More Did You Know...

Age: 24

Job Title: Senior 2 Radiographer

Lives: Southwark

Place of Work: Royal London Hospital

Educational Background: A-Levels & BSc Hons Diagnostic Radiography

Date of Interview: 12th May 2006

Interviewer:

I asked Nancy to explain a little more about the job she did, “surely it is mainly about X-Rays isn’t it?”

Nancy:

Well, that is the common view and our job does include the use of X-Rays as a way of effectively photographing the inside of the body but instead of visible light, however, it uses X-rays to expose the film.

Technical Explanation: X-rays are like light in that they are electromagnetic waves, but they are more energetic so they can penetrate many materials to varying degrees. When the X-rays hit the film, they expose it just as light would. Since bone, fat, muscle, tumors and other masses all absorb X-rays at different levels, the image on the film lets you see different (distinct) structures inside the body.

But, this is just one part of the job which more broadly explained is about producing sets of images using all sorts of different techniques to show what is happening inside a person’s body. We would describe our department more as being about diagnostic imaging.

As well as x-rays a Radiographer uses ultra-sound, magnetism and gamma radiation to produce images of the body. Each method of imaging has different applications depending on what information needs to be obtained.

A Radiographers job is always active and includes going in to theatre and the wards using mobile x-ray equipment to provide imaging. For example Surgeons may need images when fixing fractured bones. We even have a dental department and take pictures of teeth all day, its great fun.)

X-rays can also be used continuously to provide a moving image. A good example of this would be a diagnostic angiogram, where a radiologist would insert a catheter (a tube) into the groin area and feed them up into the arterial system, using real time x-rays to find out if there is a problem, perhaps a blockage or narrowing of an artery.

Interviewer:

Well that is much more involved than I thought, and it seems like you are dealing with all parts of the body and many different possible illnesses or injuries.

Nancy:

That’s right, the radiology department is relied upon by almost all the other departments in the hospital because we provide clinicians with a view of what is happening inside a person, from which they can diagnose disease’s and decide what treatment will be best to help the patient.

(The hospital has one of the few air ambulance facilities in the country with a Helipad on the roof ready to receive emergency casualties so it is often the place emergency casualties are taken).

Working here is fantastic in this respect as every day is different, the team is always busy and we are constantly taking decisions about the best way to diagnose problems patients may have. It is never a dull place to be!

This also means we get to work with a variety of patients from the very young through to the elderly. Personally I really enjoy interacting with children as well as the more scientific or technical side of things and this job allows me to combine these interests.

One of the most challenging of situations is when you are working with young patients and you have to build a rapport by explaining to them what the procedure you are about to perform is and what it allows the doctors to see - they are often fascinated (Hopefully!) and are far from being scared. Getting a good diagnostic image is truly satisfying.

Interviewer:

You mention the team and it feels like a very close set of working relationships you have here, is that important?

Nancy:

Because diagnostic imaging spans so many departments we work closely as a team especially supporting A&E where radiographers play a vital role in the trauma situation. Diagnostic imaging provided an essential service during the major incident in London in July 2005. The unpredictable nature of the job means that you rely a lot on your colleagues, especially in a high pressure emergency situation, and in turn the doctors treating patients all over the hospital rely on us to perform well as a team.

This also makes the Radiology department one of the most sociable departments around and we get on together well both at work and when we go out... which is quite often!

Interviewer:

The machines you use seem very sophisticated - do you enjoy the technical side of the job?

Nancy:

I do, and I think anyone considering training to become a radiographer must have a keen interest in science generally, and especially Human Biology. I personally studied sciences at A’ Level along with photography so this job suits these interests perfectly as it encompasses all these things.

I talked about the variety of different ways in which we look into the body, which means that we need to use a range of machines to capture the information. The Royal London Hospital is fortunate of imaging in many modalities. I am still early in my career so have not specialised yet which means I rotate through many of the tools and techniques we use. As you progress in the job you can specialise to become an expert in certain areas and really get more into the technology and what it can do

Interviewer:

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a radiographer?

Nancy:

I think the key things are that you must enjoy working in a team environment and working with people. The ability to empathise with patients and understand their concerns are very important, along with a big interest in the human body.

One of the things I like is that the profession is always evolving. Also you can travel with the qualification which is accepted in lots of other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, places I would like to visit. So I can travel and work at the same time.

It can be a stressful job at times and dealing with a trauma situation can be hard, but it is also one of the most satisfying things when you know the job you do helps someone to get better.

Interviewer’s final note:

I spent the afternoon talking with Nancy and being around her team at the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel. The main thing that struck me was the enthusiasm for the job and the friendly atmosphere in a department that is always busy and under pressure to deliver information to all corners of the hospital. The equipment they use and the images they produce are fascinating and are always being improved to provide the sharpest insight into the human body.

If Nancy and her colleagues are typical of other Radiography departments then they are interesting and vibrant places to work.

Useful Information

Terminology

Radiographer - Someone like Nancy who has studied radiography at degree level and who produces images to help doctors diagnose illness or injury.

Radiologist - A doctor specialising in Radiology. Clinical Radiology is the use of imaging to diagnose, treat and monitor various disease processes.

If you are interested in a career in Radiography then the following links will help you find out more about possible jobs and what the academic requirements are:

The NHS careers guide to Radiography: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/nhs-knowledge_base/data/4771.html

The Society of Radiographers has also developed a website with useful information: www.radiographycareers.co.uk