my student notes for theatre radiography Michael `s theatre II Tips 1. Take all the keys to every machine just in case yours stops working 2. Let the surgeon decide where the II comes from , where the Monitor should go, don’t assume 3. If the body part is over the steel table base, or the metal table edge, or gaps in the foam table are in the way then -solution- Move the patient. 4. Beware sandbags , can be put under hips/ chest by inexperienced theatre staff 5. Set a manual kv for extremities -so that even if you come in and are centred in the wrong place , the image will be correctly exposed. Otherwise if your going in and out, over the body part, even slight miss centering, will result in a black/ underexposed image, because it will give a fresh air exposure eg 44kv ( which would not get through a finger). Generally hand 52kv, ankle 57kv, knee/ shoulder 62k , then tweek it. I once I had a student who never centred bang in the middle once, for an ankle op . The surgeon didn`t notice. The foam table makes 2 kv difference. Some machines require the first exposure to be on the AED. 6. The ii has an obese button, which is the maximum mA output, find out where this is. If this doesn’t work and the image is black - still under exposed , the only thing you can do is try and use the Monitor brightness/contrast - this may well not work ! there`s nothing you can do !! with this machine. 7. Save all the images- make this a habit- you don’t know which operation turns out wrong, even though it seems ok at the time 8. If your doing AP and Lateral, every time you go to the other position , swap the image over on the monitors. So you always keep an AP on one side, and a Lateral on the other. This takes concentration. 9. The worst problem is obesity with osteoporosis. Obesity means the II will use a high KV eg 110kv ,so LOW contrast. The bones will be very hard to see, because they don’t have any bone in them ! If the surgeon is moaning explain this LOL I had the same problem with AP hip on a young man- biggest muscular thigh in England. 10. Expect the first image to be wrong, wrong place , wrong orientation. Move the wheels in the direction you want to go, either towards head/ foot or in/out , make it easy for yourself , move in each direction in turn, and you will get where you want to be. Small movement`s to keep control. 11. Don’t let the surgeons use the flat II surface to apply a wet Plaster of Paris, unless you cover it first with a plastic bag, or water will get into it and it will go bang ! 12. For hips / DHS cover the tube ( under the table/ hip) with a plastic bag ,so blood doesn’t get into it. 13. You can get a lateral of the humerus, femur with the patient flat ( both legs down) on the table if you come in sideways, from the opposite side, and angle 70 degrees. and the body part ( shoulder/ hip/ femur) is right over the edge of the table ( so the metal table sides are not in the way) 14. If you leave the theatre for a break ( very long case) always tell someone whose sterile ( surgeon/ scrub nurse) where you will be, just in case they suddenly need you back. 15. Only ask the surgeon a question when hes not doing something dangerous e.g. with a drill. 16. At the end of the operation get a clear answer you are finished BEFORE you remove the sterile xray cover.
I’m starting January 2024! I’m so excited! I have my schedule already mapped out because I already know how my brain gets easily distracted😂 Thank you for your tips!
Hi! I love your videos. I’m starting the rad tech program this month and I was wondering if you could make a video on what you used to study throughout the program and for your boards? Like websites, books, flash cards, podcasts, etc. I see so many different resources people are using and I don’t want to spend money on books that might not be useful to study from such as the Lange and Mosbys.
Glad I found your channel, I’m currently in my preqs for my MRI program so glad you said to focus on anatomy!!! I will for sure make sure I’m really paying attention and retaining as much information as possible!
Thank you so much for this video. It really explained what I should focus on before even getting into my program I start right now in September, so I’ve been looking for “need to know" videos and this was useful. ❤good luck at your new job(s) in your career.
Congratulations on becoming a certified rad tech and finding a position so soon!! I start my program later this month and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on a rad tech boot camp?
Thank you sm🤗 congratulations to you as well!! 👏🏽🎉 during our very last semester of the program we had to purchase rad tech boot camp on cloverlearning.com. It was very helpful because they have videos as well as practice quizzes (:
Mostly basic anatomy like the bones and the main organs, but we did have to learn some of the muscles, and there was a venipuncture class where we learned learn some of the veins and how to start IV.
Great video! Very excited to start Rad tech school next year. Did just wanna mention that I sorta disagree with the notion that Rad Techs are the “heart of the hospital”. I work in sterile processing currently and I would say that department is definitely more of a vital force in the hospital. We process medical instrumentation and make sure they are sterile and safe for patient use. No hospital would be able to function at all if it weren’t for sterile processing.
@@tokyoghibli we could do without the administrations who blow up their salaries every chance they get by sitting on their asses and getting brunch every day
i apologize for my questions lol, im looking into this career for myself so im a bit of a rookie right now 😅 but rad techs are the people who take the x reys in clinics/hospitals right? also, after you get certified and finish your program-can you choose to work in a laid back location like a clinic? or do you have to start off in a hospital?
No problem, I don’t mind helping! Yes, you are correct (: & after getting certified you can choose to work wherever you want, hospitals typically pay more but if you’d like to work in a more laid back setting that is definitely up to you!
Hello! I’m glad to see your yt channel ❤️ i need this. Thankyou so much. Quick question, I’m in a process of entering college as a Rad tech. I need to take PAX exam. Did you also take PAX before? What material study did you use? Can you please give me tips and advice to pass the exam? Thankyou girl in advance! ❤️
Tysm 🫶🏽 Wow that’s amazing! Congrats 👏🏽 to you. I didn’t have to take the PAX exam, but maybe look into a good rated PAX exam preparation program online & also check out some TikTok advice videos of people who’ve taken it. Good luck to you🙌🏽 www.tiktok.com/discover/nln-pax-exam-for-radiology
Hey sis! Do you have any idea about where a person can start working if they want to pursue a Rad Tech career? Like if someone wants to pursue nursing they can work as a CNA or Medical Assistant !. Do you know anything about Radiology Tech? Thank you ❤
@@madaleinem8109 Hey there 👋🏽 so I personally worked as a receptionist & then a patient services representative first. So, I’d recommend either that, a medical assistant program, or becoming a limited x-ray tech first through a trade school/ program (:
Do you have tips for working or finding jobs that allow you to go to school while you do the program? Im taking pre-reqs but feeling discouraged bc they say you cant work.
I personally didn’t work while in the program but I did while taking my pre-reqs. Fortunately I was able to stay home & save up enough to become a full-time student, but I also used all available resources like financial aid, grants, & student loans. It is definitely possible to work while in the program though! Many of my classmates worked either part-time or full-time jobs, I think it’s just about finding something that is flexible & can work around your school schedule.
Hey i work a full time job and want to get into the program. Im definitely willing to put in the work, but do you think its possible with a full time job?
Any tips on how to study for Human Anatomy and Physiology 1? I have to take Human A&P 1+2 as part of my pre reqs for admission into my program and I want to know how many hours to study each day/week for the course?
@@headshotcaptain8389 Try to study as much as you can and as soon as you can. Maybe 1-2 hours a day for 3-4+ days a week, depending on how much time you have. Avoid cramming or waiting till the last minute to study for a quiz/ exam, that was my toxic trait 😭. Also read ahead if you can (:
@@Chinadollsavvy thanks for the tip, I will have to keep this in mind, I will be taking 3 days off from work for school and each day off studying the whole day and days im working after work I plan to spend atleast an hour studying each night 😖
Hi! Am currently about to enter my first clinical rotation. What should I do to prepare? What should I expect? How will I be taught and graded? How can I survive?
Hi there 👋🏽 wow that’s awesome! Good luck to you. I’ll probably make a video on this soon, but I’d definitely say to listen to your instructors & all of the techs. They will teach you so much! Everyone has different techniques and methods that they use, so be open minded & take in everything that you can. I promise you will survive 🙏🏽
That is awesome! The e-books that I found most useful were: Principles of Radiographic Imaging, Mosby’s Comprehensive Review of Radiography, Radiation Protection, and Lange Q&A Radiography Examination. However, EACH program is different so I would definitely wait to see which specific books will be required/ necessary for you 🙌🏽
Ofc 🫶🏽 I believe that each program has different book requirements, but they will give you a list of which ones you’ll need in the begging & sometimes they even have package deals/ discounts so I’d wait for that!
To me it wasn’t too bad, I passed with a high “B” but I think it varies from person to person. I found that watching videos on study.com & youtube was very helpful! Also getting together with classmates to form study groups.
It’s definitely challenging & requires A LOT of studying, but as long as you stay on top of it & put forth the effort YOU can definitely do it too! The college professors & program director were very helpful in helping us through it too.
@@Chinadollsavvy Can you put subtitles on your video? The automatic subtitles are wrong so I can't understand it well. My English is not advanced. I am from Brazil. I study radiology technician
In the rad tech program that I went through, you’d automatically be dropped from the program if you fail 1 class. You must get a “C” or higher. In regards to prerequisite classes, you’d just have to retake that class before applying for the program.
Definitely make a schedule for yourself. I found that making review notes on my IPad really helps also Kahoot is my best friend when it comes to material retention. Good luck! I have to restart in January due to falling off so stay on top of whatever schedule you make for yourself.
There are 2 years of prerequisite classes that are required before you can apply for the 2 year program itself. I received my A.S. degree, however they do have bachelor programs at universities as well!
@@cfwniyah So if you decide to get your bachelors, you’ll have the option to potentially become a radiology manager in the future! Other than that, the pay rate & job title just working as a rad tech is the exact same & increases based on experience.
What part of the program would you consider hard in your opinion? Is it more so the "prerequisites" within the program or the hands on training or both? I personaly am finding the Cardiovascular Technology program fairly easy to retain the information and I bet it'll get better one's the hands on training begins in August! I prey it stay this way on retaining the information bc then It'll be safe to take my registry 3 weeks before graduation so I can graduate registered. Also you should look into specializing working in the Cath lab and work on your RCIS!!! As a Cardiovascular Technologist that's the registry we take and the department we work in the only difference between us too would be that a cardiovascular technologist had specific training just for the Cath lab. A radiologic technologist get hands on training in the Cath lab usually to help with the C-Arm and with more hands on training to scrub in. So look into that later on after a little experience with you basic x-ray!
For me it was definitely radiation physics because I had never taken a physics class before! Besides that, just A LOT of studying! Wow that’s awesome that you’re able to retain information so well 👏🏽 the clinical part was much easier than the actual classes themself to me, so I’m sure you’ll do amazing in your field! After graduating I actually got offered a Cath Lab position at one of the clinical sites that I attended but I turned it down because I want to specialize in MRI so I’m hoping to find a cross-training position in the future 😬
@@Chinadollsavvy Got cha! And yes, it's very interesting learning the ins and outs about the heart! And that's what's up, Rad tech was my back up along with ultrasound but I'm happy I got accepted to my first choice program. That's awesome they offer you the Cath lab right off the back, it's a big shortage in that department and really all departments now are short on staff so a lot of great opportunities. MRI is great as well, good luck with everything and I look forward for more videos! I might start recording and create a channel myself since there aren't any RU-vidrs for the Cath lab yet as a technologist
