The Role Of A Diagnostic Radiographer

Dexter Sykes is in his 2nd year on the BSc (Hons) Radiography (Diagnostic Imaging) course. He thinks Diagnostic Radiographers are very important as they help to identify abnormalities in the body, so that the patient can be assessed for further treatment. Dexter believes diagnostic radiography can help identify a range of pathology which may not be known beforehand, or it could be mistaken for something else, whether that’s a broken bone or a cancerous tumour.

He also thinks that if Diagnostic Radiographers didn’t exist, a lot of these abnormalities and conditions would go unnoticed, which could lead to them developing into something much worse: having diagnostic radiography available can stop this from happening and getting a treatment plan formulated could treat the cancer, for example, and stop it at an early stage.

The Role of a Diagnostic Radiographer

“The role of a diagnostic radiographer is to assess and diagnose abnormalities within the body by taking medical imaging of soft tissue and bones via a range of modalities, which can include projectional X-ray CT, which is computer tomography; and MRI, which is magnetic resonance imaging, to name a few. Also, our role is to work in a multidisciplinary team, whether that’s working alongside a surgeon during theatre or using mobile equipment to help professionals during a trauma and resuscitation setting. It’s also important for the role of a diagnostic radiographer to know the dangers of radiation and to know how to use the radiation safely. And this is to make sure we can protect ourselves, the public, colleagues, and the patient.”

What Diagnostic Radiography Means to Dexter

“Well, it really means a lot to me, because it’s going to be my career. I’m quite compassionate, so I really enjoy helping people. It also means I can work with a team which strives for the same goal and the same outcome, which I think is always vital in any profession because you all want to be working on the same page.”

Dexter’s Ambitions for the Future

“It’s quite hard because I’m only in the 2nd year and it’s all so new to me, but I’ve taken an interest in learning about cross-sectional imaging on the course, so I may go into something to do with CT. In addition, I really like the idea of working with paediatric patients. I feel like every time I have worked with paediatric patients, I’ve always felt a sense of relief and happiness and a great feeling. And I feel like working in a Children’s Hospital would be an interest of mine and could be a lot of fun.”

What makes a great radiographer?

“There are lots of traits and skills which make a great radiographer, but to name a few, I think compassion is a really big one. I feel like we should be able, as a radiographer, to sympathise with the patient and put our feet in their shoes so we might know how they’re feeling. This lets us see the procedure from their eyes, allowing us to provide them with the best experience possible. I also think being deeply knowledgeable and experienced are key skills in making a great radiographer, as you may have to adapt your technique to any situation and scenario. So having the knowledge and the experience to do that allows you to perform difficult procedures with much more ease and makes it less stressful for yourself, and most importantly, the patient.”

You can find out more about the BSc (Hons) Radiography (Diagnostic Imaging) course here or by requesting a copy of our latest Prospectus.