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Long article- but well worth the read!

 

As a recent graduate in radiology technology, I embrace my education to take on my journey as a technologist. I attended a four-year program in which the first three years is filled with bookwork and occasional clinical rotations at a local hospital. The final year is spent at a hospital contracted to take on a student for eleven months, an internship, the school refers to as an externship.

 

I am a typical student; my four-year program took me almost six years to complete. My externship was the hardest experience to fulfill my degree. Most students in similar situations, fellow classmates of mine didn’t face the education I received on my externship. Many students are anticipated to struggle with certain things and learn from them, but my struggles weren’t anticipated ones.

 

During my eleven-month sentence as a "student" I found myself in medical boot camp. I would attempt to have my instructors help, my advisors help, I sought out the administration of both the hospital and my school. I felt a whirlwind of frustration and absolutely facing brick walls. I found myself suicidal, in complete depression. My family life was falling apart, to the point my husband and I almost gave up on our marriage one week before my graduation.

 

I would arrive to work for my eight-hour shift to fulfill clinical time, soon became a nightmare. I recall on so many occasions sitting in the parking lot, sipping my coffee, and resisting getting out of my car. Not knowing what I could face that day, but knowing something, or someone, will challenge me. I wasn’t challenged educationally; they knew I was smart and very knowledgeable; I was challenged on all other levels from emotional to ethical.

 

Being a student, I was labeled a student. Nothing more, nothing less. I had an instructor who would want it her way or the highway. So many times I wanted to give up and hit the road, but I never wanted to give up even if her way wasn’t the ethical way, or the legal way, or if I didn’t agree to it, I learned if I do as I am told, as a student I was instructed to do so, but when I am questioned if I knew it was unethical why did I do it….

 

Screwed. Day in day out for eleven months. I finished my sentence, got my degree and moved on. It still hurts knowing what I went through and others are too. I agree I learned everyday, something new. Interactions, impressions, actions, vocabulary, initiative, and eagerness are all factors in how people judge you as a student. When graded, I was told I had great patient care, techniques, minimal repeats, and exam time. I was told so many times I was a great tech. But I was a student and that is how they treated me, like a student, not a tech.

 

I thought in the beginning that I was to learn how to be a tech, but my challenge was learning to be a student, which is where I failed. I was never able to meet everyone’s expectations. Doing something one way, may not be someone else’s way to do things. Wait a minute, every one does it there own way, my way is what I was learning, learning from others and doing it my way, where I was comfortable with a routine. But not as a student, that was not allowed.

 

I wish more educators, clinical instructors, and advisors become more aware that a student is not there for grunt work. They are there to learn, an apprentice to the profession. A profession I love doing, I want to teach others about it, let them in on the great things we can do. You know the time you let the young patient see his hand x-ray for the first time and the amazement of what they see, and the wonder of how you got that picture. A student should not be treated as a child, but to intrigue the amazement and wonder and teach them how.

 

An older gentleman who was in the navy when he became a radiology technologist once taught me how a cone can make a beautiful navicular view. I agree it is a work of art when you look at it and never once would I have thought of using the cone. I realized he had not shared this with other coworkers, so I took the knowledge he taught me with a little respect that he shared it with me. No one ever asked me how I got such odd navicular views, or to show them. But I do receive raised eyebrows now and then.

 

Is the tricks of the trade what we crave, we sit in conference rooms, and jot notes, later on we try to apply them. Think about how many people have taught you a trick or two about your profession. How many times have you shared a trick or two with coworkers? What about students?

 

Many times a tech will perform the exam alone until they need help, otherwise the door is shut and no one sees how each other performs exams. No one explains why he or she does certain things. Somewhere someone taught you how to do certain things a certain way and the reason behind it. You learn how to perform exams differently than others.

 

As technology is advancing, older generation technologist fell lost when learning new equipment. In my current department the newest machine is rarely used mainly on the fact of it is too difficult. I took to coworkers in and explained everything I knew about the equipment, how it works and why I found it easier to work with. Both coworkers exclaimed, "Well no one ever told us that. No one ever showed us that." Some days they will ask if they can watch me to see how I do certain things. I am happy to show them how to use the equipment, how I position, and tricks of the trade I have learned.

 

I still learn from others, little steps to make things easier. Another angle to the problem. We are all students always learning something new. No matter how long you have been a tech, be 6 months or 25 years, there is always something to learn. I would hope that each tech could try to teach a "trick of the trade" to at least five other techs each year. And in teaching, learn at least five new ways from other techs. This is how a profession grows. This is an apprenticeship to pass on to others.

 

I may not have gotten where I am today if it wasn’t for those who showed me the way. The skills they taught me have made me a stronger, more confident radiological technologist. Next time you get an opportunity to teach another tech, or student, remember teach the profession, the reason you love your job, the artwork of radiology, and the passion for patient care