Travel radiology/x-ray tech jobs are a great option for those seeking professional advancement and adventure. Radiology techs are critical healthcare professionals who help doctors diagnose patients with everything from broken bones to cancer and other ailments.
They capture essential images of medical conditions using imaging technologies like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Travel rad techs work across various healthcare facilities and embrace new experiences with each assignment.
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Equipment Setup
Whether you’re looking for your first travel x-ray tech assignment or are already an experienced radiologic technician, contract assignments offer unique opportunities to expand your skill set and explore new parts of the country. Many healthcare facilities utilize travel healthcare staffing agencies to help meet temporary workforce shortages, including diagnostic imaging professionals like x-ray technologists.
Setting up examining rooms and positioning patients, operating equipment, offering pre-procedure guidance, and ensuring radiation safety during procedures are just a few tasks a traveling X-ray tech performs. To support a high level of care, a travel rad tech must also be familiar with various imaging devices, such as MRI, CT scanners, and mammography machines.
A rad tech must also be physically fit, as they spend hours on their feet for their shift and carry portable equipment such as C-arms that weigh hundreds of pounds from room to room. Additionally, they must be able to lift patients into position on examination tables and sometimes fully carry them, depending on their medical condition.
Patient Assessment
The patient assessment process is essential to a radiologic technologist’s job. It involves assessing a patient’s condition using medical knowledge and physical exams. The process is also used to make an initial diagnosis and plan for treatment.
Performing a comprehensive physical exam includes inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion. Inspection is the first step and involves observing the patient’s body for normal conditions or abnormalities. The next step is palpation, which involves touching various body parts with varying pressure. It’s important to note that a light touch will protect the patient from discomfort.
Finally, percussion and auscultation are performed to listen for and assess different body sounds. For example, a gurgling sound may indicate fluid or secretions in the airway. It’s important to note that holding a bell too firmly can cause the skin to act as a diaphragm, obliterating low-pitched sounds. On the other hand, the sound of a bowel movement indicates that the patient is hydrated. In addition, a strong cough can suggest a lung infection.
Patient Preparation
Obtaining accurate and clear imaging requires proper patient prep. Travel radiology techs should be prepared to inform patients about the procedure and answer any questions to calm anxieties and promote cooperation. It’s also important to be polite to help establish rapport.
Physical exams are often nerve-wracking for patients, so providing them with the utmost care and respect is crucial. Explain all steps involved in the exam and any potential risks. In addition, it’s essential to review and confirm the patient’s sedation or anesthesia strategy during this process.
In recent years, hospitals, medical groups, and diagnostic imaging facilities have increasingly turned to travel healthcare staffing agencies to meet a growing demand for services like X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds.
Imaging Procedures
Radiologic techs must be adept at using imaging equipment to capture detailed images of the internal organs and bones. They must also assess image quality and make adjustments to ensure optimal results. Additionally, radiology techs collaborate with the physicians who interpret these images to provide patients with accurate diagnoses.
This is an ideal career choice for healthcare professionals who want to hone their technical skills while gaining experience in different healthcare settings. Radiology tech travel jobs are available nationwide and at bustling metropolitan hospitals and serene rural clinics.
As a travel radiographer, you will interact with various people, including patients, nurses, doctors, and transporters. Maintaining a friendly demeanor and communicating well with all parties involved in the imaging process will help you thrive in your role.
Reporting
A rad tech on the road must be able to adjust quickly and adapt to the unique workflows, protocols, and culture of each healthcare facility. The constant change in environments may be challenging for some X-ray techs at first, but it can also catalyze profound professional growth. The exposure to diverse equipment, practices, and patients builds up a treasure trove of expertise, which can be a huge asset to your resume.
Allied health staffing companies are seeing an increased demand for travel radiology tech assignments. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities often hire temporary employees for various reasons, including addressing workforce shortages or covering vacation or sick time.
X-ray technicians on the go are often compensated above the national average. In addition to a competitive salary, they often receive housing stipends and healthcare benefits. These additional compensation features can be a game-changer for some travel radiology techs. They can make it easier for them to take on challenging assignments and reach the apex of their earning potential.
