Radiology uses diagnostic imaging to diagnose and prevent disease.
The field of radiology is growing rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects in 2010 that the number of jobs for radiologic technologists, for instance, will grow by 17 percent by 2018. A career in radiology could take you to some scenic locations like Hawaii. Several career paths in radiology are open in the state.
Radiology Technician
Radiology technicians use diagnostic imaging to help physicians diagnose and prevent disease. Radiology technicians are commonly referred to as x-ray technicians or radiographers. Qualifications for radiology technicians can vary by employer. Most training programs in the field are offered by community colleges, hospitals or other vocational training schools. A diploma, certificate or associate's degree commonly provide radiology technicians with the training they need for employment in the field.
A perusal of the various job posting boards on the Internet reveals that there is much by way of opportunity in this field in the state of Hawaii. Many of the jobs are available through career placement agencies like Travel Force Staffing that work with hospitals to provide them with quality staff members. Other positions are directly available through health care facilities like Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu. Salary.com notes an annual range of pay of $43,729 to $61,442 for radiology technicians in Honolulu, as of August 2010.
Radiologic Technologist
Radiologic technologists differ from radiology technicians primarily in the complexity of the procedures that they perform. In addition to standard x-ray procedures, radiologic technologists will typically perform mammography tests as well as other tests like magnetic resonance imaging (three-dimensional sonography) and computed tomography (three-dimensional x-rays). Radiolgic technologists keep detailed records of all procedures and sometimes even manage office staff. Required education in this field is very similar to that of the radiologic technician. Certificates can lead to employment, but associate's and bachelor's degrees are preferred among employers. In the state of Hawaii, the number of job openings in this field appear to be much greater than that of the radiology technician. Hospitals throughout the state like Wilcox Memorial Hospital, Kapi'olani Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente all post open positions on sites like Indeed.com. Salary.com notes the same pay scale of $43,729 to $61,442 for radiologic technologists in Hawaii.
Radiology Nurse
Radiology nurses are registered nurses who have received specialized training in the field of radiology. These nurses have trained to learn the best way to provide nursing care during the process of interventional radiology. Interventional radiology is the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques to prevent or treat disease. Nurses in this field prepare patients for surgery, assist the radiologist throughout the surgery and provide ongoing care once the surgery has been completed. Radiology nurses usually have a master's degree in nursing with specialized training in radiology. As of August 2010, the median annual salary for radiology nurses was $85,000, according to Ihireradiology.com.
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