Introducing a career in Radiography and patient care

Are you looking for a career in the medical profession? When it comes to medical jobs radiography offers exciting employment opportunities. A Radiographer can also be referred to as an X-Ray Technician. If you are friendly and reliable, then diagnostic radiography may be a suitable career for you. Browse online, register your CV and apply for radiography jobs on Job Mail.

What is Radiography?

Radiographers take X-rays of people which are used to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. Once the Radiographer has completed the X-ray it is sent to the Radiologist for examination. The X-ray offers vital evidence of what ailment the patient is suffering from. Advanced equipment is used to take X-rays.

Radiographers typically find employment in medical institutions such as hospitals. They work in an indoor environment. The typical Radiography salary in South Africa is between R144,003 – R307,521 per year according to Payscale .

What do Radiography jobs involve?

Radiographers are responsible for operating machinery as well as manoeuvring the patient into the right position. Radiographers liaise with patients to discuss the problems that they are experiencing as well as to ensure that the patient is relaxed. Following safety protocol is a vital part of this position. A Radiographer is required to wear protective clothing. Once the X-Ray is complete, it is sent to the Radiologist. A Radiologist is the medical professional who is responsible for interpreting a range of images including MR scans as well as CT scans. They are also trained to review mammograms and sonograms.

If you want to work in a medical institution then you can consider studying to become a Radiographer. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required for this position. A friendly demeanour is also essential. Radiographers must be patient, trustworthy and caring. They need to be able pay attention to detail.

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Studying towards a qualification

If you want to become a Radiographer, you will need to complete a tertiary qualification. The University of Cape Town, Limpopo and Johannesburg all offer training in this field. You could also study at Stellenbosch University or the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The Durban University of Technology is another option.

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Once you have completed your training you can register with the Health Professions Counsel of South Africa. The Radiological Society of South Africa is another important body if you are a Radiographer.

Once you are qualified, you can choose to specialise in different areas. Options include Diagnostic Radiography, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Nuclear medicine, Radiation Therapy. Diagnostic Radiography specialises in the diagnosis of diseases through X-Rays. Knowledge of patient care and imaging techniques are important for this position. An in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology is also crucial. X-rays assist the Radiologist with determining if there are any abnormal tissues in the patient’s body. Typically, Radiologists produce still images, but fluoroscopy uses cutting-edge technology to produce moving images. Fluoroscopy is useful for interpreting organ movement. It can be used to evaluate heart beats as well as bowel movements. A CT scan utilises X-Ray images that are taken from a range of angles, which gives the medical practitioner insight into the functioning of the scanned body part. At the University of Johannesburg you can study a four year degree in Diagnostic Radiology. Admission requirements for this qualification include Physical Science, Life Science, Maths and English.

A Bachelor of Diagnostic Ultrasound specialises in a technique which uses high frequency sound waves to create images. A transducer is placed over the part of the client’s body that is being examined. An anatomical representation of the body part can be viewed on the screen. Professionals qualified for this type of radiography jobs typically work with pregnant women in order to check up on the health of foetuses. If abnormalities are detected, the Ultrasound can help to provide insight into the problem. It can also be used to detect disease in organs such as the liver or gallbladder. Doppler ultrasound makes it possible to evaluate a patient’s blood flow.

A Bachelor of Nuclear Medicine Technology uses tiny quantities of radioactive materials with the aim of reaching a diagnosis. The images which are produced from this process are also crucial for developing a treatment program. The patient is positioned on the table and a gamma camera is used in the process. Images are printed on film so that they can be reviewed by the relevant medical practitioner. The benefit of Nuclear Radiation Technology is that it offers insights into the structure and function of organs. In some cases it is able to detect problems before other tests are able to. Professionals in this field book examinations and follow safety guidelines to administer radionuclides. They use the gamma camera to create images of the patient’s body.

If you complete a Bachelor of Radiation Therapy you will generally see patients who have cancer. Radiation Therapy is used to treat cancer and is combined with other treatments including chemotherapy. Radiation Therapy aims to destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. Radiation therapy can also be used to minimise the pain of terminal cancer patients. A National Diploma in Radiography is also available at the University of Johannesburg. If you enrol for this course you will also need to apply to training centres which have been accredited.

Radiographer vacancies are listed on Job Mail. A full-time position with a monthly remuneration of R 25 000 – R 35 000 is available. Suitable candidates will have a three year qualification in Radiography and be registered with the HPCSA. Experience in radiography, fluoroscopy and ultrasound is also important. Applicants must have chest pattern recognition skills as well as computer literacy capabilities.

Ready to start applying for radiography jobs in your area? Register you CV on Job Mail and start your journey to finding your dream job now!