Information about the Radiologic Technology Program:
Additional websites
www.asrt.org, www.arrt.org, and www.jrcert.org
Find out more about day to day activities of the Radiologic Technology Program by visiting our online bulletin board.
