Radiography Flashcards

What is Radiography?

Radiography is an imaging technique used to provide internal images of the bones, organs, tissues, and vessels. In its various forms, radiography has been a vital part of modern medicine since its invention allowing us to look deep inside the body and see broken bones, ulcers, benign and cancerous tumors. Without radiography, doctors simply wouldn’t know what to do!

From its birthplace of x-rays, radiography now covers a vast range of diagnostics techniques. It now encompasses diagnostic radiography as well as additional imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), mammography, bone densitometry, PET-CT, PET-MRI, vascular-interventional radiography, cardiac-interventional radiography, nuclear medicine (NM), quality management (QM), sonography, and radiation therapy.

A radiographer is responsible for producing diagnostic images of a certain area or body part of a patient so they must, therefore, ensure that the patient is accurately positioned according to the medical notes and practiced standards. They must also use the minimum amount of radiation to produce an accurate image. Radiographers also care for the patient in the healthcare environment so consequently, they must have great communication skills in order to both explain the procedure and reassure them.  

Radiographer vs  Radiologist

There’s lots of confusion between the two professions so in short, if you were to perhaps maybe break a bone whilst you were playing soccer then it’s the radiographer (with 2 to 4 years of schooling) that will take the X-ray. Conversely, it’s the radiologist, as a qualified doctor with 12 years plus of schooling, that will look over your X-ray and medical notes to decide your treatment plan, whether it’s a cast or an operation, for example. To find out more about radiology in Brainscape click here.  

Careers in Radiography

Since radiographers (also known as radiologic technologists) are not doctors there’s no way near so much school, however, you’ll still have to earn certification. You could complete a one-year program but most employers prefer a two or four-year program.

The most common route to becoming a radiologic technologist is to take a two-year associate's degree in radiation science. You may have to pass an exam to become licensed but it varies from state to state.

The opportunity to become a sonographer is also open to radiographers. You gain credit for your experience and can gain accreditation via a fast track route rather than through completing a full associate degree in sonography. Applicants should be registered with The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and various certification can be pursued from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Options include registered vascular technologist (RVT), registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS), and registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer (RDCS).

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) records a strong increase in growth for Medical sonographers so you can be sure of a choice of jobs at hospitals, clinics, and dental offices after you qualify. Sonographers earn around $20,000 a year more than radiologic technologists so it’s definitely worthwhile extending your education. The median salary for a radiologic technologist is in excess of $50, 000 whilst a sonographer has a median salary in excess of $70,000, per year.  

If you’re considering radiography as a career then there’s more information at The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and The American Society of Radiologic Technologists. You can also take a moment to watch this short video which features a day in the life of Radiography students at Pensacola State College Radiology Program.  

Learning Radiography

Studying radiography means learning a ton of information about numerous diagnostic techniques. You’ll need to learn how to keep meticulous medical records and never make a mistake. Whilst you’re learning to become a radiologic technologist there will be tests and coursework along the way and you’ll be busy gaining on-the-job experience, so time will be key!

Brainscape can help radiography students learn key scientific knowledge whilst making the process of memorizing medical terminology as efficient as possible. Using the Brainscape system will help you get through the tests and coursework you need to gain your certification for practice.

Radiography in Brainscape

You’ll find thousands of flashcards written by top radiography students all free to use and keep on using. There are also other Brainscape pages that you may find useful as during your studies you’ll cover topics such as biology, pathology, and anatomy.

You’ll need a 2.5 GPA average so to make sure you do you can touch up on subjects such as English, history, geography, as well as biology, chemistry, physics, and math, in particular.  

You can also use the Brainscape software to make your own flashcards. If you’d like to use the software it’s free and easy to use and you can keep your cards private or share them.

Learn faster with Brainscape

Through lengthy development, Brainscape has engineered the most powerful learning engine on the market today. The creation which is known as Confidence-Based Repetition or (CBR) tackles the issues that learners face. By understanding the brain and how we learn, we’ve tested CBR and achieved outstanding results. Remarkably, the CBR system allows students to learn twice as fast and remember longer.

CBR is unique in that it incorporates three learning method: Active Recall, Spaced Repetition, and Metacognition.

The first method used in the CBR system is active recall. In Brainscape you won’t see the multiple-choice-style questions and easy-to-recognize answers you see with some online educational sites. Our goal is for you to remember key information, long-term--so in Brainscape, you’ll have to work harder to retrieve the information. This active recall process has your neurons doing a workout so that next time you want that information they’ll be up to the task.

Secondly, the CBR system uses spaced repetition in the flashcard format. This process also increases the memory trace and strengthens neural pathways in the hippocampus as information is repeated in easy-to-digest pieces.

The final learning method that Brainscape incorporates is metacognition which is what makes it different from other computer-aided learning tools you may have tried. Other computer-aided learning tools show flashcards randomly but Brainscape shows cards with exact precision using its intelligent blend of cognitive science.

It sounds magic but it’s actually it couldn’t be simpler. On reviewing the flashcard, you’ll be asked to rate your understanding of the answer and give a rating from 1-5. It’s that easy, from there, the algorithm sets the frequency of each and every card in the deck. The “5’s” you won’t see very often and the “1’s” you’ll keep seeing until your confidence gradually increases and those “1’s” become “5’s”. If you stick to traditional methods you waste time going over the same material--so why waste time studying when there are so many other things to be doing?

Brainscape is free to use, so to find out how just read on.

How to get started

Getting started learning Radiography with Brainscape is super easy. Simply browse the decks below and you’ll see subjects from Stomach Pathology, Small Bowel Pathology, Anatomical Landmarks, Diagnostic X-ray Production, Mixed Lesions, Pelvis & Hip Techniques, and Selection Criteria. Dig in and see just how effective Brainscape is for yourself.

Alternatively, just click on “make flashcards” at the top of the page and you can start creating your own interactive learning catalog with your coursework.  

Brainscape is passionate about giving students the best educational tools available on the market to achieve their professional goals. The Brainscape team wishes you all the best in your Radiography studies and career.