This post provides complete information on the radiology assistant job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that they typically perform.
What Does a Radiology Assistant Do?
The radiology assistant job description involves operating equipment such as x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
It also entails preparing patients for a radiographic procedure by taking a patient’s medical history and reviewing the patient’s chart for any allergies or adverse reactions to medication.
A radiology assistant will also give injections to numb the area prior to a diagnostic test, such as a needle biopsy, bone marrow aspiration, lumbar puncture or surgical procedure.
They clean equipment and maintain supplies in the department of radiology according to sterilization procedures set forth by hospital policy and procedures manual.
Depending on the department, some radiology assistants may also be in charge of preparing reports of patient test results.
The radiology assistant duties also include operating x-ray equipment such as fluoroscopes, digital imaging equipment, and portable x-ray machines.
These are used in the examination and treatment areas in a doctor’s office, private clinic or hospital.
Radiology assistants also perform diagnostic ultrasound procedures.
They ensure the equipment is functioning properly and ready for operation.
It is their duty to operate the ultrasound machine in a doctor’s office and perform skin and soft tissue biopsies using local anesthesia.
They may also prepare patients for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) procedures by helping them into the machine.
These create strong magnetic fields that help produce an image of internal body structures, such as muscles, tendons, and organs.
More on Radiology Assistant Job Description
Another duty of the radiology assistant is to charge and maintain the device, performing routine maintenance on the machine, ensuring that the machine works in an efficient manner.
This position will assist the physician in researching test results to determine diagnosis, solve problems and make appropriate treatment recommendations for patients.
Radiology assistants provide reports, such as x-ray studies, CT scans or MRIs.
They may also prepare patient charts from information provided by physicians and nurses regarding patient concern, as well as test results after treatment have been completed to provide appropriate follow up care.
Radiology assistants may prepare patients for diagnostic imaging exams while under the supervision of an experienced radiologist.
Radiology Assistant Job Description Sample/Example/Template
The radiology assistant job description entails the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:
- Operates the ultrasound machine
- Prepares the tables for procedures during surgeries or consultations, clips fingernails and toenails with scissors
- Scans images from X rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc.
- Installs equipment (e.g., ceiling tiles in MRI room) for patients who lie flat on the table for examinations
- Measures air or water temperature in MRI room
- Hangs ropes down from ceiling to prevent patient from falling off the table during an examination in ER of emergency room (ER)
- Disposes of needles, syringes, sponges, unsterilized materials and other medical waste according to hospital rules
- Locates and identifies body parts on X ray or CT scan by computer monitor or chart to ensure accuracy of examination
- Notes abnormalities as specified by physician
- Prepares patient for examination by applying grease to skin
- Apply lead apron and straps for abdominal X rays
- Pulls on head restraint for skull X rays; places ear plugs in ears for dental X rays
- Prepares patient for procedure by cleaning skin with alcohol-soaked swab
- Cleanses nasal passages of patient for endoscopy examination
- Inserts nasogastric tube through nose and down the esophagus for gastroscopy examination
- Assists physician during minor surgery, such as placing sutures, applying compresses, etc.
- Informs physicians when it is time to take patients from operating room to recovery room or back to operating room for resumption of operations.
Radiology Assistant Job Description for Resume
If you are making a resume or CV as someone who has worked before in the role of a radiology assistant, you can express that in the Professional Experience section of your resume.
You can show the duties and responsibilities you performed as a radiology assistant in your resume’s Professional Experience by applying content from the radiology assistant job description sample given above.
This will show that you have been successful performing the duties and responsibilities of a radiology assistant, which can boost the effectiveness of your resume, especially if the new job that you are seeking requires someone with radiology assistant work experience.
Radiology Assistant Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success
Here are major requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the radiology assistant role:
- Must be an American citizen and must be of good moral character and be willing to work with a team
- Must have had medical training in the field of radiology such as laboratory sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics to understand the equipment and its operation
- It is recommended that you have at least one year’s experience in radiology technology; however, you can teach yourself with intensive reading about the field for a short time
- Should be willing to go through a training program wherein you will learn specific skills from working as an assistant radiologist within a hospital or clinic
- Must be proficient in operating an ultrasound machine and the use of various software packages to operate the machine
- Must be able to perform some procedures on patients, such as skin biopsy, liver biopsy, ear window, and cervical spine permits
- Must be able to listen and pay attention to conversations between doctors and patients for a medical diagnosis or physical examination
- Proficient in using x-ray film processing equipment; maintain an orderly work area with appropriate equipment
- Must have basic computer skills such as being able to use word processing software, spreadsheet program, research programs and database management program so that you can keep a record of all records related to your job duties
- Should have good interpersonal skills and be willing to work with other medical staff within the clinic or hospital
- Ability to produce excellent work performance as a member of a team
- Have excellent communication skills that involves being able to read, write and speak English clearly for effective communication with patients and other medical staff
- Must pass Drug test and Background checks.
Radiology Assistant Salary
The average salary of a radiology assistant is $54,946 (ziprecruiter.com) and $44729 (glassdoor.com) per year.
According to ziprecruiter, the best cities are Atkinson, NE, $68,774; San Francisco, CA, $66,425; Bolinas, CA, $65,938; San Jose, CA, $62,651 and Frankston, TX, $62,392 per year.
Reports by zippia.com show that there are currently around 5,414 radiology assistants working in the United States.
Women make up 70.0% of all radiology assistants while men make up 30.0%.
An employed radiology assistant is 43 years old on average.
White radiology assistants are the most common ethnicity (64.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.7%), Asian (8.5%), and Black or African American (7.8%).
Women were projected to earn 93% of what males would earn in 2021.
Conclusion
This post is helpful to individuals interested in the radiology assistant career.
They will be able to learn all they need to know about the duties and responsibilities usually carried out by radiology assistants.
It is also useful to recruiters/employers needing to make a detailed job description for the radiology assistant position in their organization.
They can apply the sample radiology assistant job description provided on this page.