Job description X-ray (radiology) Technician in the North Region

Find out what work is like for a X-ray (radiology) technician in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121).

Medical radiation technologists

Description

Medical radiation technologists use radiation and electromagnetism to produce images of body structures for the diagnosis and treatment of injury and disease and use radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment. They are employed in hospitals, cancer treatment centres, clinics, radiological laboratories, colleges and universities. Medical radiation technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Medical radiation technologists have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Radiological technologists
  • Operate X-ray, radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners and mammography units to produce radiographs or anatomic images of the human body for the diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
  • Record and process patient data
  • Perform 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, such as radionuclides and other tracer materials to patients or to biological samples
  • Operate radiation detection equipment, such as gamma cameras, scanners, scintillation counters, tomodensitometers and ionization chambers, to acquire data for use by nuclear medicine physicians in the diagnosis of disease
  • Perform diagnostic procedures using radioactive materials on biological specimens, such as blood, urine and faeces
  • Record and process results of procedures
  • Check equipment to ensure proper operation
  • 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
  • Operate linear accelerators, cobalt 60, X-ray and other radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment prescribed by radiation oncologists
  • Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation
  • Assist radiation oncologists and clinical physicists with preparation of radiation treatment plan
  • Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials such as cobalt, radium, cesium and isotopes and the construction of devices such as plaster casts and acrylic moulds to assist 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.
  • Magnetic resonance technologists
  • Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce anatomic images of the human body for diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
  • Record and process patient data
  • Perform verification and quality control checks on magnet equipment
  • Safety screen all patients for contra-indicators present that could harm the patient or would exclude the patient from having the examination
  • Provide appropriate care and monitoring of the patient during the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination
  • Administer and follow the necessary safety precautions for entry to the magnet room to protect themselves, the patient, their colleagues, other members of the health care team and any other individuals who may be present
  • May train and supervise student magnetic resonance technologists or supervise other magnetic resonance technologists.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 32121), and a list of similar occupations:

  • X-ray (radiology) technician
  • mammography technician
  • nuclear medicine clinical instructor
  • nuclear medicine technologist
  • nuclear medicine technologists supervisor
  • radiation oncology technologist
  • radiation therapist
  • radiation therapy clinical instructor
  • radiation therapy technologist (RTT)
  • radiography technologist
  • radiological technologist
  • radiotherapy technician

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Medical radiation technologists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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