Have you ever been at a social gathering where everyone makes small talk. Eventually, someone asks, "What do you do?" When you answer "I'm a Radiologic Technologist" and you see the confusion on their faces, you amend your answer to, "I'm an X-Ray Tech". What usually follows is at the least, degrading.
"Oh... so you're one of those button pushers."
You count to ten, take a cleansing breath, and would love to explain the complexities of your profession. How your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, positioning, technical factors, physics, and an eye for the smallest detail, makes your job challenging every day. How we strive to be compassionate and empathetic to every patient who's lives we touch. How new technology is constantly emerging requiring additional education in these new applications. You would love to explain how exciting it is to witness CR/DR after using film/screen for the past 30 years you have worked in the field. How digital mammography is one of the coolest things you have ever seen, and can actually save a women's (or man's life)!
That's our ultimate goal, saving lives, helping patients and physicians reach a conclusion, obtain an answer, reach a diagnosis, all through diagnostic imaging.
Now back to the initial question... "So you're a button pusher?" This generalization of our profession really pushes MY buttons! Do you push buttons when you use a computer, change the station on your car radio, or use your microwave, mp3 player, or cell phone. Of course we push buttons, doesn't everyone?
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