Testing, Testing, Testing....This is a test....

Okay that's more like it! I got a 94% on the most recent test. It was a gimee filler test since a lot of the class was not doing so well. Even as a gimee test I still missed 3 out of the 56. I guess that is just the way it goes with these tests. Still I should not have missed any since she practically review every question on the test beforehand. So to my scanty readers I will bequeath those queries which prove my folly. (Fun words there.)

My wrong answer in red. Correct answer in blue.

9. Components of digital imaging include:
1. computer manipulation of the image
2. formation of an eletronic image on the radiation detector
3. formation of an x-ray image directly on the image receptor
A. 1 only C. 2&3 only
B. 1 & 2 only D. 1,2,&3

43. All of the following devices may be located on the typical x-ray unit control panel, EXCEPT a
A. mA meter C. timer
B. kVp selector D. filament ammeter

50. In the production of characteristic radiation at the tungsten target, the incoming electron
A. ejects an inner-shell tungsten electron
B. ejects an outer-shell tungsten electron
C. is deflected with resulting energy loss
D. is deflected with resulting energy increase

Here's a couple I got right.

18. If an AP hip technique required 92 kVp with single-phase x-ray equipment, what kVp would produce a comparable image with three-phase equipment?
A. 69 kVp C. 81 kVp
B. 75 kVp D. 103 kVp

29. With three-phase equipment, the voltage across the x-ray tube
1. drops to zero every 180º
2. is 87 to 96% of the maximum value
3. is nearly constant potential
A. 1 only C. 1&2 only
B. 2 only D. 2&3 only

I'll leave those for you to answer in your comments if you like.

Lesson Learned!

7That is my grade so far in my review class. Not the stellar performance that I am used to delivering. Nevertheless it just gives me impetus to do better. Since most of the class is doing somewhat poorly this term our teacher has added another test in addition to our final. I could use the extra points which would boost my average before the final. I hate going into the final with the pressure of needing to get an "A." Really though, the class grades only amounts to a very insignificant part of completeing the overall objective or becoming a Registered Radiologic Technologist. Of course they help prepare you for the registry but ultimately that registry is where the RT production occurs. (And there ain't no curve!!)

A bit of good news is in order. I HAVE A JOB!! Yes indeed, I was offered a job in the OR. I've loved doing OR rotations from the very start. Actually I almost missed out on getting the job. See!! Im not simply gloating. I'm sharing a little lesson with all you RT students out there.

Here goes:

Three students including me applied for the job. I felt that I had an edge since I had a couple of the OR Tech's putting in a good word for me. It seemed like the interview went just fine. After a couple days they informed me that one of the other students had been given the job. I was a bit stunned but took it in stride. (Actually a pitfully large piece of chocolate cake consoled my brusied ego.) Well, the guy who got the job decided after about a week that he would better like a part time job in special procedures. So it turns out that they call be back in to offer the job with this insight:

"The only thing that kept us from hiring you was your absenteeism"

The Moral: Missing clinic days can come back and bite you in the butt!!

Bored before the Boards

Okay I think that a blister is forming somewhere on my cranial meninges. No posts since Jan. due to all of the cerebral cramming going on. Alas the end is nigh. I have only one more mock registry to take and then the final and then the actual registry. Say it with me folks, "You can do it!"

All in all it would seem that I am doing well. Sorry that there is not much of the regular sprinkling the seeds of knowledge in this post. There is something of course - there is always something. I have found that music helps me through these doldrum influencing study sessions. They say that listening classical music helps you get more out of studying. ( My tastes have been more Decemberists and Snow Patrol. ) With the preceeding in mind don't hesitate to check out my free ipod link under the Brems (Break ) heading it is legit. I just got my 1GB Blue ipod shuffle in the mail. Sweet!! Im a student I can't afford to buy one so I paid nothing.

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Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

Behind and lovin' it

Here we go again! An new semester begins with me staring at the backside of my classmates. After a two weeks trip to California and Maui I returned to class a little behind the gun. It turns out that the first day of class we recieved a comprhensive 220 question take home test. The class was given three weeks to complete it. I have one. So far I have about half of it done and it is due this Wednesday. It's mostly review but we haven't covered some of this stuff for over a year. I just needed a little break from looking at question marks and multiple choices.

It was worth it! Maui was awesome.

Moral of this blog: Only miss the first two weeks of your final term if you get to go to Maui!

Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

TIPS Plan

I'm not sure just what is available at other institutions but where I go to school at Florida Community College at Jacksonville we have what is called the TIPS program. (Tuition Installment Plan) For my final senmester I used this option to pay for my tution. Again I only recently found out about this program. Basically they break up your tution for the semester into a predetermined number of payments. The earlier that you register for classes and apply for TIPS the more payments they will break it down into. These payments are electronically drafted from an account of your choosing. ( I chose Bill Gates :) ) The electronic drafts will span the time of the semester that you are paying for. So no real long commitments here.

Like I said if you sign up for this early they will break it up into several small payments. The longer you wait the fewer the payments thus the higher the payments. I for example signed up on the last day of registration so my tution of $632 was broken up into two payments of $316. There was also an additional $35 application fee that you must pay that is charged seperately from your tution payments.

Bottom line: If you are not able to pay your full tuition fees up front this may be an option if it is available at your institution.

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Disclaimer: These are the facts as I see them and are by no means authoritative. For more detailed information contact you local financial aid office. They will have infromation specific to your area and location. This blog is meant to share observations and information that will lead the reader to do further investigation.

Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

The Roentgen Report

The X-Ray Rainbow

Physicists at Argonne National Lab in Illinois are making rainbows from x-ray photons. No small task considering X-ray wavelengths are some 10,000 times shorter than those for visible light. Physics Diagram

The "Virtutal Strip Search"

PHOENIX - A test of an X-ray security scanner that can see through clothing, even taking clear pictures of the human body along with concealed weapons, has been delayed until early this coming year at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Critics say the high-resolution images are too invasive, and the American Civil Liberties Union has called it a virtual strip search.

X-Ray Fluorescence Recovers Ancient Text

ITHACA, N.Y. -- In an unusual collaboration among scientists and humanists, a Cornell University team has demonstrated a novel method for recovering faded text on ancient stone by zapping and mapping 2,000-year-old inscriptions using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging.

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Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

Rectifier - X Ray Technologist Blogs.

I have created a new section of links under the heading "Rectifier." No rectifier no x-rays. So I felt it was only fitting to redirect readers and pay homage to other similar blogs. A number of these blogs have executed what I only had good intentions of doing. Namely documenting thier way through the program. So if you really want to get a feel for how the program takes a toll on you I suggest you give these blogs a gander. In fact I have to go back and do some reading myself. One real nice thing about the variety of these blogs is the variety of locations and experience. You will see blogs from various different states written by students and technologists.

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True or False

• The rectifier is placed between the step-up transformer and the x-ray tube to change alternaing current to pulsating direct current?

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Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

WorkSource Financial Aid (Florida Specific)

We all know that no matter what you are going to school for it takes money. The sad truth is that this is probablly the #1 reason that some people don't seek further training. There are some answers to this dilema. Unfortunately there is such a bewildering amount of information out there it can be a lot like cracking open a set of encyclopedias and looking for a single sentence. I have learned a few things along the way that may be helpful.

For today I decided that I would discuss a nice thing called WorkSource that is available here in Florida. So let me apologize to the many that this does not apply to. The important thing that I can say to readers no matter where you are from is this: Talk to the financial aid department at the school you are attending. Do not be afraid to look dumb by asking questions. There is a lot of help out there but you need to work for it! It will pay off in the end.

Take me for instance. When I started out I received some help through a Pell grant but that was quickly expended and soon I was deemed ineligable for financial aid due to my wife's income. I figured that I was stuck. Sure I saw a lot of scholarships out there. Essays were in my heart but never made it to paper let alone into an envelope. Somehow we managed through family help and overtime. I now wish I had known about WorkSource.

WorkSource

As the title mentioned WorkSource is specific to the state of Florida. To be more specific Northeast Florida. Here is a brief explaination from the website www.worksourcefl.com:

WorkSource is part of First Coast Workforce Development, providing services to help the First Coast work. First Coast Workforce Development is a publicly funded agency that provides extensive workforce-related services to six counties in the First Coast area - Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

In 2005, over 76,000 people registered to find work with us, and more than 41,000 people obtained jobs through our services. We served over 3,000 First Coast employers with more than 11,000 requests for qualified workers. We manage a budget of $15 million in federal funds to meet the labor needs of our community and to facilitate a wide range of programs.

What they don't specifically say on the website it that some of these funds are dedicated toward paying tution in qualified fields of study. A list of training vendors can be found on the website. Training Vendors

Quite a number of my classmates have used this service and have paid thier way through the entire x-ray program. Basically the way it works is even if you have a job as long as you demonstrate a financial need they suppliment your income to help you pay tution. From what I have heard from the students in my class if you make less than $25 an hour at your current job you qualify.

The bottom line: If you are a student in the greater Jacksonville, FL area and you are interested in the Radiography program this is a definite MUST LOOK option. Talk to the financial aid office about WorkSource or call the WorkSource office nearest you. WorkSource Locations

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Disclaimer: These are the facts as I see them and are by no means authoritative. For more detailed information contact you local financial aid office. They will have infromation specific to your area and location. This blog is meant to share observations and information that will lead the reader to do further investigation.

Contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

What You Will Be Paid

One of my greatest misconceptions about X-ray was the pay. It was much less than I had heard. Then again looking back my sources were not too reliable - heresay more or less. So let me be your reliable source and clear any confusion. The bottom line is that as a fresh graduate of an X-ray program you will likely start out anywhere between $15 - $17 dollars an hour. Some of the exceptions to this would involve receiving shift differential for working the evening or night shift which could raise that $2-$3 depending on your location. In some areas sign on bonuses are still common. Of course there are a number of variables that could either raise or lower these figures but at least they put you in the ball park.

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contact:Dull_ion@yahoo.com

An Introduction:

My name is Dan. I've been attending classes in the Radiography program at my local community college. I have had some good success in my schooling as well as some struggles. Now that I am nearing the completion of the program I realize that there is a lot I wish I knew when starting out. With that said I would like to share some of the more practical things that I have picked up along the way and hopefully it will benefit my readers.

Some of the content that I intend on sharing include:

• Wages to expect
• Financial aid
• Clinical challenges
• Useful links
• Questions and Answers (replies to yours)
• And more....

So if your interested in pursuing X-Ray as a carreer stay tuned. If you are an experienced technologist please feel free to share your knowledge and correct any of my misinformation.

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contact: Dull_ion@yahoo.com