Daily tasks/Routine activities

1. Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.

2. Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.

3. Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.

4. Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.

5. Position and immobilize patient on examining table.

6. Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.

7. Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.

8. Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.

9. Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.

10. Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.

11. Monitor video display of area being scanned and adjust density or contrast to improve picture quality.

12. Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists.

13. Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill, injured, or disabled patients.

14. Prepare and administer oral or injected contrast media to patients.

Key knowldge areas

The following knowledge areas are relevant to a Radiologic technologist to effectively execute his duties;

Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

The following skills aid a  Radiologic technologist carry out his/her duties with ease ;

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.It helps him /her pick out the key issues to the problem fast and better.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.This gives him/her chance to think out of the box incase of new challenges.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.

Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.