During my university years, I actively participated in international exchange programs and gained experience in hospital training in countries such as the UK and Switzerland. Although it was only for a short period of time, I was able to come into contact with medical care overseas that differs from that in Japan, such as performing postmortem imaging diagnosis to determine the cause of death at a judicial facility, and once again felt the importance of the work of radiological technologist.
Then, around the spring of 4th year, after my internship was over, I began serious study to become radiological technologist. To work as radiological technologist, it is necessary to pass a national exam, so compared to normal job hunting, exam preparation takes a longer period of time. It was not uncommon for me to study from early in the morning until late at night, and I struggled to stay motivated. However, I had friends who encouraged me, and we were able to overcome the challenges by working hard together. There were also many sympathetic teachers, which was very reassuring in terms of both my studies and job hunting.
Although I considered manufacturers as potential employment options, I chose a medical institution, and Kitano Hospital, because I had a strong desire to interact with patients in the medical field. Kitano Hospital's location in the center of Osaka allows me to interact with many patients and acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills necessary for radiological technologist while dealing with a variety of cases. Furthermore, as I would like to eventually be involved in cancer radiation therapy, Kitano Hospital, which is large in scale and provides cutting-edge medical care, makes it easy to improve my skills, and I am glad I applied.
I am currently in charge of MRI, a device that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to capture cross-sectional images. Every day is a learning experience, and even when capturing a single image, I am often asked to consider things like how to position the patient and what imaging method is best to obtain the best image. The image information I obtain with the MRI determines the patient's future treatment plan, so I feel a heavy sense of responsibility every day. However, when I am able to provide images that help patients understand their illness and condition, I feel very rewarded. Going forward, I would like to gain more clinical experience and knowledge, and work hard to contribute even more to patient testing and treatment.
Since we are located in the center of Osaka, we have many different patients, so we are able to come into contact with many cases and learn new things every day. Many people are kind and always help me when I have a problem. Also, since they all have a wealth of knowledge and experience, I can ask them how I can take better shots, which helps me improve my skills.
I think you have a lot of freedom in how you work. For example, one of the major features of our hospital is that it has a medical research institute, and if you wish, you can present your research at an academic conference. Also, I think it's attractive that it's easy to maintain a work-life balance, such as by promoting childcare leave for men and valuing private time.
A collection of problems and notes that I used to study for the national exam. Using detachable binders and sticky notes, I summarized the main points in an easy-to-understand manner.
The job of radiological technologist does not involve much direct contact with patients. However, the images we take affect patients' future treatment and diagnosis, so I think it is a job with a great deal of responsibility. However, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I am able to provide images that help us understand the cause and condition of a patient's illness or pain.
The way radiological technologist work has gradually changed with technological advances, such as the shift from film to digital data. Even in these times, a single technique based on knowledge and experience can greatly change the images that can be captured, which can aid in diagnosis and treatment. I believe that the greatest reward is the feeling of contributing to medical care and the pursuit of technology.
I think that it is very important to secure time to study. I was trying to improve the quality of my studies little by little within a limited amount of time. I had a hard time staying motivated, but having friends who encouraged each other really helped. Going out to eat with friends and chatting about trivial things was the best way to relax from studying for exams.
Passing the national exam is a prerequisite for working as radiological technologist. The exam is usually held in February, which is a period of freedom for many university students until they find employment and enter society. It is important to study tenaciously until that time and have a strong desire to become radiological technologist. It's not easy, but working hard here will surely benefit you in life.
I feel every day that the ability to look around is very important. It is important to observe the patient closely, and our work is not done by one person, but by a team. I think it would be better to have someone who can see the surroundings and act accordingly, such as whether there are people around.
I think it's suitable for people with good communication skills. I think that our occupation is closer to the service industry than medical care, and it is necessary to communicate appropriately with patients so that imaging such as MRI can be performed smoothly, as well as cooperation with doctors and nurses. I have. Also, in order to hone your own skills, it is desirable to have interests and questions in your daily work.
