Description
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
- • Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
- • Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
- • Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
- • Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
- • Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
- • Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
- • Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
- • Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
- • Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
- • Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
- • Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
- • Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
- • Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians.
- • Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules.
- • Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality.
- • Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- • Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
- • Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- • Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
- • Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
- • Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
- • Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
- • Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
- • Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
- • Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
- • Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
- • Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
- • Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
- • Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
- • Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
