X-Ray Technician Job Duties
An X-ray is a diagnostic medical test that uses electromagnetic energy to produce images of the inside of a patient's body. An X-ray technician is the medical professional who performs X-ray tests.
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Function
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An X-ray technician's job is to produce clear images for interpretation by a doctor.
Duties
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X-ray technicians explain the test to patients, position them properly for the test and apply shields to the other areas of a patient's body to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure. Once the patient is in place, the technician places film in the X-ray machine, sets the equipment controls and performs the test. The technician develops the images after the patient leaves.
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Skills
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X-ray technicians read the instructions provided by the patient's doctor to perform the test correctly and ensure that the correct area of the patient's body is X-rayed. Technicians also fill out information in medical records and perform routine maintenance and cleaning of the X-ray equipment.
Requirements
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To perform their duties, X-ray technicians receive a one-year certificate, two-year associate's degree or four-year bachelor's degree in X-ray technology. The federal government requires X-ray technicians to receive a license from their state before performing their duties, and this often requires a written exam.
Compensation
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The median annual salary for X-ray technicians in 2006 was about $48,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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