Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO)

Alternative Job Titles for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech)
• Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT)
• Imaging Technologist (Imaging Tech)
• Mammographer
• Radiographer
• Radiologic Technologist (RT)
• Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech)
• Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R))
• X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech)
• X-Ray Technologist (X-Ray Tech)

Job Tasks and Activities for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
• Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
• Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
• Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
• Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities.
• Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
• Check quality of diagnostic images.
• Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
• Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
• Create advanced digital images of patients using computer imaging systems.
• Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
• Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
• Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
• Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
• Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
• Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
• Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
• Maintain medical facility records.
• Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
• Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
• Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
• Move patients to or from treatment areas.
• Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
• Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
• Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
• Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
• Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
• Perform clerical work in medical settings.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
• 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.
• Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
• Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
• Position patients for treatment or examination.
• Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
• Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
• Prepare medications or medical solutions.
• Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
• Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
• Process x-rays or other medical images.
• Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
• Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
• Record patient medical histories.
• Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
• Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
• Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
• Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
• Supervise patient care personnel.
• Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
• Train medical providers.
• Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
• Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
• Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.

Interests for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• Realistic
  Designing, building, or repairing equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors.
• Conventional
  Following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting.
• Investigative
  Studying and researching scientific subjects and human behavior.

Skills for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 69/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 66/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 63/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 63/100
• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 63/100
• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 60/100
• Operation and Control
  Using equipment or systems.
  Importance: 56/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 56/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 53/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 53/100
• Quality Control Analysis
  Testing how well a product or service works.
  Importance: 50/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 50/100
• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 50/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 50/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 47/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 44/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 44/100
• Troubleshooting
  Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
  Importance: 41/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 41/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 41/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 38/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 35/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 35/100
• Equipment Selection
  Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
  Importance: 31/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 31/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 28/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 25/100
• Equipment Maintenance
  Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
  Importance: 22/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 19/100
• Repairing
  Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
  Importance: 19/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 16/100
• Management of Material Resources
  Managing equipment and materials.
  Importance: 16/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 10/100
• Management of Financial Resources
  Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
  Importance: 10/100

Knowledge for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 82/100
• Customer and Personal Service
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Importance: 79/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Importance: 79/100
• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 72/100
• Administrative
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Importance: 63/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 60/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 58/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 58/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 55/100
• Biology
  Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  Importance: 53/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 48/100
• Administration and Management
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Importance: 47/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 44/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 41/100
• Communications and Media
  Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  Importance: 34/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 32/100
• Personnel and Human Resources
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Importance: 31/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 30/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 29/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 29/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 27/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 27/100
• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 26/100
• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 19/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 19/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 17/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 12/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 11/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 9/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 8/100
• Building and Construction
  Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  Importance: 4/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 1/100

Physical Abilities for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 75/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 75/100
• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 75/100
• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 72/100
• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 66/100
• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 66/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 66/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 63/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 63/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 63/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 53/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 53/100
• Control Precision
  Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
  Importance: 53/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 53/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 53/100
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  Keeping your arm or hand steady.
  Importance: 53/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 53/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 50/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 47/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 44/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 44/100
• Static Strength
  Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
  Importance: 44/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 44/100
• Multilimb Coordination
  Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
  Importance: 44/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 44/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 41/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 41/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 41/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 41/100
• Extent Flexibility
  Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 41/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 38/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 38/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 35/100
• Response Orientation
  Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
  Importance: 35/100
• Reaction Time
  Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
  Importance: 35/100
• Depth Perception
  Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
  Importance: 31/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 31/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 31/100
• Stamina
  Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
  Importance: 28/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 28/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 28/100
• Gross Body Coordination
  Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
  Importance: 25/100
• Rate Control
  Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
  Importance: 25/100
• Explosive Strength
  Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
  Importance: 25/100
• Peripheral Vision
  Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
  Importance: 25/100
• Spatial Orientation
  Knowing where things are around you.
  Importance: 22/100
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  Keeping your balance or staying upright.
  Importance: 22/100
• Night Vision
  Seeing at night or under low light.
  Importance: 19/100
• Sound Localization
  Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
  Importance: 19/100
• Glare Sensitivity
  Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
  Importance: 16/100
• Speed of Limb Movement
  Quickly moving your arms and legs.
  Importance: 16/100
• Dynamic Flexibility
  Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 6/100

Tools and Technology used by Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• Desktop computers
• Digital imaging communications in medicine DICOM standard system equipment
• Electrocardiography EKG units
• Electronic blood pressure units
• Enema kits
• Hypodermic needle
• Intravenous or arterial extension tubing
• Intravenous or arterial tubing adapter or connector
• Magnetic tape recorders
• Medical c arm x ray units
• Medical cinefluoroscopy units
• Medical computed tomography CT or CAT 3 dimensional system components
• Medical computed tomography CT or CAT scanners or tubes
• Medical imaging contrast agent injector
• Medical imaging wet darkroom or daylight processors
• Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI 3 dimensional system components
• Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanners
• Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS
• Medical radiation films or badges
• Medical radiographic equipment grids
• Medical radiological positioning aids for general radiological use
• Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes
• Medical syringes without needle
• Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echocardiograph or echocardiograph units for general diagnostic use
• Medical x ray apparatus filters
• Medical x ray darkroom accessories
• Medical x ray film archiving system software
• Medical x ray films or cassettes
• Medical x ray intensifying screens
• Medical x ray quality assurance or calibration devices
• Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
• Mercury blood pressure units
• Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
• Notebook computers
• Oxygen therapy delivery system products
• Peripherally inserted central catheters PICC
• Personal computers
• Radiographic film or cassette changers
• Radiographic locators
• Tablet computers
• Tourniquets
• X ray bone densitometers
• X ray diffraction equipment
• Categorization or classification software
  • Diagnostic and procedural coding software
• Data base user interface and query software
  • Structured data entry software
• Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Information retrieval or search software
  • Information systems integration software
• Medical software
  • Diagnostic image review software
  • Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Film processor tracking and management software
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • GE Healthcare ViewPoint Solutions
  • Information management subsystem software
  • Internet or intranet image distribution software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Medical condition coding software
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • Medical software
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Virtual reality computed tomography CT imaging software
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
• Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software
• Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
• Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word

Employment Industries for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• General medical and surgical hospitals; private
  112,300 employed
• Offices of physicians
  41,500 employed
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories
  16,700 employed
• General medical and surgical hospitals; local
  15,300 employed
• Federal government, excluding postal service
  6,700 employed
• General medical and surgical hospitals; state
  5,000 employed