Radiation Therapists

Career Description: Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

Industry: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Other Job Titles for Radiation Therapists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
• Position patients for treatment with accuracy according to prescription.
• Enter data into computer and set controls to operate and adjust equipment and regulate dosage.
• Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
• Maintain records, reports and files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings and patients' reactions.
• Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
• Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
• Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
• Check for side effects such as skin irritation, nausea and hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
• Educate, prepare and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions and post-treatment care.
• Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.
• Prepare and construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices.
• Photograph treated area of patient and process film.
• Help physicians, radiation oncologists and clinical physicists to prepare physical and technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
• Train and supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
• Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care personnel.
• Provide assistance to other health care personnel during dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
• Implement appropriate follow-up care plans.
• Store, sterilize, or prepare the special applicators containing the radioactive substance implanted by the physician.
• Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials, such as cobalt, radium, cesium and isotopes, for use in radiation treatments.
• Participate in community and community agency activities and help to formulate public policy.
• Construct, maintain and repair medical supportive devices.
• Direct group rehabilitation activities.

Emerging Tasks

• Schedule patients for treatment times.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
• Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses (e.g., for chemotherapy medication).
• Record and review patient medical histories.
• Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.
• Perform administrative tasks such as photocopying, filing, and managing office finances (e.g., monitoring budget, handling accounting payable and receivable).
• Plan and conduct treatment programs for clients' hearing, speech, or vertigo problems, consulting with physicians, nurses, psychologists, and other health care personnel as necessary.
• Provide information to the public, and advise educators and other medical staff on speech or hearing topics.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• administer injections
• administer radioactive isotopes
• calculate medical dosages
• calculate radiation dosage, following physician's prescription
• collect clinical data
• communicate technical information
• follow clinical radiation safety procedures
• follow patient care procedures
• maintain records, reports, or files
• maintain therapy equipment
• make presentations on health or medical issues
• observe patient condition
• operate radiologic equipment
• perform safety inspections in health care setting
• plan therapy treatment program
• position patient for therapy
• prepare radioactive isotopes for therapeutic applications
• take vital signs
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use medical equipment in direct patient care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
• recognize physical or emotional abuse
• record medical history or data
• understand properties or composition of drugs
• use clinical problem solving techniques
• use counseling techniques
• use emergency medical treatment procedures
• use grief counseling techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use medical diagnostic techniques
• use psychological treatment techniques
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• write technical health or medical documents
• use medical equipment in direct patient care
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• write technical health or medical documents
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use telephone communication techniques
• verify completeness or accuracy of data
• provide customer service
• refer patients to community resources
• sell merchandise
• store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
• teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
• understand drug products
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• understand pharmaceutical formulas
• understand properties of gases or liquids
• understand properties or composition of drugs
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use health or sanitation standards
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$33.66
• Average annual wage (2007) - $70,010.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 24.76%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 3,622
• Employment (2006): 14,627

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